'Underwear bomber' Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab sentenced to life in prison

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

This December 2009 file photo released by the U.S. Marshal's Service shows Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in Milan

/ Anonymous

(CBS/AP) DETROIT - A Nigerian man on a suicide mission for al-Qaida was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for attempting to blow up an international flight with a bomb in his underwear as the plane approached Detroit In 2009.

The mandatory punishment for Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was never in doubt as he pleaded guilty to all charges on the second day of his trial last fall.

Abdulmutallab sat with his hands folded under his chin, leaning back in his char as the sentence was announced.

In October, Abdulmutallab said the bomb in his underwear was a "blessed weapon" to avenge poorly treated Muslims around the world. It failed to fully detonate aboard an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight but caused a fire that badly burned his groin.

Passengers on the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 forced him to the front of the plane which landed minutes later.

Abdulmutallab had spoken freely to the FBI about his wish to commit martyrdom for his Islamic faith.

Complete Coverage of Umar Farouk Adbulmutallab on Crimesider

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