Shoebomber declares bin Laden allegiance

Londoner Richard Reid today admitted trying to blow up a transatlantic jetliner with explosives hidden in his shoes and declared himself a follower of Osama bin Laden.

Reid, who surprised Boston prosecutors earlier by deciding to plead guilty to avoid trial, said he did not recognise the American justice system but agreed he did commit the acts outlined in the indictment against him.

The 29-year-old Shoebomber was accused of trying to murder 197 passengers and crew members aboard the American Airlines flight in December.

The judge accepted his pleas.

Reid pleaded guilty to eight charges including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, attempted murder, and placing an explosive device on an aircraft.

Judge William Young asked Reid: "Did you intend to blow that plane up and kill the people on that plane and yourself?"

Reid replied, "Yeah" and smirked.

When asked by the judge why he pleaded guilty, he said: "Because I know what I’ve done. At the end of the day I know that I done the actions."