Jose Padilla, center, is escorted to waiting police vechicle by federal marshals near downtown Miami, Jan. 5, 2006

American terror suspect Jose Padilla was to appear in civil court Thursday to face criminal charges.

Mr. Padilla had been held in a military prison for more than three years without being charged before his transfer Thursday to Miami, Florida.

The Supreme Court agreed this week to let the Bush administration transfer Mr. Padilla, changing his status from what the White House calls "an enemy combatant" to a regular criminal suspect.

Jose Padilla     (2003 file photo)

Mr. Padilla's case has been the subject of numerous court rulings and his detention without charge has been condemned by human and civil rights groups.

Mr. Padilla was arrested on suspicion of plotting to set off a radioactive "dirty" bomb within the United States.

Some information for this report was provided by  AP.