Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to blow up plane with underwear bomb, is said to have waived right to silence

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

The Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day has provided fresh intelligence in several terrorism investigations, officials have said.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who had a bomb hidden in his underwear, is said to have been co-operating with investigators since last week.

The Obama administration had been criticised for giving Abdulmutallab the right to remain silent rather than interrogating him as a military prisoner.

In the days after the failed bombing, a pair of FBI agents flew to Nigeria and persuaded Abdulmutallab's family to help them. They brought family members back to the US, according to a senior administration official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

FBI officials continued to question Abdulmutallab, working with the CIA and other intelligence authorities, the official said, and Obama was receiving regular updates.

A law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the case, said Abdulmutallab had provided information about his contacts in Yemen, where an al-Qaida branch has claimed responsibility for the failed attack.

The authorities had hoped to keep Abdulmutallab's co-operation secret while they continued to investigate his leads but details began to trickle out during testimony on Capitol Hill by the FBI director, Robert Mueller, and the director of national intelligence, Dennis Blair.

The Senate intelligence committee chairwoman, Dianne Feinstein, asked Mueller: "It is also my understanding that Mr. Abdulmutallab has provided valuable information. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Mueller replied.

Mueller then confirmed that the interrogation had continued despite the suspect being advised of his right to have a lawyer and remain silent.