Terror Suspect Had Cut Off Ties With Family

Abdulmutallab's family was alarmed because it was out of character

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 28, 2009 6:44 AM CST

(AP) – The Nigerian man accused of trying to bring down a US airliner cut off contact with his family and disappeared from their lives until they awoke to news of the attempted Christmas Day attack, his family said today. A statement from the family of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab said his disappearance caused them to alert first Nigerian and then American authorities because it was completely out of character. "Farouk, to the best of parental monitoring, had never shown any attitude, conduct or association that would give concern."

US authorities said that in November, Abdulmutallab's father visited the US embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss his concerns about his son's religious beliefs. Abdulmutallab told US officials who arrested him on the Detroit-bound airliner that he had sought extremist training at an Islamist hotbed in Yemen. "We were hopeful that they would find and return him home," the family said.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

In this undated photo provided by the Web site saharareporters.com and verified by an Associated Press reporter present at the subject's arraignment, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is shown. (AP Photo/saharareporters.com)

Graphic shows profile of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. (Associated Press)

Unidentified men walk in front of the house of Alhaji Umar Abdul Mutallab, father of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged Christmas Day terrorist, in Funtua, Katsina state, Nigeria, Dec. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/ Muhammad Salisu Rabiu)

This picture provided by JP Karas shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/J.P. Karas)

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The disappearance and cessation of communication which got his mother and father concerned to report to the security agencies are completely out of character and a very recent development.
- Statement from the family

From very early childhood, Farouk, to the best of parental monitoring, had never shown any attitude, conduct or association that would give concern. - The family's statement

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Terror Suspect Had Cut Off Ties With Family