Bomb Suspect’s Journey Traced to Detroit
This is a partial timeline of events showing Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s whereabouts since 2005. Abdulmutallab was charged with trying to detonate an explosive device on board Northwest Airlines flight 253 on Christmas Day. The events were compiled by CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar and CBSNews.com.
June 2005: Graduates British International School, Lome, Togo
June 16, 2005: Posts on the Islamic Forum Web site that he is attending Arabic language classes in Yemen, at the Sana’a Institute of Arabic Languages. He writes “I’m doing a three month course - lots of Brits and Americans.” He is impressed with the modesty of the women. Classes are divided by gender.
Sept. 2005: Begins studies at University College London and becomes president of the Islamic Students Union of UCL. May worship at East London Mosque. Lives at $4 million U.S. family-owned apartment in central London.
June 2008: Graduates University College London with a 3-year degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management.
June 16, 2008: Obtains multiple-entry U.S. visa from U.S. Consulate in London, reports CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian
June 2008 - Jan. 2009: Nigerian media, quoting family sources, say he travels to Egypt and then to Dubai.
May 2009: Denied visa to enter U.K. after making application for new student visa using a fake institution. Placed on U.K. watch list/ban.
Jan.2009 - July 2009: Attends Wollongong University in Dubai, (UAE campus of Australian university), confirmed by senior administrator of university. University will not say what classes he took, but they do offer Arabic language courses.
Approximately Oct. 2009: Parents report concerns about son to Nigerian authorities and U.S. embassy. Family statement says ‘”his father, having become concerned about his disappearance and stoppage of communication while schooling abroad, reported the matter to the Nigerian security agencies about two months ago, and to some foreign security agencies about a month and a half ago, then sought their assistance to find and return him home.”
Nov. 16, 2009: Father meets with U.S. officials, U.S. Embassy in Abuja to discuss his concerns about his son, reports Keteyian.
Dec. 16, 2009: Purchases plane ticket ex-KLM office Accra, Ghana and pays in cash.
Dec. 23, 2009: Turns 23 years old.
Dec. 24, 2009: Arrives in Lagos. (The Nigerian Information Minister says “he sneaks into the country” and later expanded to explain that he came into Nigeria without contacting his family.)
Dec. 24, 2009, 20:35: Checks in for flight to Amsterdam.
Dec. 25, 2009: Passengers scramble to subdue Abdulmutallab as he attempts to detonate explosives on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253. The flight, carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members from Amsterdam, was preparing to land in Detroit.
Read the whole story at CBS News
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