Washington: US officials say a Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria said he was acting on behalf of al-Qaeda when he tried to blow up a flight as it landed in Detroit.
US Rep Peter King identified the suspect as Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian. King said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit on Friday.
One of the US intelligence officials said the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid. It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it.
The passenger was being questioned on Friday evening.
Both the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.
The motive of the Christmas Day attack was not immediately clear.
Other Agencies Report:
President Barack Obama has ordered increased security for air travel following a possible attempted airline bombing on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, the White House said.
After Obama was informed of the incident he held a secure conference call with his Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism Advisor John Brennan, and National Security Council Chief of Staff Denis McDonough.
"He asked to arrange a subsequent secure call and... instructed that all appropriate measures be taken to increase security for air travel," the White House said.
"The president is actively monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates," the statement read.
US security officials have said they were rescreening a plane that landed at Detroit airport after a passenger reportedly attempted to light an explosive onboard.
The US Transportation Security Administration said Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam landed safely after "an incident that occurred on board," but additional screening was being carried out.
"All passengers deplaned and out of an abundance of caution the plane was moved to a remote area where the plane and all the baggage are currently being rescreened," the agency said in a statement on Friday.
"A passenger is in custody and passengers are currently being interviewed," the statement added.
The Airbus 330 was carrying 278 passengers from the Netherlands to Detroit when a passenger attempted to light something that was at first believed to be a firecracker, an airline spokeswoman was quoted by a news agency as saying.
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