US District Judge William Young on Thursday sentenced to life Richard Reid, the Al-Qaeda follower who tried to blow up, with explosives hidden in his shoes, an American Airlines flight bound from Paris to Miami just three months after the September 11 attacks.

But before being dragged out of the courtroom, the 29-year-old British citizen said, "You will be judged by Allah!

"Your government has sponsored the rape and torture of Muslims in the prisons of Egypt and Turkey and Syria and Jordan with their money and with their weapons."

The judge said: "We are not afraid of any of your terrorist coconspirators, Mr Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before.

"You are not an enemy combatant -- you are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war -- you are a terrorist. To call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. You are a terrorist and we do not negotiate with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice."

The judge pointed to the American flag behind him and said: "You see that flag, Mr Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is long forgotten."

In Washington, Attorney General John Ashcroft praised the sentence and called the passengers and crew, who had overpowered Reid, heroes.

"The sentence imposed on Richard Reid says to the world that terrorists cannot escape American justice." Ashcroft said.

Share your comments

What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 7 Sub: SHOE BOMBER Reid gets Lifer It must be very satisfying for the American people to be blessed with such a proud, patriotic establishment that they have in their judiciary. I ... Posted by Sreenivasan Raju Aiyer Sub: shoe bomber gets lifer I congratulate US District Judge William Young on Thursday who awarded life sentence to Richard Reid, the Al-Qaeda follower who tried to blow up, with ... Posted by dsgrover Sub: Wish people like William Young are born in India The American police & law protectors deserve appericiation, that they can punish terrorist & these terrorists have no God fathers in US. May India get ... Posted by Sameer Sub: Shoe bomber gets lifer How I wish the courts in our country are also as fast and as harsh in settling the cases involving the terrorists. Unfortunately even when ... Posted by Sanjeev Sub: 'Shoe bomber' Reid gets lifer Right justice done. This should be a lesson for those who attempt to disturb peace on this planet. Posted by Jacob Israel