Abdulmutallab Indicted in Christmas Attack On Northwest Flight 253

A federal grand jury in Detroit indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Wednesday in connection with the foiled Christmas Day attempt to destroy Northwest Flight 253. Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian, faces life in prison if convicted in the six-count indictment.

While there had been some criticism that Abdulmutallab was not considered a prisoner of war -- and subject to a military tribunal -- the indictment settles the question; he will be tried in a U.S. federal court. "This investigation is fast-paced, global and ongoing, and it has already yielded valuable intelligence that we will follow wherever it leads. Anyone we find responsible for this alleged attack will be brought to justice using every tool -- military or judicial -- available to our government," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

The indictment contains no surprises. Abdulmutallab flew from Lagos, Nigeria, to Amsterdam, where he boarded the Detroit bound Flight 253. He is accused of carrying an explosive mixture of triacetone triperoxide and pentaerythritol tetranitrate hidden in the front of his underpants. The indictment alleges that Abdulmutallab ignited the bomb while in his seat, with the explosive hidden by a blanket. Passengers and crew quickly subdued him and extinguished the fire started when the attack failed.

The first count of the indictment accuses Abdulmutallab of attempted use of the destructive device, considered a "weapon of mass destruction." That charge upon conviction carries a life sentence. Other counts charge him with attempted murder of 279 passengers and 11 crew members, attempted destruction of an aircraft, and with placing a bomb on the aircraft.

President Obama faulted the U.S. intelligence community for failing to connect the clues that could have prevented Abdulmutallab from boarding the plane. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at the Wednesday briefing that an unclassified version of the policy review Obama demanded in the wake of the failures will be released on Thursday.

"The review will simply identify and make recommendations as to what was lacking and what needs to be strengthened. The review process will be a dynamic one where the President and John [Brennan, deputy national security adviser] will continue to ensure that agencies are implementing their plans for correcting what was identified in each of those reviews," Gibbs said.