Reply #42: Later reports in British press is that there is no direct Al-Qaeda connection

[IndianaGreen]

and that this was another lone wolf that aspired to be part of Al-Qaeda, similar to those US citizens that traveled to Pakistan seeking jihadist groups.

Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab had a valid US visa, according to BBC, and comes from a well-to-do Nigerian family in London.

University College London said it had a student with a similar name enrolled until mid-2008, but could not confirm whether it was the same person being questioned by US authorities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8430699.stm