Alleged Bomber's Family Speaks

The family of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound plane Christmas Day, issued a statement Monday promising full cooperation with authorities and stressing that Abdulmutallab’s actions only recently were cause for concern. The family says the 23-year-old broke contact with them weeks ago, prompting them to contact Nigerian and foreign security agencies, seeking to bring him home. “[F]rom very early childhood, Farouk, to the best of parental monitoring, had never shown any attitude, conduct or association that would give concern," the statement says. "As soon as concern arose, very recently, his parents, reported it and sought help … The family will continue to fully cooperate with local and international security agencies towards the investigation of this matter, while we await results of the full investigation.”