WASHINGTON -- A man recently arrested in England may have been planning to use explosives hidden in socks to hijack a plane, sources have said.
Sajid Badat, 24, was arrested last month and accused of conspiring with Richard Reid and others to cause an explosion that threatened life or property. Reid was convicted in a U.S. court of attempting to blow up a plane with explosives hidden in his shoes.
The sources said Badat had a pair of socks with traces of plastic explosives on them. Officials at New Scotland Yard in London would not confirm the report.
It is believed there may have been a plan to use the socks in a possible hijacking. Intelligence officials say they believe the socks were designed to be filled with explosives and worn around a bomber’s neck, concealed in clothes.
Forensic evaluation of the socks by British police revealed traces of several explosives, including TNT.
The finding prompted a bulletin from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to state and local officials and the private sector, saying that information indicates “al Qaeda operatives continue to demonstrate an interest in modifying personal items for potential use as improvised explosive devices and demonstrate a continued desire to target aviation.”
A separate bulletin from the FBI warned that recent intelligence “indicates that terrorists continue to develop plans to hijack aircraft and use them as weapons.”
Badat was arrested by antiterrorism authorities November 27, and a search of his home in Gloucester turned up explosive material, local police said.
British Home Secretary David Blunkett said that day it was believed Badat was connected to the al Qaeda terrorist network.
According to a written statement from Scotland Yard, Badat is accused of the following charges:
“1. Between 1st day of September 2001 and 28th day of November 2003 unlawfully and maliciously conspired with Richard Reid and others unknown to cause by an explosive device an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. ...
“2. Between 1st day of September 2001 and 28th day of November 2003 unlawfully and maliciously had in your possession or under your control an explosive substance with intent by means thereof to endanger life, or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or to enable any other person so to do. ...
“3. On 27th November 2003 knowingly had in your possession or under your control an explosive substance, under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you did not have it in your possession or under your control for a lawful object.”
Reid, a London native, was sentenced to life in prison in January after being convicted of trying to blow up an airliner carrying 197 passengers between Paris, France, and Miami, Florida, in December 2001. The flight was diverted to Boston after Reid attempted to light his shoelaces on fire. English Man Arrested in Sock Bomb Hijacking Plot WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A man recently arrested in England may have been planning to use explosives hidden in socks to hijack a plane, sources have said.
Sajid Badat, 24, was arrested last month and accused of conspiring with Richard Reid and others to cause an explosion that threatened life or property. Reid was convicted in a U.S. court of attempting to blow up a plane with explosives hidden in his shoes.
The sources said Badat had a pair of socks with traces of plastic explosives on them. Officials at New Scotland Yard in London would not confirm the report.
It is believed there may have been a plan to use the socks in a possible hijacking. Intelligence officials say they believe the socks were designed to be filled with explosives and worn around a bomber’s neck, concealed in clothes.
Forensic evaluation of the socks by British police revealed traces of several explosives, including TNT.
The finding prompted a bulletin from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to state and local officials and the private sector, saying that information indicates “al Qaeda operatives continue to demonstrate an interest in modifying personal items for potential use as improvised explosive devices and demonstrate a continued desire to target aviation.”
A separate bulletin from the FBI warned that recent intelligence “indicates that terrorists continue to develop plans to hijack aircraft and use them as weapons.”
Badat was arrested by antiterrorism authorities November 27, and a search of his home in Gloucester turned up explosive material, local police said.
British Home Secretary David Blunkett said that day it was believed Badat was connected to the al Qaeda terrorist network.
According to a written statement from Scotland Yard, Badat is accused of the following charges:
“1. Between 1st day of September 2001 and 28th day of November 2003 unlawfully and maliciously conspired with Richard Reid and others unknown to cause by an explosive device an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. ...
“2. Between 1st day of September 2001 and 28th day of November 2003 unlawfully and maliciously had in your possession or under your control an explosive substance with intent by means thereof to endanger life, or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or to enable any other person so to do. ...
“3. On 27th November 2003 knowingly had in your possession or under your control an explosive substance, under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you did not have it in your possession or under your control for a lawful object.”
Reid, a London native, was sentenced to life in prison in January after being convicted of trying to blow up an airliner carrying 197 passengers between Paris, France, and Miami, Florida, in December 2001. The flight was diverted to Boston after Reid attempted to light his shoelaces on fire.