Five held in shoe bomber probe

Reid was on a flight from Paris to Miami when he was wrestled to the floor of the plane

PARIS, France (CNN) -- Five people have been detained by French police for questioning over their possible connection with Richard C. Reid, the alleged transatlantic shoe bomber.

Reid is currently awaiting trial in the United States for allegedly trying to set off a bomb hidden in his footwear during a flight from Paris to Miami, Florida, on December 22, 2001.

The five suspects, reported by The Associated Press to be two Pakistanis and three North Africans, were detained after an operation in the Paris area on Wednesday.

They are being questioned by the counter-espionage services, the Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire, about what they know of Reid's stay in Paris.

The interviews are part of a broader anti-terror investigation presided over by Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière. (Profile)

Reid was overpowered by passengers and crew on American Airlines Flight 63 after allegedly trying to light explosives hidden in one of his shoes.

While Reid was sedated by a doctor on board the plane, the plane was diverted to Boston, Massachusetts and was escorted by two F-15s.

A 28-year-old British citizen and convert to Islam, Reid has pleaded not guilty to nine federal court charges, including attempted murder and attempted destruction of an aircraft. If convicted of all charges, he could face five life sentences.

One charge was dropped this week on a technicality. (Full Story)