Nigerian bomber gets life in prison in US

DETROIT: Unrepentant to the last, the Nigerian bomber who tried to blow up a packed airliner in a botched Al-Qaeda plot on Christmas Day 2009 was handed multiple life sentences by a US judge Thursday.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 25, declared he was "proud to kill in the name of God" as he defended his attempt to murder 289 people on board Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

US Attorney General Eric Holder hailed the verdict, calling Abdulmutallab "a remorseless terrorist who believes it is his duty to kill Americans."

Prosecutor Barbara McQuade said the sentence "sends a message that America will not be defeated by Al-Qaeda -- we will persist, we will persevere, we will always fight back and we will allow our open system of justice to give the public confidence around the world."

The botched attack sparked global alarm and caused the United States to tighten up both its no-fly lists and airport screening systems. (AFP)