By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-862645.mp3
Dallas, TX –
The 19 year old from Jordan, under arrest for allegedly trying to blow up a downtown Dallas skyscraper, appeared in court this morning. KERA's BJ Austin says he's charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Hosam Smadi, handcuffed and shackled, spoke softly, in halting English during his brief court appearance. He waived his right to a detention hearing. His court appointed attorney is Richard Anderson.
Anderson: I am not an immigration lawyer. We will address that at some point in time. What it means right now is that until we have the probable cause hearing, we are not going to be asking for any release from detention.
Smadi COULD get a detention hearing later. A probable cause hearing is set in two weeks. That when the FBI provides details of the case against Smadi.
The 19 year old came to the FBI's attention several months ago, online. Officials say on an extremist group's website, he talked about violent attacks. According to the arrest affidavit, he later made such comments to undercover FBI counter terrorism agents.
It also says that Smadi drove an SUV he thought was loaded with explosives into the underground parking garage of Fountain Place, the 60 story, glass office tower at Ross and Field downtown. He left the garage and caught a ride with an undercover agent who was part of the sting operation. A few blocks away they stopped, and Smadi dialed the cellphone that he believed would ignite the bomb. He was immediately arrested.
Yolanda Mungia works at Fountain Place. Leaving for lunch with co-workers, she says she had no clue about the drama unfolding. She says she didn't find out until she heard it on the news.
Mungia: I mean we can't believe it. I mean we hear it's downtown Dallas, yes. But in the building where we work it's very scary.
Co-workers Janice Scanlon and Monique Roderick approached "what might have been" differently as they got ready to return to work in the downtown skyscraper this morning.
Scanlon: I didn't really want to come to work today. I wanted to stay home.
Roderick: But, today's probably the best day to be there. Because all the media, you know, it's on high alert. So it's probably safer today than any other day.
Smadi's friends in Italy a small town just south of Waxahachie say he was fun and easygoing. His father, in Jordan, says the charges are fabricated - that the family has never condoned terrorism. Former Dallas FBI Chief Danny Defenbaugh says law enforcement did a great job with the case.
Defenbaugh: What could have been a very devastating and traumatic act now has no loss of lives. And I think law enforcement today should really be praised.
Smadi's attorney, Richard Anderson, says there's a lot to learn about what transpired and about his client.
Anderson: We have a 19 year old boy who is scared; who doesn't have any family, hardly at all, in this country. And also has somewhat of a language barrier.
An Arabic translator will be provided for Smadi's next court date, which is October 5th.