Briton charged in 'shoe bomber' case

WASHINGTON -- A British man was charged in an indictment unsealed Monday in an alleged conspiracy with al-Qaida "shoe bomber" Richard Reid to destroy commercial aircraft.

In the seven-count indictment unsealed in Massachusetts, federal prosecutors charged that Saajid Badat helped acquire explosives and coordinated his activities with Reid in a series of e-mails over four months. The alleged conspiracy led to the foiled effort to bomb an American Airlines flight en route to Miami from Paris on Dec. 22, 2001, prosecutors said.

Ninety minutes into the flight, crewmembers and passengers thwarted Reid's attack as he lighted matches to ignite powerful explosives planted in his shoes. Reid is serving life in prison after pleading guilty to the attempted assault two years ago.

In the new indictment against Badat, federal prosecutors suggest that the accused conspirator may have been plotting a second attack on another airliner.

During a raid at Badat's home last year in Britain, authorities recovered bomb components "found to be substantially similar" to the materials used by Reid, according to the indictment.

Earlier this year, British authorities brought similar terrorism charges against Badat, who has remained in British custody since his arrest last November.

He is scheduled to stand trial there in February.

Attorney General John Ashcroft, who announced the charges at the Justice Department Monday, said U.S. officials would seek Badat's extradition to face "American justice."

"We understand the interest the British have in (Badat)," Ashcroft said. "We have a keen interest" in Badat's extradition to the United States.

Ashcroft dismissed questions from reporters on the timing of Badat's indictment. President Bush's re-election campaign has emphasized the administration's anti-terrorism efforts.

The attorney general said the Justice Department's action was aimed only at "maximizing the security of the American people."

Reid's attempted attack, foiled during the height of the Christmas holiday season just three months after the Sept. 11 attacks, shook U.S. authorities and jittery air travelers.

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