Flight 253 Terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was the son of a prominent banker in Nigeria. The Mutallabs come from Northern Nigeria, a region of growing radical Muslim violence.

The elder Mutallab served on the Board of Directors of the First Bank of Nigeria out of Lagos.

From MyLive.com (via AP):

In Nigeria, a prominent banker said Saturday that he was meeting with security officials there because he feared his son was the suspect. Alhaji Umaru Mutallab told The Associated Press said his son was a one-time university student in London who had left Britain to travel abroad. He said his son hadn't lived in London "for some time" but he wasn't sure exactly where he went to.

"I believe he might have been to Yemen, but we are investigating to determine that," the elder Mutallab said. He said he would provide more details later Saturday as he learned more from authorities.

Meanwhile, Mutallab says he feared his son had recently become a radical Islamist. From the Voice of America:

He said his son had been studying in London and then left there to travel. The Nigerian newspaper This Day reports the father had expressed concern about his son's extreme religious views.

More according to AllAfrica.com:

Mutallab has been uncomfortable with the boy's extreme religious views and had six months ago reported his activities to United States' Embassy, Abuja and Nigerian security agencies.

The older Mutallab was said to be devastated on hearing the news of Abdul Farouk's attempted bombing arrest

Photo - Map of Nigeria, including Muslim dominated north in green.

Editor's Note - More news on Mutallab including details on explosive device PETN used in bombing at our sister site Worldwide Liberty.