Sanaa: Yemeni authorities were probing how
the alleged culprit of the thwarted bombing of a US airliner
on Christmas Day managed to leave Yemen despite overstaying
his visa, an official said on Wednesday.
Umar Farouk Abdulmatallab disappeared inside Yemen for 42
days, since the day his permit to stay had expired on
September 24 until he left on December 7 from the capital`s
airport, the official told agency on condition of anonymity.
"Authorities are investigating with police officers at
the airport to find out how he managed to leave the country
although his permit to stay had expired," he said.
People overstaying their visas in Yemen are not easily
allowed to leave the country, and are usually taken into
custody until they settle their violation by paying a fine
along with their host in the country.
The official said that on September 24 Abdulmutallab had
left the Arabic language institute in Sanaa, his official host
and headed to the airport.
But on arrival at the airport, he changed taxis and
travelled to an unknown destination, the official said.
He resurfaced on December 7 at the Sanaa airport with a
reservation on a flight to Dubai, but he changed his ticket to
board a plane to Addis Ababa, the official added.
The United States has accused the Al-Qaeda branch in
Yemen of training Abdulmutallab who tried to blow up a
Northwest Airline flight before it landed in Detroit, but was
overpowered by passengers.
PTI
