Head of London college of Detroit bomber mired in depths of denial about Islamic extremism
Friday, January 1st, 2010Malcolm Grant is the president and provost of University College London (UCL), the academic institution attended by Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. He sports a list of awards and titles so long that his business card must be printed on A4 paper. In other words, although New Zealand born, he is a quintessential member of the British establishment.
Here is what he wrote in an article on New Year’s Eve defending UCL from charges that it was an institution rife with the kind of multi-cultural political correctness that had allowed Islamic terrorism to be incubated right under his own nose. Referring to Abdulmutallab’s terror plot over Detroit, he said:
“What induced this behaviour remains a mystery. He has not emerged from a background of deprivation and poverty. He came from one of Nigeria’s wealthiest families. He was privately educated, and to a high level. He gained admission to University College London, where he studied mechanical engineering with business finance between 2005 and 2008, and was president of the UCL student Islamic Society in 2006-07.
“The events of Christmas Day came as a complete shock to the UCL community.”
Oh dear.