Abdulmutallab, Detroit, at top. Allegedly tried to set off bomb in underwear on Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day, 2009, charged with attempted bombing, has told a judge he may plead guilty.

Zachary Chesser, Virginia. Allegedly made threats against creators of the "South Park" television program and attempted to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab Islamist militants there, arrested and charged, case pending.

Lynne Stewart, New York, center. Lawyer for Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman who helped him send communications to terrorists from prison, re-sentenced to 10 years in prison after previous 2005 conviction and lower sentence.

Aafia Siddiqui, New York, below. Pakistani physicist, fired a rifle while in custody in a terror investigation in Afghanistan, nearly striking FBI agents and military officers, sentenced to 86 years.

Mr. Shahzad wanted to select a timewith the most pedestrian traffic "because pedestrians walking on the streets would be easier to kill and to injure than people driving in cars," according to prosecutors. Mr. Shahzad believed the explosion would have killed at least 40 people, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors have alleged Mr. Shahzad received explosives training in Pakistan in December from people affiliated with Tehrik-e-Taliban, a militant extremist group based there.

"He's a remorseless terrorist who betrayed his adopted country," said Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan. "He's no longer a threat. The ongoing and important challenge for us is to make sure we get the next Shahzad."

Judge Cedarbaum urged Mr. Shahzad to consider whether the Koran wants him to kill people. He responded: "The Koran gives us the right to defend, and that's what all