Terrorist attack foiled aboard U.S. jetliner

That plane came from Netherland not USA. They got different security than we have.

Babyblue said:
I'm shocked because it is an U.S Airline.

These so called backdoors are wide opened because they're some people not doing their job! Therefore the fault is..... Human error.
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DHB has a point we cannot enforce security in other countries. Like for instance you cannot have laptop as a carryon from London to NYC, but you can have a laptop as a carryon from NYC to London.
 
Right, these British government made their rules and can not tell us what to do with our side. Sucks! Yeah I know

Dixie said:
DHB has a point we cannot enforce security in other countries. Like for instance you cannot have laptop as a carryon from London to NYC, but you can have a laptop as a carryon from NYC to London.
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Other report:

ROMULUS, Mich. – An attempted terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight began with a pop and a puff of smoke — sending passengers scrambling to subdue a Nigerian man who claimed to be acting on orders from al-Qaida to blow up the airliner, officials and travelers said.

The commotion began as Northwest Airlines Flight 253, carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members from Amsterdam, prepared to land in Detroit just before noon Friday. Travelers said they smelled smoke, saw a glow, and heard what sounded like firecrackers. At least one person climbed over others and jumped on the man, who officials say was trying to ignite an explosive device.

"It sounded like a firecracker in a pillowcase," said Peter Smith, a passenger from the Netherlands. "First there was a pop, and then (there) was smoke."

Smith said one passenger, sitting opposite the man, climbed over passengers, went across the aisle and tried to restrain the man. The heroic passenger appeared to have been burned.

Afterward, the suspect was taken to a front-row seat with his pants cut off and his legs burned. Multiple law enforcement officials also said the man appeared badly burned on his legs, indicating the explosive was strapped there. The components were apparently mixed in-flight and included a powdery substance, multiple law enforcement and counterterrorism officials said.

The White House said it believed it was an attempted act of terrorism and stricter security measures were quickly imposed on airline travel. Dutch anti-terrorism authorities said the U.S. has asked all airlines to take extra precautions on flights worldwide that are bound for the United States.

The incident was reminiscent of Richard Reid, who tried to destroy a trans-Atlantic flight in 2001 with explosives hidden in his shoes, but was subdued by other passengers.

Multiple law enforcement officials identified the suspect in Friday's attempted attack as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. He was described as Nigerian.

One law enforcement official said the man claimed to have been instructed by al-Qaida to detonate the plane over U.S. soil, but other law enforcement officials cautioned that such claims could not be verified immediately, and said the man may have been acting independently — inspired but not specifically trained or ordered by terror groups.

All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

Intelligence and anti-terrorism officials in Yemen said they were investigating claims by the suspect that he picked up the explosive device and instructions on how to use it in that country. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The man was being questioned Friday evening. An intelligence official said he was being held and treated in an Ann Arbor, Mich., hospital. The hospital said one passenger from the flight was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, but referred all inquiries to the FBI.

Melinda Dennis, who was seated in the front row of the plane, said the man involved was brought to the front row and seated near her. She said his legs appeared to be badly burned and his pants were cut off. She said he was taken off the plane handcuffed to a stretcher.

One law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mutallab's name had surfaced earlier on at least one U.S. intelligence database, but he was not on a watch list or a no-fly list.

The suspect boarded in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit, Rep. Peter King, the ranking GOP member of the House Homeland Security Committee, told CNN. A spokeswoman for police at the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam declined comment about the case or about security procedures at the airport for Flight 253.

Dutch airline KLM says the connection in Amsterdam from Lagos, Nigeria, to Detroit involves a change in carrier and a change in aircraft.

Schiphol airport, one of Europe's busiest with a heavy load of transit passengers from Africa and Asia to North America, strictly enforces European security regulations including only allowing small amounts of liquid in hand luggage that must be placed inside clear plastic bags.

A spokesman for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Akin Olukunle, said all passengers and their luggage are screened before boarding international flights. He also said the airport in Lagos cleared a U.S. Transportation Security Administration audit in November.

"We had a pass mark," Olukunle said. "We actually are up to standards in all senses."

Nigeria's information minister, Dora Akunyili, condemned the attempted bombing. She said the government has opened its own investigation into the suspect and will work with U.S. authorities.

"We state very clearly that as a nation we abhor all forms of violence," Akunyili said in a statement issued Saturday.

London's Metropolitan Police also was working with U.S. officials, a spokeswoman said, and searches were being conducted in that city. The spokeswoman would not provide additional details, including what connection the suspect had to London or what was being searched. She spoke on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.

University College London issued a statement saying a student named Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab studied mechanical engineering there between September 2005 and June 2008. But the college said it wasn't certain the student was the same person who was on the plane.

