PARIS, Jan 19, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Shoe-bomber suspect Richard Reid left an electronic confession
that he planned to be a "martyr for the Islamist cause" before climbing aboard a Miami-bound American Airlines flight in Paris, La Provence newspaper reported
Saturday.
The Marseilles-based newspaper said the FBI traced Reid's alleged confession to a Paris cybercafe, after finding the establishment's professional card in his possession.
The 28-year British citizen pleaded not guilty in a Boston courtroom Friday to charges he had tried to destroy the American flight Dec. 22.
A French Interior Ministry official contacted by United Press International Saturday would not comment on La Provence's report.
"We can neither confirm nor comment on this because there is a judicial inquiry underway," the official said.
French anti-terrorist judges investigating terrorist links in Europe have included Reid in their investigation, he said.
U.S. officials claim Reid trained at one of Osama bin Laden's Quaida camps in
Afghanistan, and suspect he received aid in his airline bombing attempt. Reid
reportedly spent several days in Paris before boarding the American flight.
According to La Provence, the FBI passed on the cybercafe information to French anti-terrorist police, trying to reconstruct Reid's actions in Paris between Dec. 17 and Dec. 22.
The newspaper reported French agents have seized several hard disks from the
Internet cafe, where Reid reportedly frequented during his stay in Paris. Reid's confession, reportedly destined for several people, was apparently found on one of the disks.
According to La Provence, Reid directed that the confession not be made public unless "he was able to destroy the [plane], thereby causing his death and those of the passengers."
Reid apparently tried hard to set off an explosion aboard the Boeing, retiring to the bathroom several times so his actions could not be detected.
Ultimately, an American Airlines stewardess caught him trying to light one of his explosive-laced sneakers afire.
La Provence did not cite French antiterrorist sources in its reporting, or the cybercafe in question.
But earlier reports by the French media claim Reid frequented the 18th
arrondissement in northern Paris before climbing aboard the Dec. 22 flight. It was in that neighborhood that he paid $1,780 in cash for a Paris-Miami-Antigua-Miami American Airlines ticket, Le Monde newspaper reported last month.
Reid has allegedly confessed to having met Frenchman Zacarias Massaoui at a
British mosque, but denied any close relationship. Massaoui is charged with
participating in the Sept 11 attacks on New York and Washington. He has also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
By ELIZABETH BRYANT, United Press International
Copyright 2002 by United Press International.