Hoekstra: attack attempt cutting edge

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The ranking member of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, (R) Holland, said the device used by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in an alleged attempted terrorist attack was sophisticated.

Federal investigators say Abdulmutallab was trying to blow up a Northwest flight to Detroit on Christmas day.

Hoekstra said the device used in the foiled attack was "a more sophisticated device than what we've seen in the past."

Abdulmutallab put the device, that did not contain metal, in the groin part of his underwear, Hoekstra said. The device went undetected by checkpoints in Amsterdam, where the flight originated, and Hoekstra said it likely would have went undetected at U.S. airports as well.

"I'm afraid that with what I've learned about this device, that it is possible that it could've made it through the traditional screening at our airports and that obviously is a cause for concern," he said.

Hoekstra says changes in airport screening is likely imminent.

"We're going to have to again go through a process that hopefully doesn't inconvenience passengers, but that is more thorough in being able to identify this next generation of perhaps, explosive devices," he said.

Hoekstra got word of the alleged failed terrorist attack while celebrating the Christmas holiday at his home.

"The first time I heard about it was when I pulled out my Blackberry and saw all of these messages for my intel staff," he said. "Right then, I knew that something had happened on Christmas day that I needed to be aware of."

Hoekstra said a major focus is being placed on finding out whether or not Abdulmutallab was acting alone.

"I think that's what homeland security and our intel community are doing right now, trying to determine whether this was an isolated event or whether there may be more of these people in the air structure - in the passenger network- right now, that we've got to find, stop, and detain," he said.

Hoekstra found Associated Press reports that the suspect was known to U.S. intelligence, and known to have connections in Yemen disturbing. He says if that's the case, he should have been on the no-fly list.

"If this individual was on a list, if we knew that he had been in Yemen ... it raises serious questions as to when we see these red flags, why aren't we doing something about it?" he said.