May 8th, 2012
08:09 AM ET

Bomb plot shows new level of sophistication, lawmaker says

Investigators were studying an explosive device Tuesday that they say terrorists in Yemen crafted to slip past airport metal detectors and onto an airplane bound for the United States.

U.S. intelligence agents thwarted the plot two weeks ago after receiving a tip from Saudi Arabia, a source familiar with the operation said Tuesday. Authorities have said airline passengers were never in danger and that the would-be bomber no longer poses a threat.

Even so, the plot highlights the resolve of terrorists to attack the United States a year after the U.S. military killed Osama bin Laden in a stunning raid inside Pakistan.

It also shows the lengths they will go to achieve that goal, adapting new technologies to try to evade security, as well as the difficulties that U.S. authorities face in trying to guard against attack, said Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

"This seems to be a new level of sophistication by al Qaeda," King told CNN's "Starting Point."

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Filed under: Al Qaeda • Saudi Arabia • Terrorism • World • Yemen
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. bobcat (in a hat) ©

    A man boarded an airplane in New Orleans with a box of frozen crab. A female crew member took the box and promised to put it in the crew's refrigerator, which she did.

    The man firmly advised her that he was holding her personally responsible for the crabs staying frozen, and proceeded to rant at her about what would happen if she let them thaw out. She was annoyed by his behavior.

    Shortly before landing in New York , she announced over the intercom to the entire cabin, 'Would the gentleman who gave me the crabs in New Orleans , please raise your hand?'

    Not one hand went up..so she took them home and ate them herself. Men never learn!

    May 8, 2012 at 9:19 am | Report abuse |
  2. ronvan

    Good one Bobcat: As for this latest bomb threat, we continue to be LUCKY!! Some of these idea's show just how determined they are to blow us up and they do not care who it is! WE ALL need to realize that to fly anymore we are going to have to sacrifice our rights to be searched, strip searched, you name it. On the other hand it shows why WE ALL need to stop quibbling about killing them! If they do not want to quit then we need to PUSH even harder to eliminate them!

    May 8, 2012 at 9:36 am | Report abuse |
  3. saywhat

    saudis tipped off the authorities on this one. Good for us.

    I suppose the only thing left for TSA to do with such developments is to walk the travelling public butt naked thru a high tech corridor equipped with X-Ray machines and stuff to boarding gates. Where we can put on our clothes once boarded.
    'Fruits' of war on terrorism.

    May 8, 2012 at 10:11 am | Report abuse |
  4. Quest Shun

    I think the Saudis tossed the guy under the bus because he was not doing things correctly.

    May 8, 2012 at 10:44 am | Report abuse |
  5. PEDO BEAR

    Beware the dreaded al Qaeda rectal bomb: they are attempting to perfect it with atomic hot sauce and refried beans.

    May 8, 2012 at 11:27 am | Report abuse |
  6. mickey1313

    So, all this story is really saying is that the cia is still funding AND training the agents of terror

    May 8, 2012 at 12:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • mickey1313

      In order to give the government more justification to steal its citizens civil rights

      May 8, 2012 at 12:47 pm | Report abuse |
  7. krm1007

    Bush said on an aircraft carrier over ten years ago...."Mission Accomplished". Obama said in Afghanistan that Al Qaeda is done...war is over. Panetta says they are history. Hillary concluded it is over. US Congressman King et al (homeland security/intelligence cmte) say they are very much alive and getting more sophisticated. Go Figure. American taxpayers will take care of business during the next elections!

    May 8, 2012 at 1:09 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Mr Dalloway

    I hope very soon the day will come when our government starts to mind it's own businesses.

    May 8, 2012 at 2:45 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mr Dalloway

      Mickey1313, a bunch of boys with toys playing very dangerous games on our (Americas) account.

      May 8, 2012 at 2:53 pm | Report abuse |
  9. watchdog

    watchdog

    It seems that the group HEZBOLLAH, has a few new members working mortgage frauds in usa
    we have learned that top ranking members Mahmoud Razzaghi,Maryam Khavar,Mike Khavar,
    and many other names used by these people, including Khavari, Bayat, Khaleghi,Zaghami,Imani,
    hosaini,Hosseini,Abedi,Reza, Rezza,
    Just to name a few names that mortgages have been obtained through the Bank of America,
    Bank of New York, US Bank,

    properties are bought forclosed on and short saled to other family members ,,using false ids, when the properties are sold they use insurance fraud to upgrade them,.

    May 8, 2012 at 3:03 pm | Report abuse |
  10. watchdog

    these people have been deported from canada for the same thing,,they have people working in the dmv offices all over ca, in the banks ,insurance companies,,
    they have also been involved in a 26.5 BILLION DOLLAR fraud in IRAN...
    properties owned in usa,canada, mexico, uk,
    there are many false companies set up and report income for the false name, and obtain mortgages under the names,,
    we will post more information as it comes available,,,,,,,

    it should be known that these are very dangerous people!!!
    involved with and designing laser guided systems ,ect....

    May 8, 2012 at 3:12 pm | Report abuse |
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