Man Who Videotaped Buildings to Stay in Custody

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  A Pakistani man arrested while videotaping the 60-story Bank of America headquarters and other Charlotte skyscrapers will remain in custody after his lawyer declined to request bond Friday.

Kamran Akhtar has been held on immigration charges and on charges that he made false statements to officers since his arrest July 20.

Besides declining to request bond, lawyer George Miller also waived a probable cause hearing. “There’s not much need to do that now,” he said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Horn said a grand jury would convene Aug. 23 to decide whether to indict Akhtar.

Akhtar, 35, was living in New York when he was taken into custody. Police kept the arrest from the public until a criminal complaint was unsealed Tuesday.

Authorities are still investigating whether his activities were linked to terrorism. His family has said Akhtar is a video buff.

Terrorism was not mentioned in court Friday, but Horn said Akhtar had given conflicting stories about his finances and when he entered the United States.

Other landmarks Akhtar recorded on video include the Texas governor’s mansion, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and many sites in Las Vegas.