23-year-old Farouk Umar Abdul Mutallab, who attempted a terrorist attack aboard a Detroit-bound flight on Friday, has been identified as the son of a wealthy Nigerian banker.

The would-be terrorist is the son of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a recently retired former First Bank chairman and former minister in Nigeria, according to Nigerian news site Thisday Online.

It reports that Mutallab Sr. has been uncomfortable with extreme religious views and six months ago reported his activities to United States' Embassy. A source close to him is cited as saying the father was surprised that after his reports to the US authorities, the young man was allowed to travel to the United States.

Thisday Online says that the family home of the Mutallabs in Central London is currently being searched by officers of the Metropolitan Police, and that the suspect, Abdul Farouk Umar Muttalab who is an engineering student at the University College, London, had been noted for his extreme views on religion since he went to high school at the British International School in Lome, Togo.

After high school, the would-be terrorist who is now investigated for alleged links with Al Qaeda, went to University College London to study engineering and later relocated to Egypt, and then Dubai. While in Dubai, he declared to his family members that he did not want to have anything to do with any of them again.

Muttalab Sr. is reported to be a regular visitor to the US where he goes for vacations and medical exams. Muttalab is married to an Arab of Yemeni-descent but it has not been confirmed that this woman is the mother of the 23-year-old man.

Earlier on Saturday, Nigeria has vowed to cooperate with the US on the investigation of the terrorist attempt which was foiled by passengers aboard the jet.

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