Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement on the foiled plot to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner:

“I am very aware of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula’s determination to strike at American targets. I congratulate the CIA for thwarting this reported plot by AQAP to destroy a U.S.-bound airliner using a specific type of bomb that is of new design and very difficult to detect by magnetometer. As I understand the device, it was similar to what Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab wore in his underwear on the thwarted Christmas Day plot in 2009.

“I recently travelled through Dubai and was subjected to three levels of intense security, including personal pat downs of my body. But the nature of this plot demonstrates al-Qa’ida remains determined to attack the United States and is a reminder why the TSA and other security agencies are extremely vigilant on airline security.”

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