al qaeda to destroy a u.s.-bound airliner with an improved underwear bomb was actually a double agent. instead of carrying out the murderous mission, he delivered the bomb to u.s. intelligence officials. the new york times reports the informant is an intelligent agent for saudi arabia. susan mcginnis is in washington with the latest. good morning. reporter: good morning. an incredible intelligence coup. the al qaeda affiliate developed this advanced bomb. they think they re giving it to a suicide bomber but they hand it right over to an agent working with the cia. officials say al qaeda in the arabian pen ensue la, also known as aqap, failed in its attempt to take down an american-bound airliner because of a double agent. the would-be suicide bomber actually worked for the cia and saudi intelligence agencies. clearly, this was an intelligence success. reporter: senator chambliss a member of the intelligence committee, said the planned attack is a reminder al qaeda rem
airliner with an improved underwear bomb was actually a double agent. instead of carrying out the murderous mission, he delivered the bomb to u.s. intelligence officials. the new york times reports the informant is an intelligent agent for saudi arabia. susan mcginnis is in washington with the latest. good morning. reporter: good morning. an incredible intelligence coup. the al qaeda affiliate developed this advanced bomb. they think they re giving it to a suicide bomber but they hand it right over to an agent working with the cia. officials say al qaeda in the arabian pen ensue la, also known as aqap, failed in its attempt to take down an american-bound airliner because of a double agent. the would-be suicide bomber actually worked for the cia and saudi intelligence agencies. clearly, this was an intelligence success. reporter: senator chambliss a member of the intelligence committee, said the planned attack is a reminder al qaeda remains committed to hurting america
al qaeda to destroy a u.s.-bound airliner with an improved underwear bomb was actually a double agent. instead of carrying out the murderous mission, he delivered the bomb to u.s. intelligence officials. the new york times reports the informant is an intelligent agent for saudi arabia. susan mcginnis is in washington with the latest. good morning. reporter: good morning. an incredible intelligence coup. the al qaeda affiliate developed this advanced bomb. they think they re giving it to a suicide bomber but they hand it right over to an agent working with the cia. officials say al qaeda in the arabian peninsula known as aqap failed in its attempt to take down an american-bound airliner because of a double agent. the would-be suicide bomber actually worked for the cia and saudi intelligence agencies. clearly, this was an intelligence success. reporter: senator chambliss said the planned attack is a reminder al qaeda remained committed to hurting america. the bad guys
method. they are sophisticated people. they never stop. this plot is said to be the work of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula meaning yemen. we re following the take down with barbara starr at the pentagon. what do we know about the device? reporter: the fbi is in possession of the device and trying to determine whoa made it and how it was made. according to the fbi, the latest indications are it was very similar to previous devices that al qaeda and yemen has used. most likely with very little metallic content or no metallic content. that means very difficult for the screening devices in airports around the world to detect. this is the hal mark signature of al qaeda in the arabian pe e nins la. we saw it with the underwear bomber attack. we saw it with the plot to put explosive devices inside printer cartridges on airliners bound for the united states. this by all accounts appears to be another attempt in that direction with a much more sophisticated detonation technolog
the u.s. and saudi intelligence says relief is still mixed with fear. the plot itself indicates that these terrorists keep trying. they keep trying to devise more and more proverse and terrible ways to kill innocent people. and it s a reminder as to why we have to remain vigilant. al qaeda and its affiliates can me it s a size. they are constantly trying to catch up. whenever it appears we have them boxed eed in, they find a new method. they are sophisticated people. they never stop. this plot is said to be the work of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula meaning yemen. we re following the take down with barbara starr at the pentagon. what do we know about the device? reporter: the fbi is in possession of the device and trying to determine whoa made it and how it was made. according to the fbi, the latest indications are it was very similar to previous devices that al qaeda and yemen has used. most likely with very little metallic content or no metallic content. that mea