Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Christmas Day Bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253

December 29, 2009 on 11:53 am | In Al-Qaeda, Terrorism | No Comments

The Al Qaeda extremist group based in Yemen is claiming responsibility for the Christmas Day attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines passenger jet bound for Detroit. Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab acting as a suicide bomber was provided with a “technically advanced device” that he was supposed to detonate while on board the aircraft. A statement from the Al Qaeda group claims an unspecified technical fault for the botched bombing.

In their statement, the extremist Al Qaeda group, also known as AQAP, let it be known the bomber had their blessing in his response to the recent U.S. attacks in Yemen. The group’s statement also included new warnings of attacks in the Arabian Peninsula specifically against foreign embassies. “We call on all Muslims … to throw out all unbelievers from the Arabian Peninsula by killing the crusaders who work in embassies or elsewhere,” the statement read. The Al Qaeda statement went on to praise Abdulmutallab and thumb their noses at American intelligence and security. “[Abdulmutallab] managed to penetrate all devices and modern advanced technology and security checkpoints in international airports … defying the large myth of American and international intelligence, and exposing how fragile they are, bringing their nose to the ground.”

With Al Qaeda’s claim of responsibility for the attempted attack, both the U.S. and Yemen officials find themselves under even greater pressure to bring the network under control. Both governments acknowledge cooperation in the fight against Islamist extremists. A senior security aide to Yemen’s president recently said his government was working with the U.S. government to rid his country of Al Qaeda.

Over the summer Al Qaeda members appeared to be retreating from Afghanistan and Pakistan and seeking safe haven in Yemen. A Saudi Al Qaeda member who had taken refuge in Yemen was unsuccessful in his August assassination attempt against the Saudi Arabia’s leader of the war on terror, Prince Mohammed bin Nayyeff al Saud. The Al Qaeda group is seeking revenge against Yemen and the U.S. for the deaths caused by the December 17 attack against Al Qaeda cells based in Yemen.

While the government works to protect the people of Yemen, Al Qaeda supporters along with government opposition, have staged protests against the government’s operations to stop Al Qaeda. The opposition claims many women and children have lost their lives in the attacks against the extremists.

While analysts who specialize in Yemen and Al Qaeda are saying the group has limited support within the unstable country, the government is not overly confident. The analysts warn that Al Qaeda could try to capitalize on the anger over the civilian casualties and gain a stronger hold on the country.