The 2001 Shoe Bomber Case: History Repeats in Delhi Blast After 24 Years

A powerful blast tore through a car near Delhi's historic Red Fort last week.

Investigations into the November 10 Delhi explosion indicated that a shoe bomb was utilized inside the vehicle that detonated near the Red Fort. The footwear, found underneath the driver's seat, tested positive for TATP (triacetone triperoxide), an extremely volatile explosive substance that has been used in numerous international terrorist attacks.

Dr. Umar Muhammad Nabi, identified as a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber, perished in the explosion that claimed 13 lives. Forensic investigators also discovered a metal trigger component embedded within the shoe, believed to have initiated the detonation.

This incident evokes memories of the 2001 "shoe bomber" case, when al-Qaeda terrorist Richard Reid attempted to destroy an American Airlines flight using footwear packed with TATP.

Several months following the 9/11 attacks, Richard Colvin Reid, also known as Abdel Rahim, embarked on American Airlines Flight 63 on December 22, 2001. He was traveling from Paris to Miami. Reid had created homemade explosives and concealed them within the soles of his high-top black basketball shoes.

Approximately 90 minutes into the journey, Reid attempted to ignite the fuse, but crew members detected the sulfur odor and swiftly intervened. During the ensuing struggle, Reid forced one flight attendant to the ground and bit another. Passengers successfully restrained him, secured him with restraints, and an onboard physician administered sedatives. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Logan International Airport in Boston, where Massachusetts State Police apprehended Reid.

Forensic analysis revealed that the shoes contained roughly 10 ounces (283 grams) of TATP, a quantity sufficient to create a hole in the aircraft's fuselage and potentially cause the plane to crash.

An FBI agent later testified that had the explosive device detonated, it would most likely have caused the aircraft to crash, potentially resulting in the deaths of all 197 passengers.

Reid admitted to FBI investigators that he had personally constructed the explosive shoes, and evidence subsequently connected him to al-Qaeda.

Richard Reid, born August 12, 1973, in London, is the child of an English mother and Jamaican father. He abandoned his education in 1989 and had multiple encounters with law enforcement. In 1995, he reportedly embraced Islam, adopting the name Abdel Rahim. By 1997, he had become radicalized, joining extremist organizations and severing ties with family members who did not convert. By 1998, Reid had departed from London and traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan for terrorist training with al-Qaeda.

In December 2001, Reid returned to Europe and purchased new basketball shoes using cash. He then flew to Paris and acquired a round-trip ticket to Antigua (with a Miami stopover). On December 22, Reid boarded Flight 63, attempting to ignite the fuse in his TATP-infused shoes before being subdued.

Evidence subsequently revealed that Reid had been communicating with al-Qaeda operatives via email prior to the flight.

On October 4, 2002, Reid entered a guilty plea to eight terrorism-related charges, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and interfering with a flight crew using a dangerous weapon. On January 31, 2003, he received a life sentence in federal prison without possibility of parole and is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Center in Florence, Colorado, a supermax facility that houses notorious terrorists including the Unabomber and Oklahoma City bombing conspirators.

During his sentencing hearing, Reid proclaimed his allegiance to al-Qaeda.