Searches are being carried out at a mansion flat in central London after a man with suspected links to al-Qaida allegedly tried to blow up a transatlantic plane, Scotland Yard said today. The man, a student from Nigeria, tried to ignite a device as the Northwest Airlines flight prepared to land in Detroit. Police identified the suspect as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23. It is understood he is an engineering student at University College London. He was overpowered by passengers and crew members, who smelled smoke and heard what sounded like firecrackers, federal officials said. Security has been stepped up at UK airports for passengers flying to the US, the Department for Transport said. Gordon Brown said the UK would take "whatever action was necessary" to protect passengers. UK airport operator BAA said searches on flights to the US would increase.
The man, a student from Nigeria, tried to ignite a device as the Northwest Airlines flight prepared to land in Detroit. Police identified the suspect as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23. It is understood he is an engineering student at University College London.
He was overpowered by passengers and crew members, who smelled smoke and heard what sounded like firecrackers, federal officials said.
Security has been stepped up at UK airports for passengers flying to the US, the Department for Transport said.
Gordon Brown said the UK would take "whatever action was necessary" to protect passengers.
UK airport operator BAA said searches on flights to the US would increase.
British police have raided several addresses in London and aviation authorities have tightened security on US-bound flights across the globe following a failed attack on a US airliner. The security measures on Saturday came after passengers and crew of the Delta Airlines flight overpowered a Nigerian man and prevented him from igniting a device strapped to his leg a day earlier. US officials described the incident as an "attempted act of terrorism". The Delta Airlines Airbus, with 289 people on board, was on final approach to the midwestern US city of Detroit from Amsterdam when passengers say they saw a puff of smoke and heard a sound like firecrackers.
British police have raided several addresses in London and aviation authorities have tightened security on US-bound flights across the globe following a failed attack on a US airliner.
The security measures on Saturday came after passengers and crew of the Delta Airlines flight overpowered a Nigerian man and prevented him from igniting a device strapped to his leg a day earlier.
US officials described the incident as an "attempted act of terrorism".
The Delta Airlines Airbus, with 289 people on board, was on final approach to the midwestern US city of Detroit from Amsterdam when passengers say they saw a puff of smoke and heard a sound like firecrackers.
The plot to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit was organized and launched by al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen who apparently sewed bomb materials into the suspect's underwear before sending him on his mission, federal authorities tell ABC News
The father, Alhaji Umar Mutallab, recently retired as chairman of First Bank PLC in Nigeria, one of the nation's premier banks. He contacted the U.S. Embassy about his fears, said the source, who lives at the family home in Kaduna in northern Nigeria. About three months ago, the family source said, the father contacted various security agencies and the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the capital, about a text message he had received from his son the day before. The son informed his family that he was leaving school in Dubai, where he had gone to get a second degree, to move to Yemen. He implied that he was leaving "for the course of Islam."
About three months ago, the family source said, the father contacted various security agencies and the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the capital, about a text message he had received from his son the day before.
The son informed his family that he was leaving school in Dubai, where he had gone to get a second degree, to move to Yemen. He implied that he was leaving "for the course of Islam."
Too bad nothing constructive could be was done with that tip. La Chine dorme. Laisse la dormir. Quand la Chine s'éveillera, le monde tremblera.
