Shoe bomb suspect says he was targeting enemies of Islam
By Associated Press, 09/12/02
BOSTON -- A man accused of trying to blow up a Miami-bound airplane with explosives in his shoes told FBI interrogators he was driven by anger over the treatment of Muslims in Israel, according to newly released interrogation transcripts.
Richard Reid told federal investigators that he traveled in June 2001 to Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, and was angered to see "Jews with guns" inside.
"His trip to Jerusalem further emboldened him to act against the west when he witnessed the many checkpoints and travel restrictions on Muslims," an FBI interrogation transcript said.
Asked why he didn't choose to attack Israel, Reid told investigators, "America is the problem, without America there would be no Israel." He also said he was worried Palestinian groups would be too paranoid to trust him.
The disclosures were part of a motion filed Wednesday by federal prlosecutors arguing they did not violate the law when they seized e-mails from Reid's Hotmail Internet account shortly after he was arrested Dec. 23 for allegedly trying to blow up American Airlines Flight 63.
Prosecutors intend to use the e-mails to show premeditation and motive on counts of attempted murder, homicide and destruction of an aircraft. Reid's trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 4.
In the interviews, Reid insists he acted alone, even though FBI agents confronted him with evidence he trained at a terror camp in Afghanistan and worked with confederates in Europe.
Reid says he got the idea for a sneaker bomb when he realized Israeli security officers didn't examine the inner soles of his footwear. He said he assembled the sneaker bombs with 300 grams of Semtax plastic explosives while living in parks in Holland, and wore the explosive-packed sneakers for two months.
After French authorities prevented him from boarding a flight on Dec. 21, Reid e-mailed a confederate saying he'd give it another try. Just before successfully boarding Flight 63, he sent an email saying "hiyya im off yeah so if ya should hear form me aroun 1300." Investigators believe 1300 refers to the scheduled time of the attempted bomb detonation.
Reid told investigators he was also motivated to attempt the bombing because democratic governments violated God's will by permitting homosexuality, fornication, alcoholism and drug addiction.
