American Morning
Source: Explosive sewn in underwear
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/29/abdulmutallab.jpg caption="Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab is accused of trying to blow up an airliner as it landed in Detroit on Christmas."]
Romulus, Michigan (CNN) - Part of an explosive device that failed to take down a plane last week was sewn into the underwear of the Nigerian man accused of igniting it, a law enforcement official told CNN Monday.
Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab is being held for allegedly trying to blow up a flight carrying 300 passengers on Christmas Day.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility Monday for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for alleged U.S. strikes on Yemeni soil.
In a message written in Arabic, dated Saturday and published Monday on radical Islamist Web sites, the group hailed the "brother" who carried out the "heroic attack."
The group said it tested "new kind of explosives" in the attack and hailed the fact that the explosives "passed through security."
"There was a technical problem that resulted in a non-complete explosion," the message said.
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- The suspect's underwear appears to have been modified, apparently to house explosive material.
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- A piece of the detonator used in the botched Christmas Day attack shows what appear to be burn marks.
A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device AbdulMutallab is said to have carried aboard the flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit, Michigan, contained pentaerythritol tetranitrate, an explosive also known as PETN. The amount of explosive was sufficient to blow a hole in the aircraft, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Sunday.
Bergen: Suspect's possible ties to Yemen 'not surprising'
(CNN) - The alleged terror incident aboard a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Detroit has raised questions as to how a Nigerian man carried explosives through stringent security measures.
We're also learning that the country of Yemen may have played a role in the Christmas Day plot.
Peter Bergen, national security analyst for CNN, says he does not think a link to Yemen is surprising. He joined us on Monday's American Morning.
Al Qaeda 'safe haven' in Yemen
U.S. officials are looking at the Middle Eastern nation of Yemen, worried that it's becoming the new hub for terrorists and extremists.
Located in the center of the region, more and more terror suspects and insurgent attacks can be linked to this one nation, including the Christmas incident. Our Barbara Starr reports in this American Morning original.
TSA guidance for passengers following Dec. 25 incident
From TSA.gov
On Dec. 25, 2009, an individual on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 set off a device and was subdued by passengers and crew. TSA wishes to acknowledge the heroic efforts of those individuals.
As a result of this incident, TSA has worked with airline and law enforcement authorities, as well as federal, state, local, and international partners to put additional security measures in place to ensure aviation security remains strong. Passengers traveling domestically and internationally to U.S. destinations may notice additional screening measures.
The American people should continue their planned holiday travel. TSA encourages passengers to remain observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activity to law enforcement officials.
Q: What additional security measures is TSA taking domestically?
A: TSA has a layered approach to security that allows us to surge resources as needed on a daily basis. We have the ability to quickly implement additional screening measures including explosive detection canine teams, law enforcement officers, gate screening, behavior detection and other measures both seen and unseen. Passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport.
Q: What additional security measures are being taken for international flights to U.S. destinations?
A: TSA issued a directive for additional security measures to be implemented for last point of departure international flights to the United States. Passengers flying into the United States from abroad can expect to see additional security measures at international airports such as increased gate screening including pat-downs and bag searches. During flight, passengers will be asked to follow flight crew instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight.
Q: Do passengers need to do anything differently to prepare for checkpoint security procedures? Has anything changed in terms of what passengers can bring in their carry-on or checked bags?
A: At this time, security checkpoint requirements for passengers departing U.S. airports remain the same. Passengers do not need to do anything differently, but they may notice additional security measures at the airport.
Q: Should passengers plan to arrive at airports earlier than normal?
A: Passengers traveling within the United States should give themselves extra time to check in and proceed through the security checkpoint before their flight, especially during the busy holiday travel season. TSA advises that passengers traveling on international flights to U.S. destinations allow extra time for security and arrive an additional hour earlier.
Q. How long will these measures remain in place?
A: TSA will continuously review these measures to ensure the highest levels of security.
How safe are our subways?
Our nation's subways are known as soft targets – considered more vulnerable because they typically have less security. Government researchers are now trying to find out what would happen if they were hit by a chemical attack. Our Jeanne Meserve reports in the AM original.
Mumbai survivors mark anniversary of attack with celebration of life
By Beth Anne Marengo
Naomi Scherr should have started classes at the Emma Willard Boarding School in Troy, New York this fall. She should have been honing her skills on her Fender and jamming with her Dad on weekends. She should have been anxiously awaiting the release of the next “Harry Potter” movie and experimenting with yet another new hair color.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/25/scherr.family.art.jpg caption="Kia Scherr's husband Alan and daughter Naomi were killed during the terrorist attack on Mumbai in November 2008."]
But she wasn’t.
Naomi, 13, and her father, Alan Scherr, 48, were killed during the terrorist attack on Mumbai last November that lasted 4 days and took the lives of 160 people.
They had been in India on a spiritual retreat sponsored by the Synchronicity Foundation when the terrorists struck – and were gunned down in the restaurant at the Oberoi Hotel as they shared a meal with their fellow travelers.
“I was shot along with them and I died while I was alive,” says Kia Scherr, Alan’s wife and Naomi’s mother. “I miss them. They were my best friends and companions. On that level, I’m alone.”
But right from the beginning, Scherr said, she shunned the urge most people would feel to lash out against the attackers who took her family from her and instead chose to focus on forgiveness and celebrating life.
So along with Charles Cannon, who led last year’s retreat to Mumbai, and other survivors of the attack, Kia Scherr is launching One Life Alliance. They plan to use the alliance to help unite people from different backgrounds and cultures by highlighting the fact that all people are members of one human race. They’ll use the group’s Web site as a venue for conversation and hold events around the country focused on promoting the sacredness of life.
Scherr and Cannon say the idea for the alliance was born from the outpouring of support she received from people – most of them strangers – from around the world in the aftermath of the attacks.
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