(CNN) -- Federal prosecutors in Detroit have added two charges to their case against Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, the Nigerian man accused of attempting to set off an explosive device in his underwear while aboard a flight to Detroit last Christmas.
The two new charges are conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and possession of an explosive device in furtherance of crime of violence.
AbdulMutallab faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the new charges and on six counts brought against him in early January. A new arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in federal court in Detroit.
The initial charges against AbdulMutallab included attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and willful attempt to destroy and wreck an aircraft within the jurisdiction of the United States. However, the first batch of charges did not include the specific word "terrorism". AbdulMutallab entered a not guilty plea in January.
In September, AbdulMutallab told U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds he did not want to be represented by the public defenders assigned to his case and would like to act as his own lawyer. Edmunds agreed but appointed a standby counsel for him in case he needs help.
AbdulMutallab also asked how to proceed whether he would like to plead guilty to some charges.
The judge told him that was something his standby lawyer could assist him with.
CNN tried to contact AbdulMutallab's standby counsel Wednesday to inquire about the new charges and how his client might plead to them, but the messages were not immediately returned. CNN
