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Petn Explosive,Explosive PETN Used in Attack

December 26, 2009 by · Comments Off on Petn Explosive,Explosive PETN Used in Attack 

Petn Explosive,Explosive PETN Used in Attack: The suspect in the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 used a highly explosive substance called PETN, a law enforcement official told CBS News Saturday.

The explosives were carried in a soft plastic container – possibly a condom – though much of the packaging was destroyed in the fire, the official said.

The FBI is questioning the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who claimed to be acting on orders from al Qaeda to blow up the airliner, officials said.

A high-ranking law enforcement official told CBS News that the suspect apparently used a syringe to inject a chemical into the powder, which was located near his groin. It is a technique not seen in previous attempted attacks and it’s possible that this incident was a test of whether the materials could pass screening and how effective they might be at causing damage, the source said.

According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, PETN is a highly explosive, colorless organic compound, and is related to nitroglycerin. Introduced as an explosive after World War I, PETN is “valued for its shattering force and efficiency … and is the least stable of the common military explosives but retains its properties in storage for longer periods than nitroglycerin or cellulose nitrate (nitrocellulose) does.”

PETN is also used in heart medication as a stimulant.

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab,Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

December 26, 2009 by · Comments Off on Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab,Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab 

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab,Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab:Authorities today have accused Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian man, of t*rror*sm after an incident today on a packed international flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. According to reports, Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to light explosives he had strapped to his body – possibly his leg – before being subdued by fellow passengers.278 people were on board the Northwest Airlines Flight 253, when Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly attempted to light what is being described as a powdery substance. Passengers and flight crew initially thought he was attempting to light fireworks on the flight.

Fellow passengers reported hearing a bang, similar to fireworks, before seeing the suspect wrestled to the ground. He was later carried away, reportedly with his pants leg cut off and his leg badly burned.

The Nigerian man, who has also been named in some reports as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, was visiting the United States for a religious ceremony. ABC News reports that Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab has said that he was told by Al Qaeda agents to detonate explosives on an airplane over the United States.

The suspect was last known to be studying as a student in London. He is reportedly being treated a local hospital for second-degree burns.

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