Court hearing postponed on whether US can get DNA from man accused of trying to destroy plane

Court hearing in airline attack postponed to Jan.

DETROIT — A court hearing to determine whether the government can get DNA from a Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane has been postponed.

The federal court in Detroit says a hearing scheduled for Monday has been delayed until Jan. 8. No reason was given.

Prosecutors want a DNA sample from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (OO-mahr fah-ROOK ahb-DOOL-moo-TAH-lahb). He’s charged with attempting to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached Detroit on Friday. Courageous passengers pounced on him.

It’s not known why the government wants Abdulmutallub’s DNA. Defense lawyer Miriam Siefer was researching whether she had a legal basis to stop it. Abdulmutallub is being held at the federal prison in Milan, Mich.