Bomb suspect staged terror summit

Dec 30 2009

The Christmas Day airline bomb plot suspect helped organise a "war on terror" conference while studying in the UK.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab oversaw the week-long event, held two years ago, during his time as president of University College London's (UCL) Islamic society.

A series of lectures were held at UCL from January 29 2007 to February 2 2007, including one called "Jihad Vs Terrorism".

It was billed as a "lecture on the Islamic position with respect to Jihad and other issues".

Advertised speakers included Respect MP George Galloway.

A note on posters produced to promote the event said it had been "approved by Umar Farook - President of UCLU Islamic Society".

The Nigerian, now known as Umar Farouk, studied an engineering degree at the university between 2005 and 2008 - and was Islamic society president from 2006 to 2007.

He is being held at a federal prison in Michigan on a charge of trying to destroy an aircraft.

The 23-year-old allegedly attempted to ignite explosive stored in his underpants as the flight from Amsterdam, carrying 280 passengers, made its final descent into Detroit on Friday.

The Dutch government said a preliminary investigation had found all security checks were carried out correctly and a passenger list, including Abdulmutallab's name, had been cleared by American authorities.