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Judge Approves Evidence Against Detroit Bomb Suspect

A federal judge says incriminating statements given by a man accused of trying to blow-up a Detroit-bound airliner can be used during his trial. The evidence was obtained before the suspect was advised he had the right to remain silent. The judge ruled there is a national security exception to the constitutional right against self-incrimination that will allow statements made by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to be used in court. He’s accused of trying to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear during a flight to Detroit two years ago. Federal agents interrogated him in a hospital shortly thereafter while he was being treated for burns. Abdulmutallab allegedly told them he was working for al Qaida, trained in Yemen and had a bomb built in Saudi Arabia. But his court-appointed advisor argued the statements should be inadmissible because they were given before Abdulmutallab was read his Miranda rights and while he was under the influence of strong medication. His trial is scheduled to begin next month.