Posted on 12/26/2009 7:45:24 AM PST by Presbyterian Reporter
Father reported him to US Authorities six months ago
The young man, who yesterday night attempted to ignite an explosive device aboard a Delta Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan in the United States has been identified as Abdul Farouk Umar Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old son of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, former First Bank chairman. Mutallab, a former minister and prominent banker recently retired from the bank's board.
The older Mutallab, as at the time of filing this report, had just left his Katsina hometown for Abuja to speak with security agencies, family sources say. According to the family members, Mutallab has been uncomfortable with the boy's extreme religious views and had six months ago reported his activities to United States' Embassy, Abuja and Nigerian security agencies.
The older Mutallab was said to be devastated on hearing the news of Abdul Farouk's attempted bombing arrest. A source close to him said he was surprised that after his reports to the US authorities, the young man was allowed to travel to the United States.
The family home of the Mutallabs in Central London, is currently being searched by men of the Metropolitan Police. THISDAY checks reveal that the suspect, Abdulfarouk Umar Muttalab who is an engineering student at the University College, London had been noted for his extreme views on religion since his secondary school days at the British International School, Lome, Togo.
At the secondary school, he was known for preaching about Islam to his schoolmates and he was popularly called “Alfa”, a local coinage for Islamic scholar. After his secondary school, the young man, family sources said went to University College London to study engineering and later relocated to Egypt, and then Dubai. While in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, he declared to his family members that he did not want to have anything to do with any of them again.
His father, Muttalab is a regular visitor to the US where he visits for medical check up and holidays. He is expected to issue a statement later today.
Muttalab is married to an Arab of Yemeni-descent. However, THISDAY could not confirm at the time of filing this report if the woman is the mother of the young man now receiving treatment in Ann Harbor Hospital, Detroit, for burns suffered while he was trying to detonate the explosive device in the plane.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dora Akunyili, minister of information and communications, has issued the following statement: " Federal Government of Nigeria received with dismay the news of an attempted terrorist attack on a US airline. We state very clearly that as a nation, we abhor all forms of terrorism. The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed Nigerian security agencies to commence full investigation of the incident. While steps are being taken to verify the identity of the alleged suspect and his motives, our security agencies will cooperate fully with the American authorities in the on-going investigations. Nigerian government will be providing updates as more information becomes available."
Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, had caused panic when he tried to detonate some explosive device strapped to his leg on Christmas Day while the US airliner was about to land at Detroit Metro Airport with 278 people on board.
Abdulmutallab was said to have been overpowered by passengers after the failure of the device to ignite properly. He is currently being questioned by the FBI, according to a senior US official. A passenger, identified as Jasper Schuringa, told CNN that with the aid of the cabin crew, he helped subdue and isolate Abdulmutallab.
Agency reports quoted the US federal law enforcement and airline security agencies say Abdulmutallab was taken into custody and is being treated for second- and third-degree burns on his thighs. Reports said the remains of the device the suspect detonated have been sent to an FBI explosives laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.
Even with the initial official impression that the suspect was acting alone and did not have any formal connections to organised terrorist organisations, there are reports that he was indeed a hard-core, trained al-Qaeda operative. Abdulmutallab was quoted in a US federal security bulletin to have admitted having extremist ties and saying the explosive device "was acquired in Yemen along with instructions as to when it should be used".
Statement from Representative Peter King of New York, the senior Republican on the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, was quoted as branding the explosive device "fairly sophisticated". "(The device) appears to be different from what we've encountered before," Mr King told Fox News. "My understanding also is that while (the suspect) is not on a watch list, he definitely has terror connections.
"There is a terrorist nexus leading towards al-Qaeda involving this assailant. When it did go off he himself was seriously injured, my understanding is he has third-degree burns. This could have been catastrophic."
Abdulmutallab, according to sources, flew into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on a KLM flight from Lagos and is not believed to be on any "no fly" list. This is despite his name appearing in a US database of people with suspect connections. An administration official also said he did not undergo secondary security screening in Amsterdam. It was from here he transferred to Northwest Airlines - which is undergoing a merger with Delta Airlines - for the nine-hour flight to Detroit in an Airbus A330-330.
US President Barack Obama, who was holidaying in Hawaii, acting on briefing on the incident, instructed in a subsequent discussion with security advisers "that all appropriate measures be taken to increase security for air travel".
Direct fallout of this incident is more rigorous security checks by airlines. A spokesperson for BAA said British passengers travelling to the US should expect their airline to carry out additional security checks prior to boarding.
"To support this important process, which will take time, we would advise passengers to leave more time to check in and limit the amount of baggage being taken on board the aircraft," she added. "If in any doubt, please contact the relevant airline for further information."
