of man tries to bomb us plane in attempted terror attack

Man tries to bomb US plane in attempted terror attack: A Nigerian man with reported links to Al-Qaeda tried to blow up a US airliner with a new type of explosive device Friday before being tackled by passengers in what officials said was an attempted Christmas Day terror attack.

Some travellers among the 278 passengers on board the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit panicked but others sprang into action, overwhelming the man as he lit the device, which reportedly made a popping sound and burst into flames.

The suspect's clothes caught fire and he suffered serious burn wounds. The incident could have been "catastrophic," US Representative Peter King told US media.

White House officials and US lawmakers said the incident was a terror attack and President Barack Obama, on vacation with his family in Hawaii, ordered increased security measures after being briefed on the attempt.