Terror Suspect's Father Reported Him to the US Embassy 6 Months Ago

By GottaLaff

(Photo: Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, who reported his son to the US Embassy)

What next, we find out Umar appeared on Larry King's show in 2002 and announced his intentions?

However, one day after the foiled terrorist attack, the man's father has come forth to reveal that he reported his son's fanatical religious views to the US Embassy six months ago.

The young man in question - Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab - is the son of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a former Nigerian minister and bank chairman. Half a year ago, he became suspicious of his son's religious beliefs and reported his activites to the US Embassy and Nigerian security services.

On Saturday, Mutallab left his home in Katsina, Nigeria to speak with security agencies. He indicated that his son left London, where he was an engineering student, to travel. He said he did not know where he intended to go. He said that he believed he might have gone to Yemen, "but we are investigating to determine that."

The Associated Press is reporting the same thing.

One source, someone who is close to the father, said that Daddy raised his eyebrows a few inches when he found out Umar was allowed to come to the U.S. after his tip-off to the embassy.

After Umar enrolled at University College in London, he left, going to Egypt and then Dubai. After relocating, he told his family he no longer wanted to have contact with them.

I apologize for interrupting CNN's Speculation Marathon. I'm sure this news will fuel at least another 24 hours of Q and A with unbiased authorities Fran Townsend and Pete King.

UPDATE, via a tweet from Chuck Todd:

He was added to the MAIN database of 550,000 people in Nov. 2009 (following father's warning).

Questions we're all asking: just how do names get treated when added to the terrorist database? How quickly are they investigated?

H/t: physiologyprof