2 men arrested in Texas, Illinois in unrelated bombing attempts

DALLAS — Two men were in custody on Friday after each tried to blow up what they thought were vehicles packed with explosives outside a Texas skyscraper and an Illinois courthouse, authorities said.

The two cases were unconnected to each other and to the investigation that set off the most intense flurry of national terrorism warnings since the aftermath of Sept. 11.

Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, a Jordanian who lives in Texas, appeared in court Friday after federal officials said he parked what he thought was an explosive-laden truck in a parking garage beneath the 60-story Fountain Place office tower in Dallas. Smadi mostly looked down as he was led into the courtroom in handcuffs, and when asked whether he understood his rights, he softly answered, "Yes."

Michael C. Finton, 29, who also went by the name Talib Islam and idolized Lindh — the American-born Taliban fighter — was arrested Wednesday in Springfield, Ill., after federal officials said he attempted to detonate what he believed to be explosives in a van outside a federal courthouse in the Illinois capital.

In both cases, decoy devices were provided to the men by FBI agents posing as al-Qaida operatives. Both are charged with trying to detonate a weapon of mass destruction and face up to life in prison if convicted. Finton also is charged with attempting to murder federal officers or employees.