Failed bomb attack on US Airliner

[Frankie B 2]

Detroit airliner incident 'was failed bomb attack'

The plane was carrying 278 passengers

An incident on an airliner arriving in the US city of Detroit from Amsterdam in the Netherlands was a failed bomb attack, senior US officials say.

Sources say a man burnt his leg trying to ignite explosives on the jet, which had 278 passengers and 11 crew aboard, but nobody else was seriously hurt.

In custody, the Nigerian suspect said he had been acting on behalf of al-Qaeda, a police source said.

President Barack Obama has ordered increased security for air travel.

Passengers from the flight described what they saw during the incident

The White House spokesman Bill Burton said the president was monitoring the situation.

Northwest Airlines Flight 253 had been about 20 minutes away from landing at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday afternoon when the incident occurred.

Reports quote officials as saying the suspect seems to have tried to ignite some kind of incendiary device.

Melinda Dennis, a passenger, said the man had been severely burned on one leg, and a fire extinguisher and water were used to put out the fire.

AIRLINE TERROR PLOTS 1995: Al-Qaeda plots to blow up US airliners over the Pacific in "Operation Bojinka" 2001: Briton Richard Reid tries to blow up a Paris-Miami flight with 197 people on board using explosives hidden in his shoes 2006: Police in Britain foil a series of attacks on transatlantic flights using liquid bombs disguised as soft drinks

Another passenger, Syed Jafri, said he had been seated three rows behind the suspect and had seen a glow and noticed a smoke smell.

Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him".

"Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," Mr Jafri added.

As the suspect was being tackled, he was reportedly shouting and a passenger said she had heard the word "Afghanistan".

'Taped to his leg'

Another unnamed passenger heard a "little pop", then saw "a bit of a smoke and then some flames".

A robot could be seen examining the plane with an official nearby

After "yelling and screaming", the passenger added, "they took him out and it was really quick".

The suspect later told the US authorities he had had explosive powder taped to his leg and used a syringe of chemicals to mix with the powder that was to cause explosion, the ABC television network reports.

A US intelligence official quoted by AP said an explosive device had been used consisting of a "mix of powder and liquid".

Peter King, who sits on the US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, said the suspect had third-degree burns.

The New York Republican named the detainee as Abdul Mudallad, 23, a Nigerian national whose name, he said, was in a database indicating "a significant terrorist connection" although it did not appear on a "no-fly" list.

Mr Mutallab, whose name was given elsewhere as Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, reportedly told investigators he had links to al-Qaeda and had received the explosives in Yemen.

According to some US and Dutch media reports, he is a student at University College London.

Mr King also said investigators were looking into whether the incident was part of a larger plot and a "worldwide alert" had been raised.

The Department of Homeland Security said "additional screening measures" had been put into effect since the incident.

At least one passenger was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.

Susan Elliott, a spokeswoman for Delta, Northwest's parent company, said the airline was co-operating with the investigation.quote>

Police search London flat in US plane attack inquiry

Forensic officers have been searching the mansion block in central London

Police are conducting searches at a mansion block in London in connection with the inquiry into an attempted act of terrorism on a US passenger plane.

A man held after the flight to Detroit is said to be a 23-year-old Nigerian, who is thought to have been a student at University College London.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK would take "whatever action was necessary" to protect passengers.

UK airport operator BAA said searches for flights to the US would increase.

The name of the arrested man has not been released officially, but US media reports named him as either Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab or Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Reports said he has links to al-Qaeda.

The security of the public must always be our primary concern Gordon Brown US probes flight 'terror attack' 'Attack' raises fresh security fears

A spokesperson for UCL said a student called Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was enrolled on a mechanical engineering course between September 2005 and June 2008.

It added: "It must be stressed that the university has no evidence that this is the same person currently being referred to in the media."

Meanwhile, Nigerian banker Alhaji Umaru Mutallab has said his 23-year-old son may be the man connected with the failed incident.

He said his son left London where he was a student to travel but he did not know where he went.

Mr Mutallab said: "I believe he might have been to Yemen, but we are investigating to determine that."

The former minister and chairman of First Bank in Nigeria has left his home in the north of the country to meet security officials in the capital Abuja.

His family has a home in Mansfield Street, Marylebone, central London, which was searched by police. SImilar properties have been sold for between £1.5m and £2.5m.

New rules

In a statement, BAA said: "Passengers travelling to the United States should expect their airline to carry out additional security checks prior to boarding."

A statement on the British Airways website said Washington has revised its security arrangements for all travellers to the US and they would only be allowed one piece of hand luggage.

A BA spokesman said the directive meant US-bound passengers on all airlines would be subjected to additional screening.

