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8 New Charges In Underwear Bomber Case

A superseding indictment shows that the accused Christmas Day underwear bomber had planned the airline attack throughout 2009.   

The brand new charges, eight counts in all, were revealed Wednesday afternoon at U.S. Federal Court in Detroit against Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. 

The 24-year-old Nigerian man is charged with attempting to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 last Christmas Day as it was headed to Detroit from Amsterdam. U.S investigators believe he received training and instructions from al-Qaida operatives in Yemen.

WWJ and Fox 2 legal analyst Charlie Langton reports the most crucial new charge is conspiracy. 

Langton said prosecutors contend Abdulmutallab planned throughout 2009 with people nationally, and perhaps internationally, to blow up the  jet almost a year ago.

For the first time, the new charges also mentions the act of terrorism,  which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.Langton said more people connected to Abdulmutallab could face criminal charges.

- View a copy of the 9-page indictment -

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