Washington:
The terror suspect, who tried to blow up a US plane in a Christmas day attack, had explosive chemicals and a syringe sewn into his underwear which he tried to assemble and explode mid air, a media report said on Sunday.
(Read: Terror attack on US plane averted)Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab told FBI officials that he had obtained explosive chemicals and a syringe that were sewn into his underwear from an al Qaeda- associated bomb expert in Yemen,
The New York Times said.
(Read: Nigerian man charged in airliner attack)The authorities have not yet independently corroborated the Yemen connection claimed by the man, who suffered burns in his failed attempt to bring down the airliner and is in a hospital in Michigan.
But a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said that the suspect's account was "plausible" and that he saw "no reason to discount it," the daily said.
(Read: Father warned US about plane bomb suspect's behaviour)Abdulmutallab, 23, has been charged with "willfully" attempting to destroy the Amsterdam-Detroit Northwest Flight 253 and with placing a destructive device on the aircraft.
He was subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew soon after his failed attempt. The plane was carrying 279 passengers and 11 crew members.
A preliminary FBI analysis found the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. Further analysis is on.
A passenger stated that he observed the man holding what appeared to be a partially melted syringe, which was smoking.
The passenger took the syringe from Abdulmutallab, shook it to stop it from smoking and threw it to the floor of the aircraft.
FBI agents later recovered, what appear to be the remnants of the syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab's seat believed to have been part of the device, the affidavit said.
The Times said Congressmen briefed by the FBI on this issue spoke about the Yemani connection to the plot.
"The facts are still emerging, but there are strong suggestions of a Yemen-al Qaeda connection and an intent to blow up the plane over US airspace," said Congressman Jane Harman, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence.
However, the Embassy of Yemen in Washington said in a statement that so far it has not received any communication from the US on this issue.
It assured full support to the federal authorities if the alleged links to Yemen is identified.