In addition , analysts have studied students of the Institute who were later involved in terrorist actions or plots , and speculated about the teachings of the Institute . Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab , who in December 2009 attempted to detonate plastic explosives on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit , was found to have taken a class at the AlMaghrib Institute in Houston . Abdulmutallab claimed that al-Awlaki had also been a student at AlMaghrib . " It 's ironic that he came to us , " said instructor Yasir Qadhi of AbdulMutallab . Qadhi , of New Haven , Connecticut , has been involved in de-radicalization efforts in the United States and was a leading participant in the U.S. Counter-Radicalization Strategy conference organized by the National Counterterrorism Center in the summer of 2008 . Qadhi , the Dean of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib Institute told CNN , " At some level , we did not convince him of the validity of our views , " and " that is cause for regret "
Northwest Airlines Flight 253
Northwest Airlines Flight 253
AlMaghrib Institute