BOSTON, Dec 28: A federal judge on Friday ordered Richard Reid, the man suspected of trying to destroy a Paris-to-Miami flight by detonating explosives in his shoes, held in jail without bail after prosecutors produced enough evidence to justify his continued detention.

At Reid’s second court appearance since he was arrested last Saturday, FBI agent Margaret Cronin testified that tests had determined Reid’s shoes contained enough of a powerful plastic explosive to blow a hole in the side of the aircraft if it had been detonated.

“I find that there is probable cause that the defendant committed the crime charged. The defendant will be bound over by the District Court,” said US Magistrate Judith Dein. So far, Reid has been charged with interfering with a flight crew but officials have indicated more charges are likely.

Reid, a 28-year-old British citizen, was overpowered by passengers and crew on American Airlines Flight 63 last Saturday after a flight attendant saw him apparently trying to set his shoes on fire. —Reuters