Plane bomb accused 'joined al-Qaida in London'

The man accused of attempting to blow up a US-bound airliner on Christmas Day was recruited by al-Qaida in London, a senior minister in Yemen’s government claimed today.

The claim contradicts assurances given by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Alan Johnson that they believe Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab became involved in radical Islamist extremism only after leaving the UK.