Mr Richard Reid, a Briton who US officials say trained with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan, pleaded not guilty today to charges he tried to destroy an airliner with 197 people on board last month by detonating explosives in his shoes.
"Not guilty," Mr Reid answered softly when asked to enter a plea.
|
|
Richard Reid
|
A motorcade with heavy security brought Mr Reid to the US District Court in Boston. He wore an orange prison-issue jumpsuit, white socks and orange plastic sandals to the courtroom. Guards had shackled his ankles and wrists.
A federal grand jury in Boston yesterday handed up a nine-count indictment against Mr Reid in which he is charged with attempted murder, attempted homicide and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction - a destructive device consisting of an explosive bomb in each of his shoes.
He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
The indictment also charged Mr Reid with placing an explosive device on an aircraft, attempted destruction of an aircraft, interfering with flight crew members and flight attendants, using a destructive device during a violent crime and attempted wrecking of a mass transportation vehicle.