Northwest Airlines Flight 253 Terror Plot Christmas Day 2009

By Jim Kouri
Dec 27, 2009




A Nigerian man claiming to be part of the al-Qaeda terrorist group was charged in a federal criminal complaint late yesterday 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 NYPD-FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force report obtained by the Terrorism Committee of the National Association of Chiefs of Police

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 Abdulmutallabs 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."

Meanwhile, Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said in a statement, "I am grateful to the passengers and crew aboard Northwest Flight 253 who reacted quickly and heroically to an incident that could have had tragic results. The Department of Homeland Security immediately put additional screening measures into place—for all domestic and international flights—to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public."

"We are also working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement on additional security measures, as well as our international partners on enhanced security at airports and on flights," she added.

Following the incident, Abdulmutallab required medical treatment, and was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center after the plane landed.

Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately twenty 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 said they heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor, and some observed Abdulmutallabs pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire.

The 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 in his pocket, and he replied "explosive device."

These prosecutions are being handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the Counter-terrorism Section of the Justice Departments National Security Division.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

According to officials from Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

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[pimezon]

I am an alien worker in the US from India, and what is frustrating about this whole issues is, when we go to obtain visa from Indian consulates, they invariably subject people to this 221g process delaying entry validation into the US to as much as 6 months.... for genuine people. and morons such as these guys get a clear chit. isn't that absurd!!

[Mulligantd]

I feel you brother your right all the way!

[13AJJONES]

You couldnt pay me to fly today...luckily, I am not reqired to.

Dont just complain though,...join or start, you local citizen protection militia. and name it accordingly. ex. Peace ,and Freedom loving Guaranteers. of Ohio.

[kimbo99]

He was deliberately let thru by an internal faction of the US Govt overriding every security measure.The faction wants to embarass and frighten OBama. That HE is not safe. He could follow JFK,RFK MLK etc

[amcanmike]

FALSE FLAG  CO OP

[bionicpineapple]

wake up dude

[brandtaylor93]

No matter what you do, with the number of people who fly every day, there will almost always be somone who gets through.

more security at the airport is not the answer it just makes the stupid people feel safe. They should teach people to be vigilante and have reasonable security.

[imsoawesom]

Interesting isn't it.. a "watch-list" suspect gets a free pass onto a plane (without a passport!).. sounds like he's got someone high up in the ranks backing him up doesn't it...

[imsoawesom]

"They're not using technology, or there's a hole in the process".. that's all you came up with?? Get your head out of you ass and open up your eyes. It's stupid people like you that make it so easy for governement to pull the whool over the publics eyes. This is deliberate propaganda, and if you actually did some research instead of regurgitate what you hear on "government-run cnn" you might realize a thing or two about what is really happening in this country..

[alienoverlord362]

As if thats not bad enough this cock sucker is getting lawyered up in civil court. Rather than being waterboarded and having his fingernails pulled out by military. ANYONE WHO SPECIFICALLY TARGETS CIVILIANS SHOULD BE TORTURED TO DEATH!!!

[monicatov]

@theprolifeguy

exactly

more terrorists attacks = less civil rights and freedom

They've put even 2-year-olds in the no-fly list, but this guy no, he had potential

[kikotemi2]

dont you see that they are subliminally trying to tell us we are all terrorists? really ...put it together and youll understand.. just think.. because getting mad is exactly what they want