Report: US had intel to stop Christmas bomb plot, but info was spread across gov’t databases

Report: US had intel to stop Christmas bomb plot

WASHINGTON — A new White House reports says the U.S. government had plenty of information to keep the alleged Christmas Day bombing suspect off an airplane.

Unlike in the run-up to the 9/11 attacks, intelligence officials shared information. But in this case, they didn’t know what they had. A combination of human errors such as spelling mistakes combined with systemic problems lead to a complete security failure.

Information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was spread across several databases and officials didn’t search them all. Also, authorities were focused on supporting anti-terrorism efforts inside Yemen more than on tracking down intelligence about attacks originating in Yemen.

The report blames both the National Counterterrorism Center and the CIA.