Patterico's Pontifications

12/25/2009

Terrorist Attack on Northwest Flight #253 into Detroit (Updated x4)

Filed under: Air Security,Terrorism — DRJ @ 6:16 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

A Northwest Airbus carrying 278 passengers landed safely in Detroit following an al Qaeda-linked terrorist attack:

“The White House said it believed it was an attempted act of terrorism and stricter security measures were quickly imposed on airline travel, but were not specified.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. Others had slightly different spellings.

One law enforcement source said the man claimed to have been instructed by al-Qaida to detonate the plane over U.S. soil.

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

At least one passenger acted heroically.

Smith said the passenger, sitting opposite the man, climbed over passengers, went across the aisle and tried to restrain the man. The heroic passenger appeared to have been burned.”

The flight originated in Nigeria with a stop in Amsterdam. An unnamed U.S. intelligence official said “the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid” and it failed when the Nigerian suspect tried to detonate it. He is reportedly being held and treated in an Ann Arbor hospital.

Merry Christmas from al Qaeda.

— DRJ

UPDATE — Via the Ace of Spades:

“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you John Murtha, Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee:

U.S. Rep. John Murtha told reporters Tuesday that he isn’t convinced al-Qaida is still a threat to national security.

Murtha said he visited Kuwait and Afghanistan during Thanksgiving and approves of the military’s strategy, but expressed a need to measure progress in Afghanistan.

“I don’t agree there is a threat to national security,” Murtha said, while not ruling out the possibility that he could be wrong about al-Qaida’s influence. “They keep saying they’ve defeated al-Qaida.”

UPDATE 2: I notice the White House acknowledged this was an “attempted act of terrorism” although the Department of Homeland Security calls it an “incident.” Thankfully neither used the term “man-caused disaster:”

“SPIEGEL: Madame Secretary, in your first testimony to the US Congress as Homeland Security Secretary you never mentioned the word “terrorism.” Does Islamist terrorism suddenly no longer pose a threat to your country?

Napolitano: Of course it does. I presume there is always a threat from terrorism. In my speech, although I did not use the word “terrorism,” I referred to “man-caused” disasters. That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.”

UPDATE 3: Rep. Peter King says the suspect was on a list “indicating significant terrorist connections.”

UPDATE 4: The suspect is reported to be an engineering student at the University College of London, and claims of an al Qaeda link are being questioned:

“The suspect — an engineering student at University College of London, according to ABC News and NBC News — began his trip Thursday from Nigeria. It was not clear Friday whether Mutallab underwent security screening in Amsterdam or merely changed planes there.

It also was uncertain Friday night whether the suspect had ties to a terrorist organization or had attempted the attack on his own, authorities said. Despite earlier reports that he had claimed a connection to Al Qaeda, Mutallab denied any such link in later statements to FBI agents interrogating him, the anti-terrorism official said.

“Right now he is saying he was not part of an organization or a coordinated effort. I want to caution people from jumping headlong into the Al Qaeda link because it’s a very murky area,” the official said.”

The report also indicates the suspect had an incendiary powder in a container taped to his leg that he triggered by injecting liquid via a syringe.

37 Responses to “Terrorist Attack on Northwest Flight #253 into Detroit (Updated x4)”

  1. Yet more Islamophobia. Maybe the President can sit down with this guy and share a beer—oh wait, maybe some tea—and talk it through?

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  2. I corrected the title from “Delta flight” to “Northwest flight.”

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  3. I’ve seen both in various headlines from major MSM feeds. This may be a 24-hour rule story because there has been a lot of conflicting information.

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  4. Delta bought Northwest in late October and while the plane has Delta on the side, this was Northwest Flight #253.

    Also, I added 2 updates to the post.

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  5. Northwest is wholly owned by Delta, and its’ separate identity will probably disappear as soon as they can reconcile the conflict between work/union rules.

    This is why KSM should roast in Hell, or stay in GITMO, whichever takes longer.

    I hope AG Holder, and Teh One are feeling good about themselves. This is what happens when you engage in “law enforcement” when you’re fighting a war!

