Nigerian terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to blow up a US airliner as he was arraigned before a Michigan court.
Abdulmutallab, 23, has been indicted on six-count for his attempt to blow up a North West Airlines plane, carrying 300 people on board, on December 25.
Abdulmutallab, who had sustained burn injuries in his unsuccessful bid, stood mute to the charges during a three-minute arraignment in the US district court in Detroit.
Media reports said the Nigerian looked physically fit in his brief court appearances, though he walked with a slight limp.
Wearing a white T-shirt, pants and tennis shoes, he said "Yes" in English when asked if he understood the charges against him.
After that the federal Defender Miriam Siefer asked the Magistrate Mark Randon to enter "not guilty pleas" to all the six counts.
According to the indictment filed early this week, Abdulmutallab has been charged in a six-count indictment for his alleged role in trying to blow up a plane mid air.
According to the indictment, Abdulmutallab boarded the plane in Amsterdam on December 25, carrying a concealed bomb.
The bomb components included Pentaerythritol (also known as PETN, a high explosive), as well as Triacetone Triperoxide (also known as TATP, a high explosive), and other ingredients.
The bomb was concealed in the defendant's clothing and was designed to allow him to detonate it at a time of his choosing, thereby causing an explosion aboard flight 253, according to the indictment.
Shortly prior to landing at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab detonated the bomb, causing a fire. He was subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew.
Count one of the indictment charges Abdulmutallab with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison, while the count two charges him with attempted murder within special aircraft jurisdiction of the US, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years.
Count three charges him with willful attempt to destroy or wreck an aircraft and count four charges him with willfully placing a destructive device on an aircraft.
Meanwhile, count five of the indictment charges him with use of a firearm/destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a consecutive mandatory 30 years in prison and count six charges the defendant with possession of a firearm or destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, which also carries a 30-year term.
