DETROIT, MI-  The Nigerian man accused of planting a bomb in his underpants and trying to blow up an airplane last Christmas Day, was not acting alone, say U.S. government agents.  24 year old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is now an accused terrorist, charged with “conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries”, in addition to possession of a firearm, attempted murder, and five other charges.

Abdulmutallab was in a Detroit Federal courtroom Thursday for a superseding indictment, in which the U.S. government added two new charges to the original six, which came just after he was arrested.  Prosecutors say the new charges are based on evidence that Abdulmutallab “traveled to Yemen for the purpose of becoming involved in violent ‘jihad’ on behalf of Al Qaeda” and that he “received a bomb for his mission”.   The defendent is believed to have concealed the bomb in his underpants so he could sneak through security and wear it onto the airplane.   The reason he failed to blow up the plane is because he couldn’t get the explosive lit, says law enforcement.

Anthony Chambers, the attorney appointed to Abdulmutallab as a standby counsel, says he wants to see all the paperwork to find out why prosecutors think the defendant has ties to Al Qaeda.   Chambers says he thinks the government “just drummed up some extra charges” a year after the initial arrest.

Chambers was appointed by Judge Nancy Edmunds to advise Abdulmutallab, who insists on acting as his own attorney.  In contrast to his last court appearance, in which he told the judge he didn’t want an attorney because he didn’t believe any would act in his best interests, he seemed to be allowing Chambers to represent him this time.  Chambers did most of the talking and later claimed the two now have “a very good relationship”, although when Edmunds asked if he wanted Chambers as his full attorney, as opposed to just a standby attorney, Abdulmutallab said no.  Chambers says Abdulmutallab’s family is very involved in his case and supportive of him, although none have yet shown up in court.

Abdulmutallab’s pretrial is set for January 12, 2011.  At that time a trial date is supposed to be set, but Chambers says he’s going to push for as much time as possible before trial, especially now that the new terrorism charge has been added.