The US government has launched an investigation into the failed Christmas day attack on a plane bound for Detroit.

 

President Barack Obama says security measures will be reviewed, after it was revealed officials had previously been warned about the would-be bomber.

Confronting criticism.

Barack Obama was accused of slipping up on national security, after the failed Christmas day attack.

Now he's vowed to track down all those behind the plan, to bring down the US airliner.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "A full investigation has been launched into this attempted act of terrorism, and we will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable. The American people should be assured that we are doing everything in our power to keep you and your family safe and secure during this busy holiday season."

The president has also ordered a thorough review of the screening process.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "We need to determine just how the suspect was able to bring dangerous explosives aboard an aircraft and what additional steps we can take to thwart future attacks. We will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle and defeat the violent extremists who threaten us, whether they are from Afghanistan or Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia, or anywhere where they are plotting attacks against US homeland."

23 year old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is charged with attempting to blow up the Northwest Airlines plane as it approached Detroit on a flight from Amsterdam, with almost 300 people on board.

In a worrying development, US security has since discovered Abdulmutallab's father warned officials of his son's growing radicalism. But he was still able to travel to the United States.