Abdulmutallab in London
[Guest post by DRJ]
The UK Times has more information about Northwest Flight #253 bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s time in London:
Abdulmutallab was a former president of the Islamic Society at University College London.
The Islamic Society “advertised speakers including political figures, human rights lawyers and former Guantánamo detainees” during events such as Abdulmutallab’s conference entitled “War on Terror Week.” The Society also sponsored a seminar called Jihad v Terrorism, “a lecture on the Islamic position with respect to jihad”.
Abdulmutallab “is the fourth president of a London student Islamic society to face terrorist charges in three years. One is facing a retrial on charges that he was involved in the 2006 liquid bomb plot to blow up airliners. Two others have been convicted of terrorist offences since 2007.”
US intelligence authorities are investigating conversations between Abdulmutallab and at least one al-Qaeda member.
The material Abdulmutallab ignited on Northwest Flight #253 shot 6 foot flames up the cabin wall.
The Dutch say Abdulmutallab had a valid passport and visa: “He had a passport and a valid visa for the United States and KLM had clearance on the passenger list to carry him to the US.”
— DRJ
This is interesting. If the Dutch claim Abdulmutallab indeed had a valid passport for the U.S., then that contradicts the statement of the American attorneys who overheard the opposite,
Kurt and Lori Haskell are attorneys with Haskell Law Firm in Taylor. Their expertise includes bankruptcy, family law and estate planning.
While Mutallab was poorly dressed, his friend was dressed in an expensive suit, Haskell said. He says the suited man asked ticket agents whether Mutallab could board without a passport. “The guy said, ‘He’s from Sudan and we do this all the time.’”
The ticket agent referred Mutallab and his companion to her manager down the hall, and Haskell didn’t see Mutallab again until after he allegedly tried to detonate an explosive on the plane.
Why would the couple make this up, what did they have to gain from fabricating a claim? But if the couple were truthful, then it would very much make sense for the Dutch to make a CYA maneuver…
Dana (f64b7d) — 12/29/2009 @ 8:16 pmI thought the Haskells saw the passport incident where the flight originated in Africa. Maybe they confused Abdulmutallab for someone else. Or maybe Abdulmutallab didn’t have the passport until he arrived in Amsterdam — perhaps he met someone who had his passport or it was in a bag he discarded before continuing to Detroit. Or maybe the Dutch are being coy and Abdulmutallab had a passport but he didn’t have it with him.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 12/29/2009 @ 8:22 pmA Michigan man who was aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 says he witnessed Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab trying to board the plane in Amsterdam without a passport.
At the link, this is the husband’s statement. Something somewhere doesn’t add up.
Also interesting to see that Abdulmutallab’s lawyer is Miriam Siefer, who, when defending the terrorist who plotted blowing up an USAF base in Turkey, was accused of forgery or lying or something unethical. I can’t remember the details… just that she was less than honorable. I should Google it.
Dana (f64b7d) — 12/29/2009 @ 8:34 pmOh goody for all the Great Hindsight!
Even by this bunch.
Lets start performing this examination on all of those we know to be from the ME or have ties there.
Hey we could like set up a place where international phone calls are monitored and such!
Right?
TC (0b9ca4) — 12/29/2009 @ 8:57 pmTC proves that every once in a while even a blind pig finds an acorn.
ropelight (58ef71) — 12/30/2009 @ 8:18 ambtw, i hear obama has given himself a B+ in his security program.
A.W. (e7d72e) — 12/30/2009 @ 11:38 am