Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is shown in this booking photograph released by the U.S. Marshals Service December 28, 2009. Credit: REUTERS/US Marshals Service/Handout
UPDATE 12/28/09 @4:28 EST -- Reuters reported: "A regional wing of al Qaeda claimed responsibility on December 28, 2009 for a failed Christmas Day attack on a U.S.-bound passenger plane, saying it was to avenge U.S. attacks on the group in Yemen. In a statement posted on Islamist websites, the group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said it had provided Abdulmutallab in the attempt with a "technically advanced device" but that it had failed to detonate because of a technical fault."
Well, the young, wealthy Nigerian, is singing like a canary to investigators:
A Nigerian man has been charged with attempting to detonate a bomb on a Northwest Airlines jet traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.
According to reports the man, 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was trying to ignite an explosive when he was overpowered by passengers and crew just before the plane landed. He was found to have a device attached to his body, a device that was believed to have contained PETN, a high explosive that could have destroyed the jet.
Abdulmutallab had spent about 20 minutes in the planes bathroom before returning to his seat, covered himself with a blanket and then attempted to light the explosive. Passengers reportedly heard popping sounds and noticed the man’s pants had caught fire at which time he was swarmed by those around him.
After being detained Abdulmutallab told investigators he had ties with al-Qaeda and had training from the terrorist organization. He went on to say he received the explosive in Yemen, returned to Lagos before traveling to Amsterdam and then boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 bound for Detroit.~TWN
0 comments:
Post a Comment