    AD - RtR/OS! (3759d6)

  6. Napolitano is an idiot!

    AD - RtR/OS! (3759d6)

  7. Murtha sucks. Napolitano sucks. Al-Qaida sucks. Birda of a feather. That’s about all I have to say about that.

    PatriotRider (1729de)

  8. That person who restrained the terrorist is a great hero. The terrorist was probably about to run around the plane setting everyone on fire by contact. What a nightmare.

    j curtis (5126e4)

  9. Where was the Air Marshall?

    AD - RtR/OS! (3759d6)

  10. I’ve added Update 3 regarding the suspect was on a list “indicating significant terrorist connections.”

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  11. PowerLine reports that:
    “…The individual reportedly was in the government’s terrorism database but not on the no-fly list…”

    So much for the efficacy of the watch-dogs.

    AD - RtR/OS! (3759d6)

  12. The government still has an opportunity to call the suspect a “person of interest.”
    I will never believe a single word from any organization that uses that phrase.

    snookered (6f83c5)

  13. First thing first – Merry Christmas to all (and I’m posting this from Saudi Arabia, a working American that misses being home with friends and family)

    Ex-marine Jon Murtha doesn’t know his posterior from a hole in the ground – I guess AQ isn’t a threat to him until they attack his family. Voters in PA need to show this @$$clown the door in 2010, along with the others in Congress that share his views on what is “right” for our country.

    As for the passengers on the Northwest flight – thanks for making a stand. 9/11 is still fresh in the minds of “working people” of our country.

    Infidel Mataween (4a9c06)

  14. Homeland Security’s Profiling Guidelines were recently put up on the web under Napolitano’s watch. In addition, if a group or organization is on their watch list and there are no incidents involving them for 180 days, the group must be removed from said list. Do you feel more secure now?

    GeneralMalaise (a38f27)

  15. “He is a 23 year old Nigerian who is also – it’s been confirmed to me – while he was not on a no fly list, his name was on a list for having terrorist connections,”

    Does anybody actually think this country is not fucking BROKEN yet?

    IIRC, were not some of those that flew planes into the WTC towers, Pentagon and failed to connect to target also on some fucking list?

    #11, AD, it was the same bunch watching the mortgage biz!

    *************************

    I vote we send them all back to their homelands, if they really do think and feel freedoms are worthwhile they will use their new found ideals to deal with their own on their own soil!

    TC Pulling a total NIMBY!!!

    Go fix your own country and go now! Stay there, and keep yer fucking oil too! We will get by!

    TC (0b9ca4)

  16. Dude has got to be a right wing militia member! Those freaks have just been growing by leaps and bounds since this country elected a black man president. Homeland Security wrote a report about them earlier this year and said we needed to watch out for them and veterans too. Prominent blogs on the left have been warning about those gun and explosive crazed zealots for years and potentially one finally almost brought down an airplane on U.S. soil!!!! Godbothering, antiabortion, homophobicic, knuckledraggers! When are we going to finally implement some meaningful gun control laws in this country so we can lock right wing nutjobs like this away in concentration camps where they belong?

    Disagree with me and you’re a racist!!!!!!

    daleyrocks (718861)

  17. Ex-marine Jon Murtha doesn’t know his posterior from a hole in the ground

    — Murtha is the “hole” in the ground. When he says, “They keep saying they’ve defeated al-Qaida,” I presume he’s relating what the oh-so-trustworthy Afghan government has told him? Yep. No possibility that they’re blowing smoke up his ass; no siree!

    “I did not use the word “terrorism,” I referred to “man-caused” disasters. That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.”

    — I *sniff* must tell you all something, right now. I have . . . *choke* never been prouder . . . excuse me a moment [turns away while wiping away a tear] . . . never been more proud of the former governor of the state I formerly called home, than I am right now. Referring to an act of terrorism as a “man-caused disaster” is EXACTLY the type of bold leadership that this country needs during this time of unsettling events!

    Icy Texan (a68e3e)

  18. am i the only person to wonder about the implications that there is enough traffic to have a regularly scheduled flight from Kenya to Detroit, of all places?

    its not like either location is a garden spot or vacation destination, and despite all the internet scams, neither one is a fountain of wealth to pay for such travel…..

    redc1c4 (fb8750)

  19. Large Somali contingent living in the Great Lakes area, and Nairobi would be the nearest international gateway for them to visit home/AQ training camps/cousins who are pirates/etc.