A Department of Homeland Security statement Friday told air passengers that they "may notice additional screening measures put into place to ensure the safety of the travelling [sic] public on domestic and international flights." Abdulmutallab’s trip began in Lagos, Nigeria where he boarded a KLM airline flight to Amsterdam and connected with Northwest Delta airline to Michigan, USA.
WOnder how the writer knew the other man was from INDIA?
(Note the words that are emphasized, by you, in all caps.)
What about all those boastful macho posts I read here on Free Republic about how airline terrorists better beware if they try anything like that again on a U.S. flight because they will be “taken down” in short order their brave American seatmates. According to news reports NOT A SINGLE American passenger made ANY move against the terrorist, even after hearing a bang and seeing smoke coming from his seat. It was left to a brave Dutchman to save the day. (Full disclosure: I’m a proud American who gets a little tired of these big talkers)
It looks to me like you are making the point that brave (your emphasis) American seatmates, did not engage the terrorist, even after hearing a bang and seeing smoke, but a brave (your emphasis) Dutchman did, and, that he - saved - the - day.
Message: Shame on the Americans for doing nothing.
Just saying...
On the otherhand, we probably agree on the idea that going after keyboard commandos is fair game.
“On the otherhand, we probably agree on the idea that going after keyboard commandos is fair game.”
Well at least we can agree on something!
Beginning to wonder if they aren’t lining a list of them up.
Normally, I am all for civil discourse and try to be kind in my replies... I’ll admit that today I was foul and looking for a fight. I apologize if it seemed that I attacked you personally and did not limit my postings to the arena of thought.
Note the phrase "extreme religious views". The father knew, to the PCd US security agencies religious views cannot be extreme. Unless, of course they are Christian religious views.
Thank you for the link to the video.
Greta just had on John Bolton and brought up the fact that BOma wasn’t told until 3 hrs. after.
I was watching a netflix movie.
Just runed to Greta. What did Bolton think about Obama not being notified until 3 hours afterward?
Need to find out how far up the chain of command it stopped.
Greta is having a 2 hr. special. Lot of good people on .
also listening to John Batchelor on WABC who is all over this.
D on't
E ven
L et
T hem
A board
NP, thanks for your reply. My concern, which I apparently did not express very well, was that we as Americans are truly ready to confront evil and not just mouthing what I called “macho” attitudes. I’ve lived in the ME and seen Muslim radicalism first hand, and have seen the scuds flying overhead. It will take nothing less than resolute determination to defeat them.
I think the common man understands what has to be done, but our too politically correct government has hamstrung themselves, and now they’ve hamstrung us, in the insane and gentle pursuit of our enemies. Everyone recognizes the weaknesses, especially our enemy, and that is what is so frustrating. This is far from being over. Wondering... what it will take to shock the powers that be into reality?
Agreed. Many of the political elites, with the complicity of the MSM, view the “common man” as serfs to be shepherded where they wish, and are not to be allowed to make too much noise. They scramble to minimize terrorist attacks such as Ft. Hood, claiming almost before the blood was dry on the floor that Hasan acted “on his own” and not as part of an “organized conspiracy.” Early reports of the Detroit flight terrorist attack reveal the same pattern, with the MSM - leading with a quote from a government official - casting doubt upon the terrorist’s own admission that he was acting on behalf of Al Qaeda.
This is of course suicidal madness, a fundamental unwillingness to grasp the fluid nature of and interrelations between Muslim radical groups. What will it take to arouse popular outrage against those who show contempt for our Faith while bowing in obeisance to a foreign cult of violence? While I pray I am wrong, I fear it will take a major successful terrorist attack for which there is no plausible denial (Here’s something to think about: if the Detroit plane would have gone down, God forbid, with the loss of all on board, would it ever have been conclusively tied to terrorists? One can imagine the circumlocutions already, the insistence that Abdulmutallab cannot be considered anything more than a person of interest, no more likely than other possible causes...)
I am of the opinion that we are drawing alarmingly close to the precipice. Everything depends upon if and when the “common man” awakes from the spell which has been cast upon us, and rises to take back our Republic while we still possess the democratic means to do so.
At this point I believe duplicate threads are the least of FR’s problems...
As many people as possible need to see this information, and wonder why Janet Napolitano is still the head of DHS???
I believe we need to turn up the heat and call our feckless elected class and demand they ask the same question, and propose the same solution...Fire her right now...
Obviously we have succeeded in turning back the clock to a “pre-9/11” mindset, and it is only a matter of time and opportunity for those who wish to do this country harm, actually succeed…
Firing her will obviously leave us open for another political lackey to be appointed, but the message that sends downstream will get the boots on the ground folks focused upon what needs to be focused on, and not the things that are supposed to be monitored by “other” agencies we’ve had in place for some time now, and who need to get back on the job and talking to each other, rather than sit around and “react”…
Just my opinion again, and what do I know…Right???
Now check this new thread and see if you can find the pattern, ‘no passport’ India...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415701/posts
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.