January 7, 2010

After Bomb Plot, British Universities Again Wrestle With Issues of Security and Freedom

University College London

PA Wire/Press Association Images

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is suspected of attempting to blow up Northwest flight 253 as it landed in Detroit on Christmas day, finished an engineering course at the University College London (above) last year. But he was barred from Britain after he later applied for a fabricated course.

By Aisha Labi

British universities are once again facing tough questions about the extent to which they may be potential breeding grounds for extremist activity following the attempted Christmas Day attack on a passenger jet bound for Detroit. Officials worry about how they can protect their campuses from exploitation by extremists without jeopardizing the university's essential function as a safe environment for exploring new and even potentially radical ideas.

The suspect in the attempted attack,