Michigan:Al-Qaida link in failed plane attack

[DaRizzle]

ROMULUS, Mich. – A Nigerian man who said he was an agent for al-Qaida tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane Friday as it was preparing to land in Detroit, but travelers who smelled smoke and heard what sounded like firecrackers rushed to subdue him, the passengers and federal officials said.

Flight 253 with 278 passengers aboard was about 20 minutes from the airport when passengers heard popping noises, witnesses said. At least one person climbed over others and jumped on the man. Shortly afterward, the suspect was taken to the front of the plane with his pants cut off and his legs burned, a passenger said.

One U.S. intelligence official said the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid. It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it.

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

Smith said a passenger sitting opposite the man climbed over people, went across the aisle and tried to restrain the man. Syed Jafri, another passenger, said he saw a glow and smelled smoke. Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him."

"Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," said Jafri. Smith said the heroic passenger appeared to have been burned.

The White House said it believed it was an attempted act of terrorism and stricter security measures were quickly imposed on airline travel. It did not specify what those were.

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. Reid is serving a life sentence.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect in Friday's attempted attack as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. One law enforcement official said the man claimed to have been instructed by al-Qaida to detonate the plane over U.S. soil. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

The man was being questioned Friday evening. An intelligence official said the Nigerian passenger was being held and treated in an Ann Arbor, Mich., hospital. One passenger was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice said. She referred all inquiries to the FBI.

The trauma burn center at the hospital said it did not have Abdul Mutallab in its unit.

Flight 253 began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., the ranking GOP member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

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. 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 in hand luggage that must be placed inside clear plastic bags.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about the flight until it was on final approach to Detroit, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory. That is when the pilot declared an emergency, she said. The flight landed at 12:51 p.m. EST, she said.

Delta Air Lines Inc., which bought Northwest last year, said that "upon approach to Detroit, a passenger caused a disturbance." It said the passenger was subdued immediately and the crew asked that law enforcement officials meet the flight.

"The passenger was taken into custody and questioned by law enforcement authorities," the airline said.

Smith said while he was leaving the plane, he looked at where the man had been sitting and saw a pillow that seemed to have been burned. 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.

President Barack Obama was notified of the incident and discussed it with security officials, the White House said. It said he is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from his vacation spot in Hawaii.

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.

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.

In 2003, al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden purportedly marked Nigeria for liberation in a recording posted on the Internet, calling on Muslims in the oil-rich country to rise up against one of the "regimes who are slaves of America." But links to al-Qaida remained rare, though security forces claimed to break up such a linked terror cell in November 2007.

Security at Nigeria's two major international airports in the capital Abuja and in its megacity Lagos remain a point of concern. Uniformed federal police officers often focus their time on keeping hagglers and taxi drivers out. Bags quickly pass through X-ray scanners and those watching incoming passengers do not typically conduct tests for explosive residue on passengers' carry-on baggage nor shoes.

At the gate, airline workers often check passengers again with handheld metal detectors before they board their flight.

Delta, which is days away from obtaining a single operating certificate from the FAA to fully integrate itself and Northwest, has been hosting military personnel who have to travel over the holidays in a lounge at the Detroit airport.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_airliner_disturbance

wow...way to go passengers

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

And some people say it's still wrong to stereotype Muslims.

You can't help but to generalize the entire religion.

 

[DaRizzle]

And some people say it's still wrong to stereotype Muslims.

You can't help but to generalize the entire religion.

and some people say its wrong to generalize sports forum posters as idiots

 

[Mamba]

And some people say it's still wrong to stereotype Muslims.

You can't help but to generalize the entire religion.

Agreed.

I generalize and stereotype everyone I meet. IDGAF.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

And some people say it's still wrong to stereotype Muslims.

Stereotyping any group is wrong, genius.

You can't help but to generalize the entire religion.

If you can't help but generalize (as what? terrorists?) a billion people, I'd seriously consider not posting that fact on the internet. It's a lose-lose for everyone involved.

 

[bintim]

Are there any fundamentalist religious fanatics from other religions calling for death to all people who don't believe as they do? If there are billions of Muslims that believe theirs is a religion of peace, they better get on the stick and start showing it. I won't believe that until I see it.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Very impressed by the passenger.

