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US Judge Postpones 'Underwear Bomber's' Sentencing


Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is shown in this booking photograph released by the US Marshals Service December 28, 2009.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is shown in this booking photograph released by the US Marshals Service December 28, 2009.

A U.S. judge has postponed the sentencing of a Nigerian man known as the "underwear bomber," who botched an attempt to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab faces a life sentence after pleading guilty last October to terrorism charges.

On Friday, the judge delayed Abdulmutallab's sentencing to February 16 to give the 25-year-old more time to review a pre-sentencing report.

The attempted bomber is acting as his own attorney, but also has a standby lawyer.

Authorities say Abdulmutallab started a fire while trying to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear aboard an Amsterdam to U.S. flight on Christmas Day 2009.

Passengers were able to restrain him, and the plane made a safe emergency landing in the central U.S. city of Detroit.

The alleged al-Qaida operative has said he tried to blow up the plane in retaliation for the U.S. treatment of Muslims around the world.

The 289 passengers on board the flight will have a chance to address the court during a hearing on January 19.

Abdulmutallab has been jailed since the incident.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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