CHICAGO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Federal investigators are interviewing a 23-year-old passenger from Nigeria who they say ignited an explosive device on a U.S.-bound flight, injuring himself and two others.

    The Nigerian man, who was on a Northwest flight, told authorities that he was directed by al-Qaida to ignite a small explosive device in the flight over U.S. soil, according to ABC News.

    The man was identified as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. He was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253, which took off in Nigeria, heading for Detroit via Amsterdam. The plane was carrying 278 passengers.

    "The U.S. government believes the event was an attempted act of terrorism," a White House official told The Detroit News on condition of anonymity.

    The suspect had been in a law enforcement intelligence database but was not on the government's no-fly list, a law enforcement official said.

    Authorities initially believed the passenger had set off firecrackers that caused some minor injuries.

    An official at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport said the passenger was subdued immediately, but gave no details on the injuries. An Federak Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman in Detroit said the incident is being investigated.

Man ignites small explosive device on U.S. jetliner in suspected terrorism attempt

　 WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A man suspected of extremist affiliation ignited Friday a small explosive device on a Northwest Airlines flight bound to Detroit, an incident the White House considers to be a "terrorism attempt," officials said.

This picture shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009. A passenger aboard the plane set off firecrackers Friday, causing a commotion and some minor injuries, a Delta official said.(Xinhua/AP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

U.S. congressman Peter King, a ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee said the suspect is a 23-year-old Nigerian, who ignited the device prior to the plane's landing in Detroit, Michigan. Full story

U.S. considers passenger plane incident as terrorism attempt: report

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The incident which involved a failed explosive attack on a U.S. Northwest Airlines passenger plane was called by the White House as a terrorism attempt, CNN reported. Full story

U.S. FBI investigates report of hijacking attempt at Detroit Airport

    CHICAGO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has dispatched agents to investigate reports of thwarted hijacking attempt aboard a plane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, an FBI spokeswoman said Friday.

    According to reports reaching here, a passenger on a Northwest Airlines flight Friday from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit, Michigan, caused a brief disturbance at the end of the trip by igniting several firecrackers. The incident resulted in some minor injuries.Full story