Obama calls for security vigilance during holidays

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday asked his national security team to be vigilant during the end-of-year holiday season, two years after a Christmas Day attempt to blow up a passenger jet.

Obama "met with his senior national security team to ensure they are doing everything possible to enhance preparedness across the government in advance of the holiday season," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

The US leader "was briefed on the latest intelligence and discussed the measures being taken to continue to keep the American people safe," Vietor said in a statement.

"The President directed his team to maintain a high level of vigilance heading into the new year."

The announcement comes at the end of a year marked by the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a May raid by US special forces.

On Christmas Day 2009, a Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, attempted to blow up a US-bound airliner with explosives hidden in his underwear. The device malfunctioned and the suspect was arrested. (AFP)