By RICHARD ESPOSITO and BRIAN ROSS
Dec. 26, 2009
The plot to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit was
organized and launched by al Qaeda leaders in Yemen who apparently
sewed bomb materials into the suspect's underwear before sending him on
his mission, federal authorities tell ABC News.
Investigators say the suspect had more than 80 grams of PETN, a
compound related to nitro-glycerin used by the military. The so-called
shoe bomber, Richard Reid, had only about 50 grams kin his failed
attempt in 2001 to blow up a U.S.-bound jet. Yesterday's bomb failed
because the detonator may have been too small or was not in "proper
contact" with the explosive material, investigators told ABC News.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/northwest-bomb-plot-planned-al-qaeda-yemen/story?id=9426085