Officials in the Netherlands say that they can find no evidence to suggest that Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab had any accomplices. Some passengers who were travelling with Abdul Mutallab from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day claim to have seen him with a well dressed man who was of Indian or Pakistani origin. The man was also described as elderly. Some passengers continue to assert that the man was seen arguing with airport officials and telling them that Abdul Mutallab was a Sudanese refugee traveling without a passport. However Dutch security personnel have been examining over 200 hours of security camera footage and can find no trace of a man fitting the description.
Abdul Mutallab initially boarded a KLM flight in Lagos bound for Amsterdam and was said to have been subject to all the normal security checks. Dutch authorities have confirmed that they are examining the KLM aircraft to see if there are any traces of explosive materials on board.
Since the attempted destruction of the Northwest Airlines flight as it started its decent into Detroit security measures in airports has become the subject of numerous reviews. In the U.K. the Home Secretary has announced that new full-body scanners will be in place within weeks. He has also said that more sniffer dogs will be deployed and machines put in place that are capable of detecting traces of explosive materials on people as well as on luggage. Airport staff are also undergoing extra training which will enable them to better spot suspicious behaviour.
