Source of Bomb-Plot Tip-Off Is Named

Mr. al-Fayfi was released into Saudi custody from Guantánamo in late 2006 and graduated from a Saudi re-education program designed to sway Islamic militants away from violence. He rejoined al Qaeda in Yemen a year later.

His defection, as well as that of other key Saudis now leading the ranks of the Yemeni branch of al Qaeda, dealt a public-relations blow to the kingdom. But now, his alleged role in uncovering the package-bomb plot could boost international confidence in the tactics used by Saudi intelligence in its fight against the terror organization.


 It isn't clear if Mr. al-Fayfi was a Saudi mole, working inside al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the Yemeni branch of the group is known, or whether he genuinely rejoined al Qaeda and then had second thoughts.

Saudi officials didn't return calls seeking comment. The Yemeni official didn't comment. Whatever the case, U.S. and Arab officials said that without the tip-off, it would have been very difficult to have intercepted the package bombs last week. U.S. and European officials were quick to credit Saudi Arabia with providing the intelligence tip-off.

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