Fort Dix plot defendants in court

CAMDEN, N.J., July 13 (UPI) -- The men accused of planning an attack on Fort Dix appeared Friday in federal court in New Jersey for a hearing in connection with their trial.

The six defendants waived their right to a speedy trial and agreed to allow the case to be certified as a complex one, The New York Times reported.

The judge has not ruled yet on a request from the prosecution to hide the identities of jurors.

Details were released at the hearing of letters three of the defendants have written, complaining that they are being mistreated at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.

One defendant, Mohamed Shnewer, said guards complained when he prayed. The others told the judge they had been denied visits with relatives, who were barred from seeing them even after getting written permission.

The six men, all Muslims from the former Yugoslavia or Jordan, allegedly got military training and tried to buy weapons. The investigation began after a video clerk reported processing a video order that showed the men posing with weapons.