Thaindian News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – The arrest, interrogation, and prosecution of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged Christmas Day bomber, was treated no differently than the law permits, a U.S. Department of Justice spokesman said on Thursday.

Matthew Miller said that every terrorism suspect apprehended in the United States by either the Bush or Obama administration has been initially arrested, held, or charged under federal criminal law. Al Qaeda terrorists such as Richard Reid, Zacarias Moussaoui, and others were prosecuted in federal court, and he states that the arrest and charging of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was handled no differently.

“In the hours immediately after Abdulmutallab allegedly attempted to detonate an explosive device on board a Northwest Airlines flight, FBI agents who responded to the scene interrogated him and obtained intelligence that has already proved useful in the fight against Al Qaeda,” said Miller. “It was only later that day, after the interrogation had already yielded intelligence, that he was read his Miranda rights.”

Miller said that trying Abdulmutallab in federal court does not prevent the U.S. Government from obtaining additional intelligence from him. He states that the Department of Justice has already done so in the past. Most recently, David Headly, who has been indicted in Chicago for helping plan the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Additionally, neither detaining Abdulmutallab under the laws of war nor referring him for prosecution in military commissions would force him to divulge intelligence or necessarily prevent him from obtaining an attorney.

Miller, however, made no mention of terrorists arrested and detained outside of the United States – many of whom have not had charges brought against them and remain in detention camps.