Nigerian accused of trying to destroy Northwest Airlines flight transferred to federal prison

Alleged airline terrorist transferred to prison

DETROIT — An attorney for a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane near Detroit says he’s been transferred to a federal prison.

Miriam Siefer (SEE-fuhr) says she hasn’t had in-depth talk yet with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (OO-mahr fah-ROOK ahb-DOOL-moo-TAH-lahb) since he was charged Saturday. Siefer, the chief federal defender in Detroit, called the charges serious but declined further comment.

She said Sunday he’s now at a prison in Milan about 50 miles away from Detroit after being released from a hospital where he was treated for burns.

Siefer says she’s trying to find a legal basis to oppose the government’s request for a DNA sample during a hearing on Monday. Abdulmutallab won’t be present at that hearing.