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Shoe bomb suspect pleads innocent

BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- The man accused of trying to ignite explosives hidden in his sneakers while on board a trans-Atlantic flight last month pleaded not guilty to federal terrorism-related charges Friday.

The nine counts against Richard Reid, a 28-year-old British citizen of Jamaican heritage, include attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction; attempted murder, and attempted destruction of an aircraft. If convicted, he could face up to five life sentences.

Reid appeared calm during the brief proceeding in U.S. District Court. He was wearing an orange jail uniform, sporting long hair and a beard.

Authorities say that on December 22, Reid tried to ignite the explosives while on board American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. Flight attendants and passengers stopped him and wrestled him to the floor, and the plane landed safely in Boston under fighter escort.

The aircraft carried 197 passengers and crew members.

VIDEO Accused shoe bomber Richard Reid was indicted on an attempted murder charge. CNN's Susan Candiotti reports (January 17) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   LEGAL RESOURCES Latest Legal News Law Library FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topic Bankruptcy Discrimination Divorce Estate Planning Landlord-Tenant Personal Injury Taxes   MORE STORIES Timeline: The shoe bomber case    RESOURCES Indictment: U.S. v. Reid (from FindLaw)

The nine-count indictment charges that Reid received terrorist training in the Afghanistan camps of al Qaeda, a network controlled by Osama bin Laden.

Reid may face additional charges, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Wednesday.

The gangly 6-foot-4 Reid is a convert to Islam who once attended the same South London mosque as Zacarias Moussaoui, the only alleged conspirator in the September 11 terror attacks who has been arrested and charged in that case.

The charges against Reid include:

-- two counts of interfering with a flight crew.

-- attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

-- attempted homicide.

-- placing explosive devices on an aircraft.

-- attempted murder.

-- attempted destruction of an aircraft.

-- using a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence.

-- attempted wrecking of a mass transportation vehicle, a new anti-terrorist offense recently enacted by Congress. Reid's lawyer challenged that charge in court Friday and allowed the court to enter a plea on his behalf.

Reid's public defender questioned whether Congress intended a plane to fall under that category and whether lawmakers wanted an attempted destruction -- as opposed to the actual destruction -- to be penalized. But U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said the evidence against Reid "certainly supports the charge."

"We certainly had the opportunity to review it. The Department of Justice has the opportunity to review it, and we believe that the charge is consistent with the evidence that was presented to the grand jury," he said.

Reid, whose divorced parents both live in Britain, is being held on a suicide watch in a detention facility near Boston.

Ashcroft has declined to say whether he thinks Reid had an accomplice, but European investigators have told CNN they believe the actual maker of the shoe bombs remains at large.

-- CNN Correspondent Jason Carroll contributed to this report