Who Is Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab?

Close Call
Abdulmutallab boarded the Northwest/Delta plane in Lagos on Christmas Eve, paying for his ticket with cash and checking no bags. The plane transited in Amsterdam, then set off for Detroit. Abdulmutallab bided his time until the last hour of the flight, when he attempted to inject a chemical into a powerful plastic explosive sewn into his underwear. Alerted by a burning smell and popping sounds, other passengers and members of the crew subdued him; he was then taken into custody by authorities in Detroit.

• Terrorism on Flight 253