The crucial tip-off that led to the discovery of parcel bombs on two cargo planes came from a repentant al-Qaeda member, UK officials say.
Jaber al-Faifi handed himself into authorities in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, the officials told the BBC.
US officials have suggested that a Saudi bombmaker is the key suspect in last week’s attempt to send the parcel bombs from Yemen to the US.
One bomb travelled on two passenger planes before being seized in Dubai.
Jaber al-Faifi is described as a former detainee at the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After leaving Guantanamo he went through a rehabilitation programme in Saudi Arabia and then rejoined al-Qaeda in Yemen before turning himself in to Saudi authorities, AFP news agency reports.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.