The man suspected of trying to blow up a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami flight by detonating explosives concealed in his shoes has been remanded in custody pending a detention hearing later this week.
The man, identified as Richard Reid, 28, made his initial court appearance in federal court in Boston after being arrested and charged on Saturday for interfering with flight attendants.
American Airlines Flight 63, a Boeing 767 with 183 passengers and about 14 crew, was diverted to Boston's Logan International Airport after a flight attendant saw Reid light a match. The flight attendant and several passengers subdued him after a violent struggle.
Reid looked dazed as he entered the courtroom and glanced at the assembled crowd, made up mostly of journalists. Wearing orange prison garb and shoulder-length hair, he spoke in a quiet voice during his 10-minute appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judith Dein. He answered yes and nodded his head when Dein asked if he understood the charges against him and whether he wanted an attorney.
Police have offered no motive and the suspect, whose identity remains uncertain, has so far not been linked to any wider plot or guerrilla network. But the incident raised fresh concerns for holiday travelers already unnerved about air travel after the Sept. 11 hijack plane attacks that killed nearly 3,000.
Britain's Scotland Yard police force said Reid is believed to be British while French officials have been quoted saying he is a Sri Lankan Muslim named Tariq Raja using a false British passport. Newspaper reports have said he may also have used the name Abdel Rahim.
At the detention hearing, scheduled for Friday morning, federal prosecutors will lay out evidence against Reid in an attempt to justify his continued incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Lang told Dein that Reid was dangerous and could try to flee. He cited the discovery of explosives in Reid's shoes as a justification for keeping him behind bars.
After Friday's hearing, Reid faces a probable cause hearing, after which U.S. authorities have 30 days to file an indictment, if they want.
U.S. officials have not described the type or strength of the explosives found in Reid's shoes, but Massachusetts state officials have said it was similar to C4, a powerful military plastic explosive. An airport official in Boston said on Saturday there was enough explosives in the shoes to damage the airplane.