The 23 year old Nigerian terrorist Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab (Possible Facebook page) who tried to ignite a PETN based explosive on a Northwest airplane flight yesterday is in federal custody. The former college student in London told United states authorities he received his orders in Yemen. PETN is highly explosive and is used in mining and construction. One thing that is not clear is if the PETN was being used as a trigger for something more powerful. It would appear that the young Nigerian was not properly instructed on how to ignite the explosive. some are comparing him already to the infamous shoe bomber Richard Reid. By all accounts it appears the young terrorist wannabe had to perform a bit of lab work on the plane to make the explosive ready. I took a quick glance on PETN synthesis readily available on the internet, my advice is if you are anything short of a degree in chemistry not to try this at home. If the Nigerian used low concentration ingredients, which is likely judging from the fire, he was probably setting off what amounts to a large and dangerous firecracker.
His father, a Nigerian banker has told authorities that he has not talked to his son since he left for London for his engineering studies. Mutallab was obviously doing a little more than the average student when not in class. President Barack Obama has been keeping abreast of the situation from his vacation spot in Hawaii. The Nigerian insists he is an agent for al-Qaida.
One thing authorities can be sure of, Umar Mutallab was not trying to blow up this airplane to pay his rent. Judging from the pictures in the slide of his apartment, this little brat was living large on some major coin. Another product of a fossil fuel giant goes bad.
Statement issued by White House press through pool, “The President convened a secure call this morning at 6:20 a.m. Hawaiian time with John Brennan, his Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism Adviser, and Denis McDonough, National Security Staff Chief of Staff, where he received an update on the heightened air travel safety measures being taken to keep the American people safe and on the investigation. The President will continue to actively monitor the situation.”
All airplanes coming into U.S. are subject to increased security around the world and passengers can expect longer delays during preflight boarding.
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