Four men suspected of a plot to blow up two New York synagogues and shoot down military planes were ordered to remain in jail on Thursday.
The suspects, who had been watched for nearly a year, planted what they thought were bombs in cars parked outside each synagogue in the Bronx.
Police say they then intended to shoot down planes with guided surface-to-air missiles. However, the explosives and the missiles, which were sold to them by an FBI informant, were deactivated.
US Magistrate Judge Lisa Smith ordered James Cromitie, 55, to remain in jail along with David Williams, 28, Onta Williams, 32 and Laguerre Payen, 27, until their next appearance, in two weeks.
Federal prosecutor Eric Snyder told the court: "These people were eager to bring death to Jews."
Police said the suspects had criminal records and may have converted to a radical version of Islam while in prison.
The FBI and New York police arrested them on Wednesday night after 17kg of inert C-4 explosives was planted in each of two cars parked outside each synagogue.
After that, they had planned to travel about 60 miles to an Air National Guard base at Stewart airport in their hometown of Newburgh to shoot down planes with a deactivated stinger missile.
Each was charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction within the United States and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles. The maximum penalty is life in prison.
