Man charged with trying to blow up plane

A 23-year-old Nigerian man was charged on Saturday with trying to blow up a packed aeroplane as it descended toward Detroit on Christmas Day, US officials said.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was charged with attempting to destroy the aircraft with a "high explosive" called PETN and with placing a destructive device on the plane, the Justice Department said in a statement.

The criminal complaint made no mention of whether Abdulmutallab was acting alone or if he had ties to a terrorist organisation. Initial media reports had said he was linked to al-Qaeda.

Questions mounted over how Abdulmutallab managed to sneak an incendiary device past airport security in Lagos and Amsterdam. Dutch authorities said he

was carrying a valid US visa.

"This alleged attack on a US airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times," said Attorney-General Eric Holder.

"Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured.

"We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice," the statement read.

Passengers told investigators that Abdulmutallab spent about 20 minutes in the bathroom before returning to his seat and pulling a blanket over himself, the Justice Department said.

"Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odour and some observed Abdulmutallab's pants leg and the wall of the aeroplane on fire," the Justice Department said.

"Passengers and crew then subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Passengers reported that Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout."

A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. FBI agents also recovered what appear to be the remnants of a syringe believed to have been part of the device.

Abdulmutallab was badly burned as he tried to set off the sophisticated explosive device aboard a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew from Amsterdam to Detroit.

He was arrested upon arrival and taken to the University of Michigan Medical Centre in Ann Arbor for treatment.

Abdulmutallab was set to appear in court later on Saturday. A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to say when and where he would appear. CNN reported he would make his initial appearance from his hospital bed.