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'Systems' failed US in bomb plot 'Systems' failed US in bomb plot
(40 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has said it is clear a systemic failure occurred over the attempted plot to blow up a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day. US President Barack Obama has said a systemic failure allowed a known extremist with explosives to get onto a US-bound plane last week.
Mr Obama said he considered the failures in intelligence and security systems to be "totally unacceptable".Mr Obama said he considered the failures in intelligence and security systems to be "totally unacceptable".
The US needed to learn from the incident and act quickly to fix flaws in the system, he said.The US needed to learn from the incident and act quickly to fix flaws in the system, he said.
A Nigerian man accused of attempting to blow up the plane as it came in to land was restrained by passengers.A Nigerian man accused of attempting to blow up the plane as it came in to land was restrained by passengers.
The 23-year-old allegedly tried detonate explosives in his underwear. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, allegedly tried to detonate explosives in his underwear.
There were nearly 300 people aboard the plane.There were nearly 300 people aboard the plane.
In a blunt statement, Mr Obama said he had asked for initial findings from two reviews into the incident to be presented to him on Thursday, with more comprehensive reports following within weeks. A Yemen-based offshoot of al-Qaeda has claimed it planned the failed attack, and Yemeni officials say the group could be planning more attacks.
He said that weeks ago information had been passed to the US intelligence community about the suspect weeks ago but had not been effectively distributed. 'Act quickly'
"We need to learn from this episode and act quickly to fix flaws in the system," Mr Obama said. When our government has information on a known extremist and that information is not shared and acted upon as it should have been, a systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable President Obama
In a blunt statement, Mr Obama said he wanted to talk to the American people because some preliminary information about the attack had raised serious concerns.
"It has been widely reported that the father of the suspect in the Christmas Day incident warned US officials in Africa about his son's extremist views," he said
It now appeared that "weeks ago, that info was passed to a component of our intelligence community but was not effectively distributed so as to get the subject on the no-fly list," he said.
"We need to learn from this episode and act quickly to fix flaws in the system," Mr Obama said, adding that there was no excuse for such a failure.
US FLIGHT ADVICE Only one item of hand luggage, including items bought airsideBA and Virgin Atlantic not charging to check in extra hand luggageCheck in wrapped presentsPassengers subject to "pat-down" searches before boarding, on top of usual security checksCustomers to remain seated during final hour of flightNo access to hand luggage and a ban on leaving possessions or blankets on laps during this hour Dutch press EU to adopt scanners In pictures: Suspect's journey How are travellers screened? Q&A: 'Jet bomber' case
"When our government has information on a known extremist and that information is not shared and acted upon as it should have been, so that this extremist boards a plane with dangerous explosives that could have cost nearly 300 lives, a systemic failure has occurred.
"And I consider that totally unacceptable."
However, the president was careful to praise the efforts of law-enforcement agencies and homeland security officials.
Mr Obama said he had asked for initial findings from two reviews into the incident to be presented to him on Thursday, with more comprehensive reports following within weeks, he said.
The remarks were the president's second public statement on the incident in two days.The remarks were the president's second public statement on the incident in two days.
Earlier Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi told the BBC his country did not have enough support from Western countries to deal with al-Qaeda.