Posted on 12/26/2009 2:48:22 PM PST by TornadoAlley3
WASHINGTON—A 23-year-old Nigerian man was charged in a federal criminal complaint today with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day and with placing a destructive device on the aircraft.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, a Nigerian national, boarded Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam, Netherlands on December 24, 2009 and had a device attached to his body. As the flight was approaching Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab set off the device, which resulted in a fire and what appears to have been an explosion. Abdulmutallab was then subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew. The airplane landed shortly thereafter, and he was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol officers.
A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. Further analysis is ongoing. In addition, FBI agents recovered what appear to be the remnants of the syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab’s seat, believed to have been part of the device.
“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
Abdulmutallab required medical treatment and was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center after the plane landed. He will make his initial court appearance later today.
Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately 20 minutes, according to the affidavit. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset, and he 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. 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.”
These prosecutions are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Releases | Detroit Home
So, is this a hate crime?
I thought it was a Delta plane.
Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately 20 minutes, according to the affidavit. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset, and he 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. 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.”
How long before we get islamic clerics tell us...”He is not a true muslim. muslim don´t kill in the name of their religion”
PS. NO; I did not misspell islamic or muslim, I don´t respect those words therefore I don´t use capital letters.
How long before we get islamic clerics tell us...”He is not a true muslim. muslim don´t kill in the name of their religion”
PS. NO; I did not misspell islamic or muslim, I don´t respect those words therefore I don´t use capital letters.
Digestive system upset after a hefty dose of laxative used to recover at least part of the device?
Has he received his free ACLU attorney to get him off yet? Or, maybe plea bargain to 5 years probation?
I mean, heaven forbid we should do as Bush did and treat him as if he were a *gasp* terrorist or anything.
I’m sure he was driven to it solely because we are slaughtering innocents in a “civil war,” right Ron Paulies?
/sarcasm off now/
How long before little old ladies have to take off their underwear
Northwest owns Delta.
“One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied “explosive device.””
....nah..... it’s just too easy.
I sure hope they read him his Miranda rights, before questioning him.
Interesting he sings like a bird, admitting everything. Is that part of the plan?
Sing before getting Miranda rights?
Then claim innocence, recant admissions, claim torture, etc.
There was a time in America, long ago, when we had no remorse about executing our war enemies.
The Germans who landed on the Atlantic coast beaches were executed.
Hishigi lock ,applied by a fellow passenger , until demise
That’s the message to send
Yeah, but does that prove he's a terrorist???? (/sarc)
Just my luck, he probably was the Nigerian Prince smuggling the $25 Mil US out of Nigeria to put in my bank account. An e-mail told me about him. I sent them my bank account number and the pin!!!
......Bob
Same company. Remember the NWA pilots who overflew the airport because they were trying to figure out how to set up their schedules on the Delta system?
From the pictures, it appears that this particular plane had been to the paint shop already.
Dumbest headline of the week. Trying to destroy an aircraft? The the people on board would have just been - what? - colateral damage?
Do they plan to charge him with terrorism, I wonder? Or doesn’t that count because he’s just a sweet, wuvvable, diverse little African Muzzie who just had one of those passing urges to “destroy an aircraft.”
The only positive thing I see coming out of this is that many people are pointing to Flight 800 now, which was destroyed by the same tactic this guy tried to use: an explosive over a semi-empty, vapor-filled fuel tank. Initially, in the days right after the destruction of Flight 800, they even said it was the same explosive. Then it changed to just a mysterious random something that somehow made that center fuel tank blow up...
In the interest of historical accuracy, 75% of the original group of 8 were executed. The other two were eventually deported to Germany.
“In the interest of historical accuracy, 75% of the original group of 8 were executed. The other two were eventually deported to Germany.”
Thanks for the improvement in the quality of information.
The basic point, we used to take matters much more seriously than at present.
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.