Underwear bomber admits guilt in US court

The Nigerian man accused of trying to use a bomb in his underwear to blow up a US airliner on Christmas Day 2009 pleaded guilty yesterday to all charges against him and warned the US could face “a great calamity”.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, entered the guilty pleas a day after testimony began in his trial. Not-guilty pleas had previously been entered on behalf of Abdulmutallab – the son of a wealthy banker – who was representing himself in the trial with help from an attorney.

Abdulmutallab, who is linked to al-Qaeda and once attended university in London, pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including conspiracy to commit terrorism, attempted murder and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. He faces life in prison when sentenced.

Abdulmutallab told the judge he was fulfilling a “religious duty” by participating in an act of jihad against the US. He said his planned attack was meant to avenge the deaths of “innocent Muslims” in Yemen, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

“The US should be warned that if they continue to kill and support those who kill innocent Muslims, then the US should await a great calamity… or God will strike them directly,” he said.