The CIA foiled a plot by al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner around the one-year anniversary of the killing of its former leader Osama bin Laden, The Associated Press reported.
According to the report, American officials say the plot involved a bomb with an improved design that upgraded the underwear bomb taken aboard a jetliner over Detroit on Christmas 2009. That explosive device failed to detonate.
The AP reports the improved bomb had a more refined detonation mechanism, but was still intended to be hidden in a passenger's underwear.
An official told NBC News no airlines were ever at risk. The plot was disrupted well before it threatened Americans or U.S. allies, the official added.
According to the AP, the would-be suicide bomber was instructed to buy a ticket on the airliner of his choosing and decide the timing of the attack.
The U.S. officials interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive case, according to the AP.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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