"We apologise to passengers for any delays to their journeys. Safety and security are our top priorities and will not be compromised."

Passengers on the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 operated by Delta say a man was overpowered on Christmas Day after trying to ignite an explosive device as the Airbus 330 approached Detroit from Amsterdam.

The plane was carrying 278 passengers

BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the British authorities were informed of a possible connection to the UK on Thursday evening.

MI5 and police teams assigned to the case are trying ascertain whether Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab are the same person, he added.

It is understood one of their key priorities will also be to check whether the arrested man has cropped up in the course of any other investigations.

The prime minister said he had been in contact with Sir Paul Stephenson, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, because of the "serious potential threat".

Mr Brown said: "The security of the public must always be our primary concern.

"We have been working closely with the US authorities investigating this incident since it happened."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "We will ensure that the UK continues to have in place the most appropriate security measures to protect the public from the terrorist threat wherever it originates from."

Exclusive flats

BBC News correspondent Richard Slee said there was fairly low-key police activity at the last known address of Mr Abdulmutallab, a basement flat in the block near Harley Street.

Flats in the building have sold for up to £2.5m

Reporting from the scene, he said police forensic officers have been seen going into the building.

A blue English Heritage plaque states that philanthropist Sir Robert Mayer once lived there.

The Metropolitan Police said its officers were liaising with the US authorities.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "Searches are being carried out at addresses in central London."quote>

 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

A Christmas present from Al Qaeda?  Not a very well trained bomber, what?

[Duke87 1,070]

Some good quick thinking on the part of the passengers... demonstrating how airplanes are safer than they were before 9/11. It's not the extra security at the airpots that does it. It's that now people aren't going to just let someone hijack the plane, or blow it up. Someone doing something suspicious? Tackle them!

Seriously, it works. Who needs the TSA? Every passenger on the plane is part of a potenital security force.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Some good quick thinking on the part of the passengers... demonstrating how airplanes are safer than they were before 9/11. It's not the extra security at the airpots that does it. It's that now people aren't going to just let someone hijack the plane, or blow it up. Someone doing something suspicious? Tackle them!

Seriously, it works. Who needs the TSA? Every passenger on the plane is part of a potenital security force.quote>

Isnt this how the last couple incidences ended up? I seem to remember another one like this last year.

But good for  the guy who jumped him, he should get a medal.

[citiesxlfan42 27]

Hmmm... Seems Al-Qaeda is getting a smidge weaker, with these untrained fools.

Scary stuff, though. Thanks, dude who tackled him.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Isnt this how the last couple incidences ended up? I seem to remember another one like this last year.quote>

iirc, that's what happened with the shoe bomber guy.  The passengers linked their belts together to tie him into a seat.

But good for  the guy who jumped him, he should get a medal.quote>

Indeed.

[thedawgy1 0]

Wow, that bomber failed bigtime.

[3dpuzzlemaster 20]

@Duke87: True the passengers are part of the security force, but really, it all would not happen if there was improved security at the airport, the guy would have not been allowed on the plane and there would be no incident except for a guy trying to get on a plane with explosives. I also agree that the guy who tackled the failed bomber should get a medal.

[un1 40]

Yet another terrorist plot that brought chaos to American aviation.. I'm sure that international flights will be either canceled or delayed, what bad timing. Looks like we will have stranded passengers that want to travel to or from the US.

I wonder what security improvement will come from this event.

[sneakeypete 16]

Originally posted by: citiesxlfan42

Hmmm... Seems Al-Qaeda is getting a smidge weaker, with these untrained fools.

Scary stuff, though. Thanks, dude who tackled him.quote>

No proof that Al-Qaeda was in any way responsible. Heck, he could just be claiming that he works forthem.

[Larks2242 251]

Originally posted by: un1

Yet another terrorist plot that brought chaos to American aviation.. I'm sure that international flights will be either canceled or delayed, what bad timing. Looks like we will have stranded passengers that want to travel to or from the US.

I wonder what security improvement will come from this event.quote>

Any improvement will just end up on the web again were anyone can read it.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

 3rd degree burns across his lap... now there's something to take to prison with yah! Ouch!

PETN: Booster explosive, used in blasting caps, Primacord, some small arms propellant. Mid-level explosive, stronger and more brisant than black powder but less so than top-tier stuff like RDX and HMTD. What he was attempting to do, he would have.

Why didn't it go off? Somebody added something in an attempt to boost it, but just made it fizzle instead. As DeNiro said in Casino, "...it was amateur night, you could tell...". Using booster explosives on a booster explosive can lead to unpredictable results.

