Accused Lebanese Hijacker Ordered Held Without Bail

A suspected Lebanese terrorist accused of hijacking a Jordanian airliner on which four Americans were passengers was ordered held for trial without bail Tuesday after U.S. prosecutors presented a videotape and other evidence that they say show he led the hostage-taking in June, 1985.

The suspect, Fawaz Younis, appeared in a Washington courtroom with his wrists in casts. His lawyer told reporters that he had suffered broken wrists while handcuffed in FBI custody after being seized in the Mediterranean Sea on Sept. 13.

Younis, 28, the first foreign suspect arrested by U.S. authorities abroad under a special new anti-terrorism law, was heavily guarded by U.S. marshals in the courtroom and by other federal and District of Columbia officers patrolling the streets outside.

The bearded, dark-haired suspect apparently was injured during the several hours he spent aboard an FBI rented yacht before his flight to Washington, said Patrick Korten, a Justice Department spokesman.

Korten said Younis complained of swollen wrists after being transferred from the boat to a Navy aircraft carrier before the flight and said he was treated by Navy doctors for a “small fracture” of each wrist. The injury is being investigated, Korten said. FBI agents reported there was no struggle during his arrest.

Authorities have said that Younis was lured aboard the FBI yacht by undercover agents who had promised to supply him with a large quantity of drugs for resale.

Karen Morrissette, an assistant U.S. attorney, asked U.S. Magistrate Jean F. Dwyer to deny Younis bail because he was accused of a violent crime and, as a native of Lebanon, could find “a safe haven” there if he fled the United States.

Francis D. Carter, Younis’ court-appointed lawyer, argued that Younis enjoys “a presumption of innocence” under U.S. law and has made no attempt to escape since his arrest.

Dwyer denied bail after viewing a videotape of the hijackers taken by a Middle East television crew at the conclusion of the episode. FBI supervisor John Lipka also testified that witnesses had described Younis as the ringleader who positioned himself in the airliner’s cockpit and gave orders to the flight crew.

During the 30-hour hijacking, in which the airliner was turned away from several Middle East airports, Younis made political demands on behalf of Palestinian fighters and threatened the passengers and crew, Lipka testified. Although several Jordanian sky marshals were beaten, the hijackers ultimately released all the passengers unharmed before blowing up the aircraft, he said.

The videotape showed a man who appeared to be Younis reading a long political statement in Arabic. Prosecutors submitted an English translation to the court.

Younis’ arrest was made under new anti-terrorist legislation approved by Congress in 1984 and 1986, permitting U.S. law enforcement agencies to seize terrorists abroad whose victims have included American citizens. Younis could receive a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.