Three men accused of assisting suspected "shoe bomber" Richard Reid have been placed under investigation by a French anti-terrorist court.

Two French nationals and a Pakistani whose names have not been revealed are being investigated on suspicion of "conspiring to prepare a terrorist act".

Prosecutors say the shoes contained explosives

The suspects are thought to have fed and housed Mr Reid - who is accused of trying to blow up an airliner with explosives hidden in his shoes on a Paris-to-Miami flight last December.

The three men were arrested in the Paris area on Wednesday, along with two other suspects who have since been released.

They are the second group to be arrested in France in connection with Mr Reid.

Earlier this year, five Pakistanis were picked up on suspicion of accommodating the suspect before his alleged suicide bombing attempt on an American Airlines flight.

Denials

Mr Reid, a Briton converted to Islam, is being tried in the United States on charges of attempted murder and attempted destruction of an airliner.

The indictment also alleges that he was trained by the al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan.

The device could have brought the plane down

He allegedly tried to set fire to explosives in his shoes after boarding the flight, but was overpowered by passengers and sedated by an on-board doctor until the flight was diverted to Boston's Logan Airport, where he was arrested.

The FBI says it has discovered forensic evidence that indicates Mr Reid had help making the explosives.

But Mr Reid is said to have told investigators that he acted alone in building the device, using a formula from the internet.

A date for his trial has tentatively been set for 4 November.

Earlier this month, he appeared in court in Boston at a pre-trial hearing on a defence motion to suppress an alleged confession he made after his arrest.

His lawyers argue that it should not be admitted because it was made after he had been given sedatives and they interfered with his ability to make a statement.