[chicah 20]

Glad to see this turned out the best possible way with no casualties, but I hate the improved security. Takes FOREVER to get through to the plane now. Gah, idiots. Blowing up planes is so 2001 anyways. And I agree with Duke87, the passengers are on alert and notice suspicious activity in a different way than they did before. This has made flights safer. It's impossible to stop all the threats at the airport, some will always slip through the cracks.

[thepokemaniac 18]

Well THAT was a stupid idea...

My older brother's friend from college was actually sitting next to the guy... Yikes!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

{diatribe}

Now that we have this guy in our hands, let us make an example of him.  A full diet of pork or starve.  If he dies, let us bury him wrapped in a pigskin.

Cruel and unusual, you say?  Pork is one of my favorite dishes, and I can't think of any reason for him to refuse it, notwithstanding any Koranic objections.  Since he is an unbeliever (the Koran forbids suicide), no right thinking muslim should object.

Something cruel and unusual should clearly be done to the people who trained this fool, as well.

{/diatribe}

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Frankie B 2]

Rather interesting and incredibly concerning new information.

You would think the lessons learn from 9/11 in addition to other terrorist attacks around the world would have been implemented. I hear that Congress are yet to fully enact all the reccomendations that resulted from the 9/11 inquiry.

US aware 'Nigerian' prepared for terror attack

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been charged over the incident

The US was aware that "a Nigerian" in Yemen was being prepared for a terrorist attack - weeks before an attempted bombing on a US plane.

ABC News and the New York Times say there was intelligence to this effect, but its source is unclear.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab flew from Lagos to Amsterdam before changing planes for a flight to Detroit on which he allegedly tried to detonate a bomb.

The Netherlands is to introduce body scanners on US flights within weeks.

Dutch Interior Minister Guusje Ter Horst said Mr Abdulmutallab did not raise any concerns as he passed through Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to board the flight.

She said the airport would be able to use body scanners on all flights to the US from the airport in three weeks. Nigerian authorities also said they would start using the machines next year.

Obama denounces lapses

Ms Ter Horst said that though the US had previously not wanted the scanners to be used because of privacy concerns, Washington had now agreed that "all possible measures will be used on flights to the US".

"It is not exaggerating to say the world has escaped a disaster," she said.

US FLIGHT ADVICE Only one item of hand luggage, including items bought airside BA and Virgin Atlantic not charging to check in extra hand luggage Check in wrapped presents Passengers subject to "pat-down" searches before boarding, on top of usual security checks Customers to remain seated during final hour of flight No access to hand luggage and a ban on leaving possessions or blankets on laps during this hour US failed to join dots Obama takes flak over bomb plot In pictures: Suspect's journey How are travellers screened? Q&A: 'Jet bomber' case US media response

US President Barack Obama has acknowledged unacceptable security failures.

He said a systemic failure allowed Mr Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian, to fly to the US on 25 December despite family members warning officials in November that he had extremist views.

The source of the intelligence about "a Nigerian" in Yemen was reported as coming from the Yemeni government or from US intercept intelligence, which can refer to intercepted e-mail and phone calls.

Mr Obama said he wanted to know why a warning weeks ago from Mr Abdulmutallab's father did not lead to the accused being placed on a no-fly list.

"We need to learn from this episode and act quickly to fix flaws in the system," Mr Obama said.

Some passengers and crew tackled Mr Abdulmutallab in his seat about 20 minutes before landing in Detroit as he allegedly tried to detonate explosives in his underwear.

President Barack Obama: "Our security is at stake and lives are at stake"

Initial investigations found he had used the explosive PETN and a syringe filled with liquid.

The Dutch interior minister described the bomb as professionally made but executed in an "amateurish" way.

She said Mr Abdulmutallab had passed through standard security checks, including a metal detector and a hand baggage scan, without raising suspicions.

Nigerian airports 'safe'

Mr Abdulmutallab has reportedly told investigators that he trained in Yemen with al-Qaeda.

He was living in Yemen from August to early December, the foreign ministry said, according to an earlier report from the official Saba news agency.

He had a visa to study Arabic at an institute in the capital, Sanaa.

The CIA became aware of Mr Abdulmutallab in November when his father, who had lost contact with him, visited the US embassy to seek help in finding him.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has rejected suggestions that its airport security was lax in allowing Mr Abdulmutallab to begin his journey from Lagos.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili told the BBC: "We are not disorganised and our airports are very safe."

Ms Akunyili said CCTV footage from Lagos airport showed Mr Abdulmutallab from check-in through to boarding the plane.

Lagos airport security has been tightened since the incident.