    AD - RtR/OS! (3759d6)

  20. You guys know what I fear? A muslim backlash. BOLO for anti-muslim bias after this “incident”.

    Pat (c6d155)

  21. Yeah, if we forced all of the Muslim immigrants to leave, how would we get a cab in the Twin Cities?

    AD - RtR/OS! (3759d6)

  22. Pat – CAIR is going to be all over that anti-muslim backlash shit. I mean look at all the crap that happened after the Fort Hood shooting rampage. We don’t need a repeat of that.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  23. I’ve added Update 4.

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  24. Does it matter whether he was acting on orders or acting independently as a sympathizer? A plane load of dead innocents are just as dead — and just as innocent — either way.

    Icy Texan (a68e3e)

  25. Icy Texan,

    Absolutely. Of course, I suppose it matters to intelligence people whether he was directly connected to al Qaeda in a well-planned or well-orchestrated attack, or whether he was simply inspired by al Qaeda. JihadWatch calls the latter Sudden Jihad Syndrome. The former might be more dangerous but the latter is harder to stop, and neither is reassuring.

    DRJ (84a0c3)

  26. The only thing I’m concerned about is the lax security that allowed this nut to board a plane bound for America with such potentially lethal substances on his person.

    Icy Texan (a68e3e)

  27. If the president would just announce he’s closing Gitmo these guys would quit being so ticked off at us. Oh, wait!

    Also, note to self. In the future be sure to avoid international flights that start in Nigeria with layovers in Amsterdam, as security may be tend to be somewhat lacking. Imagine if this had not been a single trouble maker but rather a group of say, trouble making “religion which must not be named” musicians, on that plane who simultaneously set off their little incendiary devices. That could have been a very different story on Christmas day.

    elissa (ffa8b1)

  28. The religion of peace is again wrongfully implicated in this man-caused disaster.

    JD (229bac)

  29. “#9
    Where was the Air Marshall?
    Comment by AD – RtR/OS! — 12/25/2009 @ 7:45 pm”

    Why would there be a Sky Marshall? No politicians aboard that flight. We little people don’t usually rate. 🙁

    Machinist (9780ec)

  30. Where was the Air Marshall?

    My wife works as a flight attendent at American, and it’s well – known in the industry that the gov’t has severely cut back on the number of air marshalls patrolling the skies over the past few years. They used to be able to count on seeing at least one marshall on an average of every three flights – now, they hardly see them at all. I would expect that to change, particularly on international flights, where the security at some airports has been highly suspect. Remember the near – massacre that almost occurred on US flights originating from London?

    Dmac (a964d5)

  31. “If the president would just announce he’s closing Gitmo these guys would quit being so ticked off at us. Oh, wait!”

    elissa – Plus that outreach to the muslim world he kicked off with the speech in Egypt was supposed to have phased in by now. They people are supposed to love us now. Haven’t they got the message? Barack the Beautiful is President.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  32. I think this is the case for all international airports in the EU, but I am not certain.

    flight to Nigeria (080f47)

  33. i am not too sure about the merry christmas bit from al qaida which i just read, see above. just watched it on the news today around 4.30pm, crazy stuff happening all week…

    axelle rose (532ff0)

  34. Yeah, if we forced all of the Muslim immigrants to leave, how would we get a cab in the Twin Cities?

    A great opening for the Cash Cab to expand services don’t ya think?

    TC (0b9ca4)

  35. As it turns out, that is exactly what some politicians and leaders in groups like the Center for Global Strategies are trying to do. By trying to build bridges with some of these groups instead of more barriers we can move towards the peace that we all desire. Fear and mistrust are the drivers of violence. Check out an event happening later this month that is trying to make a difference at http://www.whydoyoufearme.com

    John Gilberts

    John Gilberts (11d033)

  36. By trying to build bridges with some of these groups instead of more barriers we can move towards the peace that we all desire.
    Comment by John Gilberts — 1/4/2010 @ 2:59 pm

    So when are you converting to Islam?

    Stashiu3 (44da70)

  37. […] here, here, here, here, here and too many other places to […]

    damnum absque injuria » DHS Pulls a Homer == The System Worked (490ac4)


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