A federal court judge in Boston Thursday sentenced Richard Reid, the so-called 'shoe bomber,' to life in prison for trying to blow up an American Airlines flight in December of 2001.
The sentence comes three months after Reid pleaded guilty to eight charges, including attempted murder, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, and using a destructive device during a crime of violence. At the time that he pleaded guilty, he told Judge William, "I pledge to Osama bin Laden that I am an enemy of your country."
Reid, a 29-year-old British citizen, attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoe during a flight from Miami to Paris on December 22, 2001. He was over-powered by crew-members and passengers. The flight, which was carrying 197 people, landed in Boston.
Defense lawyers argued that Reid is a troubled man, and was acting in defense of his religion when he committed the offense. Reid converted to Islam while in a British jail.
Prosecutors called Reid "a committed terrorist who will remain so until his dying days."
