Nigerian Man Is Charged With Attempt To Destroy Detroit-Bound Plane

A Nigerian man was charged Saturday in a federal complaint with trying to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached Detroit on Christmas Day. He was also charged with placing a destructive device on the aircraft.

According to the complaint, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, boarded the flight in Amsterdam on Dec. 24 with a device attached to his body. Near the end of the flight, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for about 20 minutes. Back at his seat, he complained of an upset stomach and pulled a blanket over himself.


"Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor, and some observed Abdulmutallab's pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire," said a statement from the Justice Department. "Passengers and crew then subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Passengers reported that Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout. One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied 'explosive device.' "

The complaint said Abdulmutallab set off a device that caused a fire and "what appears to have been an explosion." Law enforcement officials interviewed all 279 passengers and crew members; an affadavit filed with the criminal complaint states that when the suspect was subdued he was holding a smoking, partially melted syringe. A passenger grabbed the syringe, "shook it to stop smoking and threw it to the floor of the aircraft." FBI agents recovered what was left of the syringe near Abdulmutallab's seat.


A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, which the Justice Department called "a high explosive."

Politics Daily learned that authorities believe Abdulmutallab obtained the PETN from Yemen and sewed an 80-gram packet of the powder and a six-inch syringe into his pants. The son of a chairman of a Nigerian bank, Abdulmutallab attended the University College of London. He made contact with Al Queda leaders in Yemen via the Internet.

Abdulmutallab suffered burns and was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor after the plane landed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. He was read his charges Saturday afternoon during a brief hearing in a makeshift courtroom at the hospital.

"This alleged attack on a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times," Attorney General Eric Holder said. "Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice."

White House Spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement issued earlier Saturday from Hawaii, where the Obama family is vacationing, "The President convened a secure call this morning at 6:20 am Hawaiian time with John Brennan, his Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism Adviser, and Denis McDonough, National Security Staff Chief of Staff, where he received an update on the heightened air travel safety measures being taken to keep the American people safe and on the investigation. The President will continue to actively monitor the situation."

In related developments:

*The Transportation Security Administration announced stepped up security measures on Saturday, not spelling out details.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement that "additional screening measures into place-for all domestic and international flights-to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public."

A TSA official who did not want to be identified told Politics Daily the TSA is not requiring any restrictions on the number of carry-on bags. Examples of ramped up security will include a variety of measures including, the official said, "increased pat downs and gate screening as well as having to stow carry-ons and personal items such as pillows."

On Sunday, Napolitano was booked to appear on NBC's "Meet The Press", CNN and ABC's "This Week."

*Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said his panel will hold a hearing on the incident next month.