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The FBI said investigators were examining the explosive thatappeared to be a revamped model of the bomb employed in theChristmas Day plot of 2009, in which a plastic explosive hidden ina Nigerian man's underwear failed to detonate on a plane headed forDetroit. The plot hatched by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was uncoveredat an early stage and at no point was the public in danger,according to the White House and government agencies. "The device was for use by a suicide bomber on an airliner," a UScounterterrorism official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "At no point were any airlines at risk." News of the plot was revealed just days after the one-yearanniversary of the raid by US Navy commandos that killed Al-Qaedachief Bin Laden at his Pakistan hideout. "I congratulate the CIA for thwarting this reported plot by AQAP todestroy a US-bound airliner using a specific type of bomb that isof new design and very difficult to detect by magnetometer,"Senator Dianne Feinstein, who heads the Senate IntelligenceCommittee, said in a statement. The FBI said the improvised explosive device was seized abroad andwas "very similar to IEDs that have been used previously byAl-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in attempted terroristattacks, including against aircraft and for targetedassassinations." Like previous attempted AQAP attacks, the explosive wasnon-metallic to avoid detection, officials said. "While similar, a preliminary review of this device shows that ithas some significant differences from the device used in theChristmas Day attack. It is clear that AQAP is revamping its bombtechniques to try to avoid the causes of the failure of the 2009device," the counterterrorism official said. President Barack Obama was briefed about the plot in April and wastold by his deputies that lives were never in danger, said CaitlinHayden, deputy spokeswoman for the National Security Council. "While the president was assured that the device did not pose athreat to the public, he directed the Department of HomelandSecurity and law enforcement and intelligence agencies to takewhatever steps necessary to guard against this type of attack," shesaid in a statement. AQAP has been linked to the 2009 Christmas plot and is alsosuspected of orchestrating a 2010 attempt to blow up cargo planesheading to the United States with explosives concealed in printercartridges. The latest conspiracy confirmed AQAP as a mounting danger that hasgained ground due to unrest in Yemen, officials said. "It is our assessment that the threat from AQAP is growing due tothe territorial gains the group made during the political standoffin Yemen that lasted from early 2011 until this past February.Those territorial gains have allowed the group to establishadditional training camps," the counterterrorism official said. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the United States had to stayalert to the threat posed by Al-Qaeda. "What this incident makes clear is that this country has tocontinue to remain vigilant against those who would seek to attackthis country and we will do everything necessary to keep Americasafe," Panetta told a press conference after talks with his Chinesecounterpart. The Department of Homeland Security said the latest plot"demonstrates our adversaries' interest in targeting the aviationsector," adding it would continue to use a "layered approach toensure" public safety. "These layers include threat and vulnerability analysis,prescreening and screening of passengers, using the best availabletechnology, random searches at airports, federal air marshalcoverage and additional security measures both seen and unseen,"DHS spokesman Matt Chandler said. Security at airports and on US-bound airliner flights was tightenedsince the failed Christmas Day bombing, when spy agencies wereheavily criticized for failing "to connect the dots" amongintelligence reports. Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was sentenced in February tofour consecutive life sentences for his botched attempt to blow upNorthwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached Detroit, with 289people aboard. Hijacked airliners were also used to carry out the September 11,2001 attacks on New York and Washington in which nearly 3,000people were killed. I am an expert from universal-laptop-acadaptor.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Laptop Power Adaptors , China Long Life Laptop Batteries, Universal AC Laptop Adapter,and more.
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