In an audio message broadcast by the Al Jazeera television network, Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has claimed responsibility for the failed bombing of a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Mentioning the would-be bomber by name, Bin Laden said the 23-year-old who had attempted to blow up the plane with explosives carried on board in his underwear, was "a heroic fighter."

Bin Laden said: "The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of the September 11. America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine."

In the message, which he addressed to United States President Barack Obama, Bin Laden continued: "Safety in the United States will remain a dream for as long as there is no safety in Palestine."

He also threatened more attacks if the US continued to support Israel.

Al Jazeera said the message had been sent to it in the same way as other messages received from the al-Qaeda leader.

White House officials told CNN that while they could not completely authenticate the message, whatever the source, they said, it contained the same hollow justification for the mass slaughter of innocents.