I've been thinking what I'd do in a situation like that. I don't think I'd even hesitate to go after someone with a bomb. I mean, if he gets what you want, you are dead anyway.

God Bless America.

 

[Buzz Killington]

I hope they beat the shit out of him.

 

[bintim]

I hope that IF this religious terrorism continues, the rest of the world will see it as them or us, and them ain't gonna win. I would love to see that Islam is a peaceful religion, but I'm not seeing it. Moderate Muslims need to step up and take their religion back before it's too late. What ever happened to the "people of the book" teachings?

 

[drexlersdad]

Very impressed by the passenger.

I've been thinking what I'd do in a situation like that. I don't think I'd even hesitate to go after someone with a bomb. I mean, if he gets what you want, you are dead anyway.

God Bless America.

exactly, whats the worst that could happen, you blow up anyways? might as well try and fuck his world up.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Someone old me (no idea if it's true) that the guy who stopped him was a Muslim, too. Anyone else heard anything?

 

[drexlersdad]

And some people say it's still wrong to stereotype Muslims.

You can't help but to generalize the entire religion.

20% of the world = terrorist? no.

 

[RR7]

Someone old me (no idea if it's true) that the guy who stopped him was a Muslim, too. Anyone else heard anything?

Probably. Violent fucker tackled him, when he could have just peacefully asked him to stop what he was doing.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Are there any fundamentalist religious fanatics from other religions calling for death to all people who don't believe as they do? If there are billions of Muslims that believe theirs is a religion of peace, they better get on the stick and start showing it. I won't believe that until I see it.

What are they going to do? Send you an e-mail? Release a video?

How do you expect a billion people to simultaneously let you know that they are peaceful and reject terrorism? Would you see it on the news? A special report on CNN? You might wanna start thinking about how this would work.

I hope that IF this religious terrorism continues, the rest of the world will see it as them or us, and them ain't gonna win.

Yes, the religious fundamentalism will continue (in Islam, anyway), and YES, the rest of the world (spare one or two "crazy" countries) will side with us.

I would love to see that Islam is a peaceful religion, but I'm not seeing it.

You're not looking.

Moderate Muslims need to step up and take their religion back before it's too late.

They've had control of it all along. Have you ever talked to a Muslim?

What ever happened to the "people of the book" teachings?

Huh?

 

[DaRizzle]

Probably. Violent fucker tackled him, when he could have just peacefully asked him to stop what he was doing.

Ok, I can even laugh at that one....lol

 

[DaRizzle]

Someone old me (no idea if it's true) that the guy who stopped him was a Muslim, too. Anyone else heard anything?

God I hope thats true

 

[bintim]

People of the Book refers to Jews and Christians who share prophets with Islam. You may be correct on billions of Muslims being non-violent, but until some of their governments stop supporting the terrorists, not many may believe that. I want to believe it, but I don't see it.

 

[DaRizzle]

People of the Book refers to Jews and Christians who share prophets with Islam. You may be correct on billions of Muslims being non-violent, but until some of their governments stop supporting the terrorists, not many may believe that. I want to believe it, but I don't see it.

May?

You think the mass opinion of people is that the majority of Muslim people are violent?


I wonder how many skinheads there are in the world?

Hey white people, kill or imprison all your skinheads or you are obviously all racists just waiting for the chance to perform a hate crime


....wtf

 

[bintim]

I actually have spoken to Muslims, but it was long before 9-11 and terrorist topics never came up. They were very nice gentleman as I recall.

I would love to see some positive things being done by Muslims in the media. It would help a lot I think. All we hear are the terrorist stories. Maybe the media needs to go looking for some.

 

[DaRizzle]

Maybe the media needs to go looking for some.

Dont hold your breath.

Good deeds are never on the news regardless if it was this topic or something else

 

[DaRizzle]

I actually have spoken to Muslims, but it was long before 9-11 and terrorist topics never came up.

The fact that you have to say that as its something that has to be said scares me.


"Talked to a Muslim friend of mine today. Didnt get any intel out of him but he wants to go to the movies later today"

 

[bintim]

May?

You think the mass opinion of people is that the majority of Muslim people are violent?


I wonder how many skinheads there are in the world?

