Going Radical This NPR News investigation explores the life and path of the Nigerian man accused in the attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger plane on Christmas Day. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston, Ofeibea Quist-Arcton and Peter Kenyon report from three continents to trace Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's path from young man of privilege to potential jihadist.
Special Series
Going Radical
Exploring the life and path of the Nigerian man accused in attempting to blow up a U.S. airplane.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, here in Milan, Mich., was charged in federal court in December with trying to detonate an explosive device on a Dec. 25 flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. U.S. Marshals Service/AP hide caption
The building housing the San'a Institute for the Arabic Language in Yemen's capital, where Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab studied. Peter Kenyon/NPR hide caption
Regent's Park Mosque, also known as London Central Mosque, where Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab worshiped while he was living in London from 2005 to 2008. An ex-member of a radical Islamist group says gatherings at the mosque, and others like it, are used to identify potential recruits. Courtesy of Pucasso via Flickr hide caption
University College London, where Abdulmutallab studied from 2005 to 2008, is one of 12 British universities on an intelligence agency watch list. Courtesy stevecadman via Flickr hide caption
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, here in Milan, Mich., was charged in federal court in December with trying to detonate an explosive device on a Dec. 25 flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. U.S. Marshals Service/AP hide caption
The religious school where Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab studied the Quran. The school was named after Abdulmutallab's grandparents and financed by his father, a respected and wealthy banker. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton/NPR hide caption