Suspected bomber cut off contact with family

THE Nigerian man accused of trying to bring down a US airliner cut off contact with his relatives and vanished from their lives until they awoke to news of the attempted Christmas Day attack, his family said yesterday.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s father talked to Nigerian security two months ago, and in November visited the US embassy in Abuja, to discuss concerns about his 23-year-old son’s religious beliefs.

US officials said the alert was relayed to Washington and shared with all relevant agencies and departments.