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'Terror attack bid' on US plane 'Bomb attack bid' on US airliner
(20 minutes later)
An incident on an airliner arriving in Detroit from the Netherlands was an attempted terrorist attack, a senior administration official told the BBC. An incident on an airliner arriving in the US city of Detroit from Amsterdam in the Netherlands was a failed bomb attack, senior US officials say.
Sources say a man tried to blow up the jet with 278 passengers on board, but was subdued and taken into custody. No-one was seriously hurt. Sources say a man injured himself trying to ignite an explosive device on the jet with 278 passengers on board but nobody else was seriously hurt.
The suspect said he had been acting on behalf of al-Qaeda, a police source told the Associated Press news agency. In custody, the suspect said he had been acting on behalf of al-Qaeda, a police source told AP news agency.
President Barack Obama has ordered increased security for air travel.President Barack Obama has ordered increased security for air travel.
We heard a little pop, then a bit of a smoke and then some flames and yelling and screaming and then somebody said the guy was subdued Eyewitness aboard the jetWe heard a little pop, then a bit of a smoke and then some flames and yelling and screaming and then somebody said the guy was subdued Eyewitness aboard the jet
White House spokesman Bill Burton said the president was monitoring the situation. The White House spokesman Bill Burton said the president was monitoring the situation.
US and Dutch media report that the suspect is a Nigerian national studying in London.US and Dutch media report that the suspect is a Nigerian national studying in London.
A source described by the Associated Press as a "senior US counter-terror official" said the passenger had been planning to blow up the plane but the device failed. Northwest Airlines Flight 253 had been coming in to land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday afternoon when the incident occurred.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing, the agency added.
'Taped to his leg''Taped to his leg'
Northwest Airlines Flight 253 had been arriving from the Dutch capital Amsterdam when the incident occurred at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday afternoon. Reports quote officials as saying the suspect seems to have tried to ignite some kind of incendiary device.
AIRLINE TERROR PLOTS 1995: Al-Qaeda plots to blow up US airliners over the Pacific in "Operation Bojinka"2001: Briton Richard Reid tries to blow up a Paris-Miami flight with 197 people on board using explosives hidden in his shoes2006: Police in Britain foil a series of attacks on transatlantic flights using liquid bombs disguised as soft drinksAIRLINE TERROR PLOTS 1995: Al-Qaeda plots to blow up US airliners over the Pacific in "Operation Bojinka"2001: Briton Richard Reid tries to blow up a Paris-Miami flight with 197 people on board using explosives hidden in his shoes2006: Police in Britain foil a series of attacks on transatlantic flights using liquid bombs disguised as soft drinks
According to a report on the ABC television network, the suspect told authorities he had had explosive powder taped to his leg and used a syringe of chemicals to mix with the powder that was to cause explosion. A passenger said the man had been severely burned on one leg, and a fire extinguisher was used at one point.
Another US intelligence official quoted by AP said an explosive device had been used consisting of a "mix of powder and liquid". Another passenger, Syed Jafri, told AP he had been seated three rows behind the suspect and had seen a glow and noticed a smoke smell.
The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.
A robot was used to check the plane at one stage.
A robot could be seen examining the plane with an official nearby
At least one passenger was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.
Passengers told AP about a bang and smoke and fire, which some took to be a firecracker going off.
Syed Jafri, a US citizen who had flown from the United Arab Emirates, said the incident occurred during the plane's descent.
He said he was seated three rows behind the passenger and had seen a glow and noticed a smoke smell.
Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him".Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him".
"Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," Mr Jafri added."Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," Mr Jafri added.
As the suspect was being tackled, he was reportedly shouting and a passenger said she had heard the word "Afghanistan".
Another unnamed passenger heard a "little pop", then saw "a bit of a smoke and then some flames".Another unnamed passenger heard a "little pop", then saw "a bit of a smoke and then some flames".
After "yelling and screaming", the attacker was subdued. "They took him out and it was really quick," the passenger added. A robot could be seen examining the plane with an official nearby
Another unnamed eyewitness said a man had reacted to the explosion by jumping "over all the other people and he took care of it so the fire went out". After "yelling and screaming", the passenger added, "they took him out and it was really quick".
The suspect later told the US authorities he had had explosive powder taped to his leg and used a syringe of chemicals to mix with the powder that was to cause explosion, the ABC television network reports.
Another US intelligence official quoted by AP said an explosive device had been used consisting of a "mix of powder and liquid".
Peter King, who sits on the US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, reported details of the incident in interviews for US TV channels.
"He [the suspect] has third-degree burns," he said.
Mr King, a New York Republican, said the suspect appeared to have "al-Qaeda connections, certainly extremist terrorist connections".
The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating, and a robot was used to check the plane at one stage.
At least one passenger was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.
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