Algerian pilot held in Britain denied bail

LONDON, England (CNN) -- An Algerian pilot Friday accused of training some of last month's suicide hijackers was denied bail in a British court because a magistrate said there is "substantial risk" of the man failing to surrender if he was released.

Lotfi Raissi, 27, is facing extradition to the United States after the U.S. government alleged he was the chief flying instructor for four of the suicide hijackers in the September 11 attacks. He was remanded to custody here at high-security Belmarsh prison. Raissi is scheduled to appear in magistrates court again on October 26.

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Raissi was supposed to appear in Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London, but for security reasons, appeared at the Belmarsh Magistrates Court in southeast London, for his appeal hearing Friday.

Magistrate Timothy Workman Friday refused the bail application, saying "bail is refused on the grounds that I am satisfied that there is a substantial risk of you failing to surrender.

"I do so on the basis of the charges that are before me and the background to them led me to the view that they are so grave that in themselves there is a risk that you would fail to surrender.

"I also note you have access to forged documents which may be able to assist you to leave the jurisdiction."

Raissi was originally detained September 21 under Britain's antiterror act.

The magistrate said the court is studying evidence that shows Raissi flew more hours than one would expect for a pilot with his qualifications.

And the court is reviewing a videotape of Raissi and suspected hijacker Hani Hassan Hanjour. Hanjour is the man who was believed to have piloted American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon.

Raissi is formally wanted in Arizona on minor charges of making false statements on a Federal Aviation Administration form, according to court documents released Friday.