Nigerian man held in University of Michigan Hospital charged with attempting to destroy airplane
A Nigerian national being held at the University of Michigan Medical Center was charged in a federal criminal complaint today with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft and placing a destructive device on the aircraft.
The FBI's Detroit office also revealed additional details of what occurred as the plane made its descent into Detroit Metro Airport from Amsterdam.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, is expected to make his initial court appearance later today. He was taken to the U-M Medical Center for his injuries, but no update on his medical condition was available this afternoon.
According to an affidavit filed today, Abdulmutallab boarded Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam on Thursday with a device attached to his body.
Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for about 20 minutes before the plane was descending into Detroit Metro Airport, according to the affidavit. After returning to his seat, he said his stomach was upset and pulled a blanket over himself.
Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor and some saw Abdulmutallab’s pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire, the FBI said. Passengers and crew subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames.
Passengers told authorities Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout. One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied “explosive device,” the FBI said.
The FBI said a preliminary analysis showed the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. In addition, FBI agents recovered what appear to be the remnants of a syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab’s seat, believed to have been part of the device, a press release said.
More coverage elsewhere: • CNN: Suspect charged with trying to destroy Northwest flight • CNN video: Passenger who helped subdue the suspect in an attempted terror attack aboard flight 253 • CNN video: Passenger: Terror suspect seemed 'stunned' • New York Times: Restrictions rise after terrorism attempt • Detroit Free Press: Security expert: Device would have caught terror suspect before flight • The Associated Press: U.S. knew of terror suspect • Detroit Free Press: Detroit not intended target of foiled terror attempt? • Detroit News: Detroit flight passenger says people screamed to put out fire
Comments
shawnsbrain
Mon, Dec 28, 2009 : 10:38 a.m.
GoBlu, 2009 has been the most active year on record as to terrorist plots affecting the west. Even our "progressive" administration recognizes that as a fact. Ask the innocent passengers on that plane if they think this is some kind of government conspiracy. Those that want to communicate about doing our country harm need to be investigated. Try blowing up a plane I'm on and your civil liberties are that last thing you'll be concerned about. Appeasement and dialogue do not work with zealots, just refer to Neville Chamberlain. Money (poverty) is not where you'll find the answer either. This guy came from a very wealthy family. Terrorism is a very real threat that future generations will have to deal with. I, for one, would rather they view our response as strong rather than weak. The more we patronize these fools the worse it will get.
Conservative
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 2:31 p.m.
This scumbag should be transferred to a military base. Get him OUT of UM hospital. Once in custody of the military, his wounds should be treated, he should be thoroughly interrogated by WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE to get info out of him. Once we've gotten all useful information out of him, he should be tried before a military tribunal and then, if found guilty, shot. The people who interrogate him should not need to worry about being sued or prosecuted for getting information out of him that will SAVE AMERICAN LIVES. This scumbag is not entitles to the protections granted under OUR constitution. He's an enemy combatant and we are at WAR. Wake up everyone.
bedrog
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 11:18 a.m.
internet more reliable ( with no standards of evidence whatsoever)? the previous posts by goblu raise doubts about that...and rick ( secede from the union) perry is himself hardly an oracle of anything sensible
bedrog
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 10:57 a.m.
the comments by goblu raise an interesting hypothesis for human evolutionary theory...perhaps some contemporary people did not have primate ancestors but rather ostrich ones ( as in "head in the sand")
bedrog
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 6:22 a.m.
apropos of goblu's ( which even he/she would presumably admit was a bit of premature expostulation, given what we know now...a little poem: HE WASN'T A TERRORIST he didn't set himself on fire islam to inspire instead he was just a fan of the late richard pryor one also wonders whether some other recent "contrarian" posters to this site on related matters will turn up at the hospital with flowers and chocolates..many know who i mean, notably on the city council and the UM MSA
Tom Joad
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 1:22 a.m.
Farouk us? No, Farouk you!
Jackietreehorn
Sat, Dec 26, 2009 : 11:14 p.m.
More loss of liberties? I don't mind taking my shoes off at the airport. No federal agents have kicked my door in, nor do I predict that happening. Don't mind the occasional traffic stop, and no problem with the police asking me questions. Also yet to see any black helicopters following me during my day to day activities. DO have a big problem with people trying to blow up planes. I also have a problem with folks who go out of their way to make excuses for these felonious idiots. I, myself, would like to say "thank you" to all law enforcement and the military for trying to keep these fools away from me and my family.
clara
Sat, Dec 26, 2009 : 8:41 p.m.
Luckily it happened on day shift. Metro PD just laid off a bunch of police. That scene would have been the hole afternoon shift. Too bad we have to sacrifice our safety to save a few bucks.
tdw
Sat, Dec 26, 2009 : 5:19 p.m.
@ Goblu go ahead I won't even bother. But you do need to read or listen to witness on the flight who said it " sounded" like muffled firecrackers
clara
Sat, Dec 26, 2009 : 4:59 p.m.
"a highly explosive organic compound belonging to the same chemical family as nitroglycerin.. is easily detonated... Valued for its shattering force and efficiency" It was not a firecracker! "PETN is a granular white powder that can be set off by simple friction" Dr. Anthony Fainberg of the Center for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University, wrote that high explosives like PETN were "the most serious threats in aircraft sabotage, because they can be easily molded for concealment, are very stable in the absence of a detonator and are able, in small amounts, to destroy a large airplane in flight." The downing of T.W.A. Flight 800 apparently was related to PETN use between rows 17 and 27. In 1982, a bomb exploded on a Pan American flight to Honolulu. Two weeks later, another Pan Am flight, from Miami to Rio de Janeiro, was found to have a bomb on board. The bombs were determined to have been virtually identical, and their chief component was PETN.
Atlas Shrugged
Sat, Dec 26, 2009 : 4:52 p.m.
Sounds like we have plenty of witnesses, physical evidence (reports are that he was using a nitroglycerin-like binary explosive), and I believe even a confession. Try him, fry him, and waste little time or money doing it.
AnnArBo
Sat, Dec 26, 2009 : 4:37 p.m.
Ok, don't water board him, or otherwise take any tough actions to find out who his accomplices are.......at least the passengers knew what to do with this guy.