A man accused of putting on a gas mask before setting off smoke bombs and shooting 10 people at a New York City subway station has appeared in court.

Frank James was told he would not be offered bail at the brief hearing in Brooklyn.

James, 62, softly answered standard questions about whether he understood the charges and the purpose of the hearing.

His lawyer later asked the public not to prejudge him.

James was arrested in Manhattan on Wednesday after calling a police tip line to tell them where he was.

He is accused of putting on a gas mask before setting off smoke bombs and opening fire on a rush-hour train packed with commuters on Tuesday morning.

Ten people, aged 16 to 60, were shot during the attack and all are expected to survive.

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The authorities have said a large amount of evidence connects James to the shooting.

The suspect’s bank card, mobile phone and a key to a van he had rented were found at the scene.

Officers also found the handgun they said was used during the attack, with records showing James purchased the weapon from a licensed gun dealer in Ohio in 2011.

The shooting was described as pre-meditated in court papers, which say James was wearing a hard hat and construction worker-style jacket as a disguise before opening fire.

He is then accused of taking the hat and jacket off to avoid recognition.

Read more:
What is known about Frank James?

Prosecutors suggested James had the means to carry out more more attacks, noting that he had ammunition and other gun-related items in a Philadelphia storage unit.

The authorities say there is no evidence linking him to terror organisations and a motive for the attack remains unclear.

However, investigators have been examining many hours of videos that James posted on social media, as recently as Monday, in which he delivered profanity-laced monologues about racism, society’s treatment of black people, homelessness and violence.

James also discussed his history of psychiatric treatment and complained about how New York’s mayor is dealing with homeless people on subways and with gun violence.

Prosecutors have also said he talked about shooting people.

James has been charged with a federal terrorism offence that applies to attacks on mass transit systems.

“The defendant terrifyingly opened fire on passengers on a crowded subway train, interrupting their morning commute in a way the city hasn’t seen in more than 20 years,” Assistant US Attorney Sara Winik said in court.

“The defendant’s attack was premeditated, was carefully planned and it caused terror among the victims and our entire city.”

Magistrate Roanne Mann said she would ask for James to get “psychiatric attention”, as well as magnesium tablets for leg cramps, at the federal facility in Brooklyn where he is being held.

James, originally from New York City, had been living in Milwaukee and Philadelphia recently.

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