8216;Device on Detroit-bound plane more incendiary than explosive8217;

Mutallab told the law enforcement authorities that he had explosive powder taped to his leg and that he used a syringe full of chemicals to mix with the powder to try to cause an explosion,the daily reported. The device,however,failed to fully detonate.

The Nigerian national,according to fellow passengers and investigating agencies,tried to ignite a small explosive 20-30 minutes before the Northwest Airline flight 253 carrying 278 passengers was about to land at the Detroit airport.

Overpowered by fellow passengers and handed over to security agencies on landing,he was being questioned by the FBI on how he managed to breach the tight security and sneak in explosive inside the plane and his links with Al-Qaeda.

The plane originated in Nigeria,but had its stop in Amsterdam.

Initial report said Mutallab,who has also revealed about his al-Qaeda links,was put on the watch list by the US but was not debarred from entering the country.

Passengers told local media that the Nigerian national was injured as he tried to ignite the explosive. ABC News and NBC News reported that he is an engineering student at University College of London.

8220;Mutallab has told federal investigators that he had ties to al-Qaeda and travelled to Yemen to collect the incendiary device and instructions on how to use it,8221; according to a federal counterterrorism official,the Washington Post said.

However,the official expressed caution about the claim,saying 8220;it may have been aspirational,8221; The New York Times said.

8220;Federal authorities have been told that Abdulmutallab allegedly had taped some material to his leg,then used a chemical-laden syringe to mix with the powder while on board the airplane,8221; an official was quoted as saying by the Post.

8220;Officials described the device as incendiary rather than explosive,pending tests by forensics experts at the FBI. Incendiary devices generally deliver less of an impact than explosive devices,8221; The Post said.

Federal officials said the man wanted to bring the plane down. 8220;This was the real deal,8221; Congressman Peter T King of New York told the New York Times.

Ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee,King,who was briefed on the incident,said something had gone wrong with the explosive device,which was 8220;somewhat sophisticated8221;. 8220;This could have been devastating.8221;

The White House has termed the incident as an 8220;attempted act of terrorism8221; while the US national security agencies say it as an 8220;attempt to blow up the plane8221;.

8220;We8217;re trying to ascertain exactly what he had and what he thought he was doing,but our sense is that he wanted to wreak some havoc here and was attempting to do just that,8221; an official was quoted as saying by The New York Times.

8220;Whether at the end of the day he had the ability to do that is what I think we8217;ll be able to pull together over the next several days as we investigate this,8221; the official said.

Media reports said Abdulmutallab told interrogating officials that he tried to blow up the plane on the directions of al Qaeda leaders.

However,FBI officials are trying to verify the authenticity of his claims. 8220;I can confirm at this point the Detroit FBI Field Office is investigating and more information will be available when it is appropriate,8221; said FBI Detroit spokesman Sandra R Berchtold.

8220;We are not confirming or denying any information at this time,8221; the spokesman added.

Abdulmutallab8217;s name appears to be included in the government8217;s records of terrorism suspects,but he is not on the 8220;no-fly8221; list.

He told investigators that he wanted to set off a bomb over the United States,counter-terrorism officials said,according to MSNBC news channel.

Congressman Peter King said there must be investigation into how the Nigerian managed to sneak in such sophisticated device and explosives inside the plane.