Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man who confessed to an attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound plane with a bomb hidden in his underwear in 2009, is challenging his mandatory life sentence, reported USA Today.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man who confessed to an attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound plane with a bomb hidden in his underwear in 2009. Wikipedia.com

The Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a U.S bound passenger plane on Christmas Day 2009 with a bomb in his underwear has pleaded guilty to all charges.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is charged with eight offences, including conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, attempted murder and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The US government says Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb aboard a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit as it landed Christmas 2009.The bomb, however, did not work and he was badly burned instead.

Abdulmutallab told the judge: "The U.S. should be warned that if they continue to kill and support those who kill innocent Muslims, then the U.S. should await a great calamity ... or God will strike them directly," he said.

"If you laugh at us now, we will laugh at you later," he added.

Abdulmutallab, 24, originally intended to defend himself, but now his court appointed lawyer will deliver an opening statement.

Al Qaeda's Yemen-based arm claimed responsibility for the planned attack, who also praised Osama Bin Laden months before he was killed by US forces in Pakistan. Abdulmutallab also claimed the bomb and training was provided to him by al Qaeda militants in

Prosecutors' evidence was stacked high in the case against Abdulmutallab, who was badly burnt in front of a plane full of witnesses after the incident. There was also a video of Abdulmutallab explaining his suicide mission before departing for the US.

Abdulmutallab will be sentenced on January 12, 2012.