<

Suspect in Attempted Jet Bombing Appears in Court
Monday, December 24, 2001
(11:37 AM ET)
The Associated Press

During the flight, Reid, who was sitting behind the wing in the coach section, lit a match, but put it in his mouth when confronted by flight attendant Hermis Moutardier, the FBI said in an affidavit.

BOSTON -- AP
A man who allegedly tried to set off explosives hidden in his shoes on a trans-Atlantic flight was ordered held in federal custody Monday, and authorities said they had no evidence to link him to Osama bin Laden's terror network.

The suspect, listed in court papers as Richard C. Reid, appeared in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Dein, sitting alone and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and sandals. When she asked if he understood the charge -- intimidation or assault of a flight crew -- he answered, “Yeah.”

Reid, 28, requested a court-appointed attorney and was ordered held pending a bail hearing Friday. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison. The FBI said more charges are likely.

Airports around the country and in Europe ratcheted up security yet another notch, with some requiring passengers to send their shoes through X-ray machines before boarding.
(More: Company News Source)
2001 © The Associated Press.

Dan