Civil Aviation Authority head Harold Demuren said the Nigerian airports authority had begun the process of acquiring full body scanners and would start using them at all international airports.

Somali arrest

It also emerged on Wednesday that a Somali man had tried to board a commercial flight from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in November, carrying powdered chemicals, liquid and a syringe - materials that resembled those used by Mr Abdulmutallab.

The plane was due to fly to the northern Somali city of Hargeisa, then to Djibouti and Dubai.

The African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia confirmed that the man was arrested before boarding the 13 November flight. He is in custody in Mogadishu.

US officials have learned about the Somali case and are investigating any possible links with the attempted attack in Detroit, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Somalia's UN-backed government is fighting an Islamist insurgency and only controls a small part of Mogadishu, including the area around the airport.

There are daily flights to neighbouring countries such as Djibouti and Kenya.quote>

[Easy Bakes 253]

No Supprizes there. you not going to stop every terroist out there from blowing up planes.

Well you could just have no flights would solve it, but who wants that.

[Frankie B 2]

^^

Indeed, but I believe the important point is that American intelligence officials were made aware of a possible threat, thus given the ability to deal with it. They failed to do so and the consequences could have been horrific if he succeeded.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Frankie B

^^

Indeed, but I believe the important point is that American intelligence officials were made aware of a possible threat, thus given the ability to deal with it. They failed to do so and the consequences could have been horrific if he succeeded.quote>

They probably get 100's of those every day, some real, some not, some planted as decoys ect...

[Frankie B 2]

That doesn't make much sense to me, sorry, don't mean to be in any way offensive.

If an intelligence agency gets information from a possible suspects father and then hears from Yemen about a Nigerian with explosives, then I would assume they would act. He was already noted on several No-Fly lists, including the UK, yet not on the American list. That in my view, points to a damning failure.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Frankie B

That doesn't make much sense to me, sorry, don't mean to be in any way offensive.

If an intelligence agency gets information from a possible suspects father and then hears from Yemen about a Nigerian with explosives, then I would assume they would act. He was already noted on several No-Fly lists, including the UK, yet not on the American list. That in my view, points to a damning failure.quote>

Oh I Agree they droped the ball, im just pointing out  how its possible  for that to occur.

They cant follow up every lead they get, they dont have even close to the manpower that would require.

So they have to decide which leads they belive are geuine threats.

But if this guy was in the UK no fly list hes should have been on the US one. which would have then made him  take his bomb and blown up a  hotel lobby or night club ect..

[Duke87 1,070]

The security regulations are getting ridiculous. We're concerned about people detonating explosivis as the plane is coming in for a landing, so the ability of passengers to view the in-flight GPS tracking has been disabled, and the pilot is no longer allowed to announce where they are. Because, you know, you can't just tell that you're getting ready to land by looking out the window and noticing that the ground has gotten closer and you can see a city.

Meanwhile, nobody is allowed to use the bathrooms in the last hour of the flight, because we can't give anyone that opportunity to remove explosives from various orifices. Nevermind that they don't necessarily need to be removed to be detonated.

Meanwhile, you're still not allowed to bring nasal spray on the plane because it might be nitroglycerine or something. Nevermind that there are plenty of other ways to conceal explosives.

See, these regulations aren't actually about making things safer because, well, they don't, really. All they are about is placating people, making them feel safer, making it look like the TSA is doing something.

They've also succeeded in making it a royal pain in the ass to fly anywhere, but not too many people complain for some reason...

...really, as far as I'm concerned, the level of airport security we had pre-9/11, with some tweaks (the no-fly list is good, for instance), would be perfectly sufficient. As I said before, you can't expect to catch everyone at the gate or prevent every action with regulations, so any actions taken towards such an end are best left to simple, reasonable, minimally annoying ones. Anyone who gets through is liable to get stopped by the passengers anyway, so it's not worth sweating if someone slips through the cracks occasionally.

Something else I find interesting: the TSA is currently headless. Obama made a nomination months ago, but the senate has yet to confirm him because of partisan politics. A Republican (Jim DeMint, SC) has been preventing it from coming to a vote on the grounds of... well, read his blog post about it.

And everyone else has been letting him get away with stalling seeing as they've been too busy bickering about healthcare, bailouts, the environment, and all that - things which were "bigger fish to fry" until a few days ago. Now all of a sudden Harry Reid has decided to force a vote.

Oy.

[Frankie B 2]

^^

I agree that the regulations are somewhat tiresome, most can be removed with the full implementation of modern scanning technology. Millimetre wave scanners and explosive detection technology exists and is being continually improved. Problem is that some people don't like such 'invasive' technology (when it's no such thing in reality)