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American Morning

Reid To Appear in Court Today

Aired December 28, 2001 - 09:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It started a week ago with the strike of a match. Today this man, Richard Reid, will appear in a federal court room in Boston for a bail hearing. As you may recall, Reid is the man authorities say attempted to detonate a shoe bomb during a trans-Atlantic flight last Saturday. CNN's Brian Palmer is in Boston and he has more for us -- Brian, good morning.

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles. In just under two hours Richard Reid, the man accused of trying to ignite explosives in his shoes on a trans-Atlantic flight, will go before a U.S. district court judge.

As you said, this is the federal equivalent of a bail hearing, the judge essentially has to decide whether to continue to detain Reid in the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, which is outside of Boston. Now, Reid is a 28-year-old Briton who was subdued by a flight crew, as well as passengers, on flight -- American Airlines Flight 63. FBI agents boarded the flight. It was a diverted to Boston, here. FBI agents and Massachusetts State Police boarded the flight, took Reid into custody.

Reid has been charged under a federal law that makes it a crime to interfere with a flight crew, flight attendants through assault or intimidation. Now, Reid is being represented by the federal public defender. Here, the defender issued a public statement saying that they hope the public will maintain an open mind, and maintain the presumptions of the presumption of innocence, in this case.

They have also said that they see no direct link between this offense, and any terrorist organizations. Now, in London, the chairman of a mosque where Reid used to worship, before being expelled for extremist views, says that it is possible that Reid had contact with Zacarias Moussauoi, who is the only person, so far, to be charged in connection with the September 11 attacks. He is the alleged 20th man, who was not able to board any of the planes -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right. CNN's Brian Palmer in Boston watching that appearance for us. We, of course, will bring you details of it, as soon as they become available. No cameras in the court room, but we'll have details for you.

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