Posted: 7:47 PM May 7, 2012
Reporter: CBS

Law enforcement officials say the latest threat is a modified version of another bomb that was brought on board a flight on Christmas Day 2009. In that case, powerful explosives were hidden inside the underwear of a passenger. When he tried to set off the bomb in the sky over Detroit, the detonator functioned, but the explosive did not.

Investigators say this man, Ibrahim al Asiri, built both devices. He also designed two printer bombs, which included explosives hidden inside toner cartridges that were shipped as cargo to the U.S.

"This is a very clever guy, very good at making bombs," said former CIA officer Bruce Rydell. "He's probably Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's number one threat to the United States directly."

The latest bomb contained no metal parts - meaning it would have made it past airport metal detectors. It might have been discovered through new full-body scanners, depending on the skill of transportation security agents.

"I can assure you the TSA and airport security generally is going to be looking very carefully at this to see what steps - if any - we have to take to upgrade our defenses against this kind of attack," said Rep. Peter King, R-New York.

President Obama was told of the plot last month and was assured the public was not in danger. The administration had little to say about it Monday.

"What this incident makes clear is that this country continues to remain vigilant against those who would attack this country, and we will do anything to keep America safe," said Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

The device is now in the hands of the FBI.

The Associated Press is reporting it knew about the plot last week, but did not immediately publish it at the request of the White House and the CIA.

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