Spy who foiled al-Qaeda underwear bomb plot ‘was British’

AN UNDERCOVER agent who foiled an al-Qaeda plot to blow up an airliner with an underwear bomb is a British national, it is reported.

UK intelligence was said to have been “heavily involved” in recruiting the spy who infiltrated a terror group in Yemen, in a rare coup for Western agencies.

Quoting sources briefed by Saudi counter-terrorism officials, US television networks said the individual grew up in Europe where he was apparently radicalised.

He was subsequently “turned” and recruited by Saudi agents last year, they said.

The reports were neither being confirmed nor denied in the UK.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is believed to have been planning the spectacular attack with a nearly-undetectable device around the anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden.

But the individual chosen to carry out the attack was an informant who handed over the bomb.

US officials said the would-be bomber was supposed to board a plane to the US and detonate the device inside the country. The CIA became aware of the plot last month.

Revelations of UK involvement in the successful sting operation will not be welcomed in this country for fear it could jeopardise recruitment for similar efforts in the future.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the British passport holder was recruited by MI5 before being sent to Yemen to target al-Asiri by MI6 working with Saudi intelligence.

He fled with the device two weeks ago, travelling to the United Arab Emirates and on to Saudi Arabia before delivering it to British handlers, the newspaper said.

FBI experts are examining the bomb from the latest foiled plot to see if it could have passed through security and been taken on to a plane.

Officials said it was an upgrade on one which failed to detonate on a flight over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009.

Both were designed to be carried in a passenger’s underwear, but the latest version contained a more advanced detonation system.