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JFK Terror Plot Court Hearing Suddenly Canceled

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Jun 6, 2007 8:57 am US/Eastern

JFK Terror Plot Court Hearing Suddenly Canceled

Expert: JFK Terror Arrests Came Way Too Soon

Bloomberg On JFK Plot: 'Stop Worrying, Get A Life'

by Tamsen Fadal
BROOKLYN (CBS) ― The accused mastermind of the JFK terror plot had been scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday.

As the fourth suspect wanted in the alleged plot has turned himself in, the so-called mastermind behind it all was supposed to be heading to court in Brooklyn, but his hearing was suddenly canceled.

CBS 2 has learned that the scheduled bail hearing was canceled because officials say defendant Russell Defreitas was unable to put together enough assets to secure a bond.

Defreitas could only assemble about $70 in assets. Officials tell CBS 2 that it is not unusual for a bail hearing to be canceled or postponed in cases like this.

The 63-year-old suspect who was caught on surveillance tape inside the Lindenwood Diner moments before his arrest Friday is being held on charges in an alleged terror plot to blow up fuel lines at JFK Airport.

Meanwhile, after an intense manhunt, a fourth suspect, Abdel Nur is no longer a fugitive. The Guyanese citizen walked into a police station and turned himself in to Trinidad authorities Tuesday.

"This investigation takes us in a new direction where we don't have to just worry about threats from the Middle East, Afghanistan and so on, but from the Caribbean and from home," terrorism expert Richard Miniter told CBS 2.

The two other suspects are also in custody pending extradition to the United States. Both had bail hearings in Trinidad Monday.

Miniter told CBS 2's Scott Weinberger that officials might have jumped the gun in this case.

"It's really unfortunate these arrests came when they did because this terror cell was bringing in experts from overseas. Who those experts were, what they were up to, what skills they had, what plots they had, [it] would have been great to have those people in U.S. custody," Miniter said.

"Yes, we stopped the plot, but we could have stopped dozens of plots by taking custody of these experts, which we don't even know who they are."

There is no word yet on when the bail hearing for Defreitas will be rescheduled.

Stay with CBS 2 HD and WCBSTV.com for the latest on the JFK terrorism plot.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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