The man accused of trying to blow up an airliner approaching Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 disrupted court proceedings today by shouting “Osama’s alive.”
It was one of several outbursts from the defendant as jury selection began in the case.
24-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab opted to act as his own defense attorney against charges he tried to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on board a Detroit-bound jet.
But a judge had to advise Abdulmutallab about courtroom behavior.
Abdulmutallab complained he was forced to wear prison clothing, refused to stand when the judge ordered him to and at one point shouted “Jihad!”
The judge rejected his request to move the trial outside of Detroit and his argument that he be set free because as a Muslim he’s governed by the Quran, not U-S law.
Prosecutors argued evidence Abdulmutallab gave without being read his Miranda rights should still be admitted in court.
Federal agents say they wanted information quickly because they feared there could be a series of coordinated attacks.