Hey white people, kill or imprison all your skinheads or you are obviously all racists just waiting for the chance to perform a hate crime


....wtf

I don't know how many skinheads there are in the world.........I can't stand them. They are as sick as the rest of the violent movements. They are waiting for a chance to perform a hate crime. I apologize if I have offended your ethnicity. Personally I think we all end up in the same place eventually anyway.

 

[DaRizzle]

I don't know how many skinheads there are in the world.........I can't stand them. They are as sick as the rest of the violent movements. They are waiting for a chance to perform a hate crime. I apologize if I have offended your ethnicity. Personally I think we all end up in the same place eventually anyway.

Its just an internet board so whatever...but Im trying to show you the other side.

Skinheads have marches/protests and are protected by the police yet are known for committing violent acts. Is there at least one murderer if 500+ gather together...id bet so.

Im not condoning what either of these groups do...im just saying there is a double standard when how they are treated.

Lets equate it to these boards....

IF....

Mixum = Insane Blazer Fan

THEN..

GrandpaBlaze= Blazer Fan


....does GrandpaBlaze have to apologize for MIXUM and do everything in his power to make him stop posting?

 

[bintim]

DaRizzle I know what you are trying to do and you are correct in what you have said. It brought to mind the story of the village in Afghanistan that wouldn't turn over a wounded special forces soldier to the Taliban as it would go against their beliefs. They risked death to defend him. That is very noble, and does show a side of Islam that I would like to see more of.........in all religions actually. Killing of innocents is just bullshit no matter who is doing it.

Papa G gets to do what he wants and MIXUM gets to do what he wants and as long as it isn't hurting more than feelings I don't care. MIXUM I actually agreed with once when he said he liked Przybilla.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

People of the Book refers to Jews and Christians who share prophets with Islam.

Yeah, I know. But the teachings usually talked about in reference to an old tax code. Either way, that's what fundamentalists and who they are: they have a distorted view of the religious teachings. Something like the People of the Book sections of the Qur'an would be ignored.

You may be correct on billions of Muslims being non-violent, but until some of their governments stop supporting the terrorists, not many may believe that. I want to believe it, but I don't see it.

The fact is that the vast majority of Muslims AND Muslim governments do not support terrorism. The only (official) government I can think of that could be suspected of direct terrorist support is Iran. Saudi Arabia is often blamed for supporting terrorism, too, but they don't have an official policy. They support their mosques and some of those mosques support terrorism.

That, to me, isn't a good enough reason to suspect a billion people of supporting terrorism and being violent. There is also a widespread distrust of government in the Arab world. Iran and Saudi Arabia are no exceptions.

I actually have spoken to Muslims, but it was long before 9-11 and terrorist topics never came up. They were very nice gentleman as I recall.

I would love to see some positive things being done by Muslims in the media. It would help a lot I think. All we hear are the terrorist stories. Maybe the media needs to go looking for some.

Definitely. The positive things done by Muslim groups in America and all over the world aren't exactly action-news/pundit/bloggable material. This kind of thing doesn't get talked about at a national level. The news media is, I think, one of the main reasons that Islam is portrayed in the light that it is. Even a cursory reading of a select few Wikipedia articles will tell you more about Muslims and the Middle East than watching the evening news for a year will.

 

[DaRizzle]

MIXUM I actually agreed with once when he said he liked Przybilla.

Fucking terrorist

 

[drexlersdad]

DaRizzle I know what you are trying to do and you are correct in what you have said. It brought to mind the story of the village in Afghanistan that wouldn't turn over a wounded special forces soldier to the Taliban as it would go against their beliefs. They risked death to defend him. That is very noble, and does show a side of Islam that I would like to see more of.........in all religions actually. Killing of innocents is just bullshit no matter who is doing it.

Papa G gets to do what he wants and MIXUM gets to do what he wants and as long as it isn't hurting more than feelings I don't care. MIXUM I actually agreed with once when he said he liked Przybilla.

think you got a little electricity to the brain there sparky, agree with mixum?

 

[barfo]

But the teachings usually talked about in reference to an old tax code.

I'm interested to know what you meant, but I can't understand that sentence.

barfo

 

[ABM]

I'm interested to know what you meant, but I can't understand that sentence.

barfo

Effectively, hoo dat.

 

[barfo]

Effectively, hoo dat.

I'm interested to know what you meant, but I can't understand that sentence.

barfo