Shoe-bomb suspect faces murder bid charge

Shoe-bomb suspect Richard Reid is preparing for a court appearance on Friday.

The 28-year-old Briton faces a series of new charges including attempted murder which carries a life sentence.

He is alleged to have tried to blow up an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami on December 22 by trying to ignite explosives in his shoes.

Reid is accused of being trained by al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's terrorist group.

He is due to appear in court in Boston, to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges levelled by prosecutors.

In a statement, Tamar Birckhead, one of Reid's court-appointed lawyers, stressed her client was innocent until proven guilty.

She added: "The indictment does not allege that any of the crimes charged were committed on behalf of or to further the cause of al Qaida or any other terrorist organisation.

"We are aware of no basis for such an allegation."

Reid, a petty thief from south London is currently being held on remand in Boston, where the flight from Paris to Miami on December 22 was diverted after he was overpowered by passengers.

He will face five life sentences if found guilty of all counts.