MI5 knew of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s UK extremist links

timesonline.co.uk ^ | Jan. 3, 2010 | David Leppard

[Free ThinkerNY]

The security services knew three years ago that the Detroit bomber had “multiple communications” with Islamic extremists in Britain, it emerged this weekend.

Counterterrorism officials said Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was “reaching out” to extremists whom MI5 had under surveillance while he was studying at University College London.

Officials said the 23-year-old Nigerian was “starting out on a journey” in Britain that culminated in his attempt to bring down flight 253 as it prepared to land in Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas Day.

None of the information was passed to American officials, which will prompt questions about intelligence failures prior to the attack.

British officials have now passed a file to their US counterparts on Abdulmutallab’s activities in Britain while he was a student from 2005 to 2008. It shows his repeated contacts with MI5 targets who were subject to phone taps, email intercepts and other forms of surveillance.

Intelligence officials have defended their decision not to flag Abdulmutallab as a possible terrorist risk. They say he was one of many youths who mix with extremists, but are not themselves thought to be involved in plotting or supporting terrorism.

A senior Whitehall official said the intelligence agency had conducted a quick assessment of Abdulmutallab while he was living in London and concluded that he was not a threat to national security.

[Clive]

What happened?

I had thought that the Old Firm and the Company were closely cooperating.

[tet68]

They say he was one of many youths who mix with extremists, but are not themselves thought to be involved in plotting or supporting terrorism.

You are who you hang with and if a few more were hung
less would hang out.