Jury Selection Begins for 3 Tied to Plot to Blow Up U.S. Jets

NEW YORK —  Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, the alleged mastermind of the World Trade Center bombing, and two other men accused of taking part in a scheme to blow up U.S. jets in Asia.

Yousef and co-defendants Abdul Hakim Murad and Wali Khan Amin Shah are charged with conspiracy to blow up U.S. airplanes. Yousef is also charged with placing a bomb on board a Philippine Airlines plane Dec. 11, 1994, that was flying from Manila to Toyko. The bomb exploded under the seat of a Japanese passenger, killing him and injuring 10 others.

The selection of the jury, who will not be sequestered, is expected to take about one week, U.S. District Judge Kevin T. Duffy said. The trial will last about 12 weeks, he said.

U.S. and Philippine officials have said the bombing of the plane was a test run for later attacks on U.S. airlines. The government alleges the suspects plotted to blow up 11 U.S. aircraft on a single day over the Pacific Ocean in 1995.