The U.S. counter-terror apparatus and its allied organizations have launched a global manhunt, after Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Adbulmutallab told interrogators of English-speaking terrorists, trained by al-Qaeda in Yemen and planning attacks on the United States.

The Washington Times reports:

Said one official: “It’s safe to say that Abdulmutallab is not the only bullet in the chamber for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the Islamist terrorist group based in Yemen.
“Farouk took a month to get operational. Once he left [training in Yemen], it did not take very long,” the official said.
Information about the bomb plots was shared with the FBI after Mr. Abdulmutallab’s family traveled from Nigeria to help coax the former student into cooperating, after a period of about five weeks when he refused to help authorities. . . .
The data about the additional terrorist plots is thought to be one factor behind alarming congressional testimony two weeks ago from senior U.S. intelligence officials, including Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair.
Mr. Blair said he was “certain” that it was al Qaeda’s priority to attempt an attack on the United States within three to six months. . . .
Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the ranking Republican on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said in an interview, “For an extended period of time, we have known they have wanted to radicalize and recruit English-speaking people because they recognize these individuals had easier access into the United States.”
“I am not at all surprised by that. I was not surprised by the Christmas Day bomber. I am not surprised at all that there are those that believe that there are other English speakers out there,” Mr. Hoesktra said.