Delta Air Lines Inc., which acquired Northwest last year, said a passenger caused a disturbance, was subdued, and the crew requested that law enforcement officials meet the flight.

Passenger Syed Jafri, a U.S. citizen who had flown from the United Arab Emirates, said the incident occurred during the plane's descent. Jafri said he was seated three rows behind the passenger and said he saw 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," he said.

Federal officials said there would be heightened security for both domestic and international flights at airports across the country, but the intensified levels would likely be "layered," differing from location to location depending on alerts, security concerns and other factors.

Passengers can expect to see heightened screening, more bomb-sniffing dog and officer units and behavioral-detection specialists at some airports, but there will also be unspecified less visible precautions as well, officials said.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a statement he would hold hearings in January to look into the incident and related security issues.

The FBI and the Homeland Security Department issued an intelligence note on Nov. 20 about the threat picture for the holiday season, which was obtained by The Associated Press. At the time, officials said they had no specific information about attack plans by al-Qaida or other terrorist groups.

President Barack Obama was notified of the incident and discussed it with security officials, the White House said. Officials said he is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from his vacation spot in Hawaii
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I believe that Obama will discuss to request more securty for all of countries.

I know that s no problem for security on domestic airlines in USA.
 
Kylesapp said:
Netrox - the US government had little to do with keeping us safe during this situation let alone the democrates and please don't make ignorant statements such as " I would kill one " it takes alot more then what you think to pull the trigger, twist a neck, or stab another person.
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It is not true. The U.S. government have worked closely with other countries to make every effort to avert any terror attacks against innocent people. It requires alot of active and non stoppable intelligence around the clock. If there is any relapse, they would resolve it by investigating and then correcting it ASAP.
 
Chevy57 said:
Other report:



I believe that Obama will discuss to request more securty for all of countries.

I know that s no problem for security on domestic airlines in USA.
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Do not ever underestimate Al Qaeda. They keep every effort to find some ways to by pass their domestic security to attack on innocent people. Al Qaeda have their chemists and engineers who holds MA or Phd degrees in their field. They are so innovative in making chemical warfare and bombs.

In addition, they have many sleeper cells which can spring in any actions in matters of minutes around the world.
 
diehardbiker said:
Right, these British government made their rules and can not tell us what to do with our side. Sucks! Yeah I know
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It is not true.

They have worked closely with U.S. and allies to make their best efforts to avert terror attacks.
 
At least we should wait until the FBI releases details after their interview with the terrorist.
 
Babyblue said:
I'm shocked on how these terrorists that are on the no fly list. Are able to get on a plane and let alone bring an explosive!!
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His name is in the federal counterterrorism files, but the question is why is his name not on the no-fly list? It is a big question that we will find out soon or later. That is what the Congress and public wants to know.
 
netrox said:
I think passengers are more brave and will attack terrorists without reservation, while passengers in 9-11 flights were totally unprepared - they did not expect to end up getting into buildings and killing thousand of people. Now, with the 9-11 terrorist attack, passengers are forever imprinted with memories of 9-11 and will defend our nation by attacking terrorists who try to terrorize our nation.

I would definitely kill that terrorist if I could.
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Killing terrorist is not an answer because we need him for intelligence information and evidences which will help us to search for other terrorists and stop them from planning and attacking on us.
 
Never assume what they are up to, we never know what they are behind the door. There are bound to be disagreements between two countries.

Royale said:
It is not true.

They have worked closely with U.S. and allies to make their best efforts to avert terror attacks.
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Royale said:
His name is in the federal counterterrorism files, but the question is why is his name not on the no-fly list? It is a big question that we will find out soon or later. That is what the Congress and public wants to know.
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Yeah.. I saw that after reading the CNN news link.
 
Babyblue said:
I'm shocked because it is an U.S Airline.

These so called backdoors are wide opened because they're some people not doing their job! Therefore the fault is..... Human error.
Click to expand...

I am not shocked because it can happen on any airliners no matter which country they belong to.

I want to see the investigation makes those people accountable for failing to stop this terrorist from attempting to blow up NW 253.
 
It is a relief that no one was seriously hurt in the plane...I consider that a christmas miracle.
 
Kylesapp said:
the US government had little to do with keeping us safe during this situation let alone the democrates and please don't make ignorant statements such as " I would kill one " it takes alot more then what you think to pull the trigger, twist a neck, or stab another person.
Click to expand...
He was not on the no fly list although his name was on a *Federal list* for having terrorist connections.
King: Airline bombing suspect had 'significant terrorist connections' - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

I've no problems in snapping the neck of a terrorist who is about to detonate an explosive device if it means saving the lives of many people on an airplane. No problem whatsoever. We all know what happened in 911. Passengers are keen not to let this happen again by giving any terrorists any edge or chance for success.
 
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