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

VIDEO: Passenger who helped subdue airline suspect speaks

By GottaLaff

Via Daily Beast:

When Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch director, saw that Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab had set himself on fire aboard Friday's Delta-NWA flight, he jumped the alleged suspect, helping to detain him. CNN

I smell a movie offer...

Explosive in plane incident possibly carried in condom

By GottaLaff

Will this be what the new terror alert chart looks like?
Alert level: Teal!

Or are you just happy to see me? Talk about a Trojan horse:

(CBS/AP) The suspect in the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 used a highly explosive substance called PETN, a law enforcement official told CBS News Saturday.

The explosives were carried in a soft plastic container - possibly a condom - though much of the packaging was destroyed in the fire, the official said.

The FBI is questioning the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who claimed to be acting on orders from al Qaeda to blow up the airliner, officials said.

After Umar's unfortunate little crotch fire, seems like his condom days are over.

AP source: US knew of terror suspect

By GottaLaff

AP – This picture provided by J.P. Karas shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving …

I just heard this on the Tee Vee Machine, too, along with hours upon hours of meaningless speculation:

An official briefed on the attack on a Detroit airliner says the U.S. has known for at least two years that the suspect in the attack could have terrorist ties.

The official tells The Associated Press that the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, has been on a list that includes people with known or suspected contact or ties to a terrorist or terrorist organization.

So the questions they're asking are: If they did know about him, why didn't he show up on the list? If he didn't show up on the list, why not?

Whatever the answers are, we do know this: It's all Obama's fault. No matter what. His fault. Impeach now. (sarcasm)

UPDATE: Per CNN just now, although he was on a list, there was no specific information to red flag him. The information was too general.

Headline-O'-The-Day: Terror List edition

By GottaLaff

Justice Dept. Finds Flaws in F.B.I. Terror List

From the Department of Understatements.