Shoe-bomber gets life

A US federal judge yesterday sentenced Richard Reid, a British-born disciple of Osama bin Laden, to life in prison for trying to bring down a trans-Atlantic flight with explosives stuffed in his shoes. Reid pleaded guilty to trying to blow up American...

A US federal judge yesterday sentenced Richard Reid, a British-born disciple of Osama bin Laden, to life in prison for trying to bring down a trans-Atlantic flight with explosives stuffed in his shoes.

Reid pleaded guilty to trying to blow up American Airlines Flight 63 on December 22, 2001, as it flew to Miami from Paris.

Passengers and flight attendants overpowered the British citizen as he tried to ignite explosives in his athletic shoes. He was tied up with belts and headphone cords, and the plane landed in Boston under escort from fighter jets.

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