Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos has telephoned Jasper Schuringa to thank him for his part in overpowering the Nigerian who tried to blow up a plane over Detroit in the United States on Saturday.
Mr Bos spoke on behalf of the government to Mr Schuringa, a Dutch citizen, who managed to wrest a burning device from the would-be bomber. He went on to frisk the man to check whether he was carrying more explosives. Together with a crew member on the Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, he succeeded in putting handcuffs on the man.
The failed bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, went through security checks at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport when he transferred onto the Northwest Airlines flight. Dutch Anti-Terrorism Co-ordinator Erik Akerboom has admitted the airport’s security checks are not completely watertight. It is not clear whether all transfer passengers are currently checked by sniffer dogs.
MPs are demanding an account of the situation at Schiphol and the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) is calling for an emergency debate on the issue.
The US authorities have charged Mr Abdulmutallab with bringing explosives on board and attempting to blow up an aircraft. Both charges carry sentences of up to 20 years' imprisonment.
His name appears on a US list of hundreds of thousands of possible terrorist suspects. However, it is not included among the few thousand names of suspected terrorists who are not allowed to travel to the US.
photo: snapshot (CNN)
Jasper Schuringa on CNN
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Mr Schuringa is indeed a brave man and deserves a reward...We Nigerians are not in support of farouk`s devilish act....
In thanking Mr. Schuringa for his brave and decisive actions on that plane above Detroit, I should add the following: Mr. Schuringa, again, accept our thanks and gratitude but don't expect to hear any thank yous from our President. He's too busy golfing in Hawaii.
Mark Nolan
Saratoga, NY
I agree Jasmin, he also deserves a huge reward for his selfless act. He saved hundreds of lives without giving a second thought.
Great, but not enough! Jasper should be honoured by the Queen, and also by the US President. He saved so many lives, and injured himself in the process!
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.