Farouk Abdulmutallab trials begin

Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound plane using explosives sewn into his underwear has made another courtroom outburst. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, shouted “Anwar is alive” during jury selection for his trial at the court in Detroit.

Abdulmutallab, a well-educated Nigerian from an upper-class family, was directed by al-Awlaki and wanted to become a martyr when he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 in Amsterdam on Christmas 2009, according to the government. He was apparently referring to Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born al-Qaeda recruiter killed in a drone strike last week.

Mr Abdulmutallab is defending himself after firing his court-appointed lawyers.

In a September pre-trial hearing, the accused called out “Osama’s alive”, and refused to stand up for a judge. He also said “jihad”.

‘Cancer US’

Jury selection is expected to take most of this week, with the trial due to start next Tuesday.

The former student is charged with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, attempted murder and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Following Tuesday’s “Anwar is alive” outburst, Mr Abdulmutallab said: “The mujahideen will wipe out the US - the cancer US.”

Wearing an oversized prison T-shirt, he was asked to return to the court with more appropriate clothing. US District Judge Nancy Edmunds, who is presiding over the case, denied an apparent request by the accused to wear a “Yemeni belt with a dagger”, reports the Associated Press news agency.

Abdulmutallab has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. The government says he wanted to blow up the plane by detonating chemicals in his underwear, just seven minutes before the jet carrying 279 passengers and a crew of 11 was to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

But the bomb didn’t work, and passengers assisted by crew members saw flames and pounced on Abdulmutallab.

The failed suicide attack, the first act of terrorism in the US during the Obama administration, revealed the rise of a dangerous al-Qaida affiliate and al-Awlaki’s growing influence.

The government says Abdulmutallab willingly explained the plot twice, first to US border officers who took him off the plane and then in more detail to FBI agents who interviewed him at a hospital for 50 minutes, following treatment for serious burns to his groin.

Abdulmutallab told authorities he trained in Yemen, home base for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He said he was influenced by al-Awlaki, who was killed Friday by an air strike that President Barack Obama called a “major blow” to al-Qaida’s most dangerous franchise.

Following the strike, a US official outlined new details of al-Awlaki’s involvement against the US, including Abdulmutallab’s alleged mission. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said al-Awlaki specifically directed Abdulmutallab to detonate an explosive device over US airspace to maximize casualties.

Osama bin Laden appeared in a video declaring Abdulmutallab a “hero.” Abdulmutallab also has been lauded by al-Qaeda’s English-language web magazine Inspire, whose editor was killed along with al-Awlaki.

While a US Supreme Court ruling upholds a defendant’s wish to represent him or herself, a stand-by defence lawyer is assigned to Abdulmutallab to help with court filings and to step in if necessary.

The Nigerian attempted to have several pieces of information banned from appearing at trial, including statements he made while being treated for burns at a hospital.

Mr Abdulmutallab argued the interview should be suppressed, as he was not read his rights before being questioned by the FBI, including the right to remain silent.

Judge Edmunds denied the request, citing public safety in the immediate hours after the attempted bombing.

BBC and AP

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