London ? Eleven suspects charged in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners appeared in court for the first time Tuesday, and the eight men who faced the most serious charges were ordered held until next month as detectives press on with their investigation.

The accused were brought into a courtroom in groups, and peered out at the packed room from behind thick glass that stretched almost to the top of the high ceiling.

Each wore gray sweat pants and white jail-issued T-shirts or sweat shirts, with the exception of Cossar Ali, the only woman charged, who wore a vibrant, royal blue hijab and glasses. They spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.

Ali, the mother of an 8-month-old boy, also was the only suspect to request bail during Tuesday’s proceedings, which was denied by judge Timothy Workman.

The eight men charged with the most serious offenses of conspiracy to murder and preparing to commit terrorism – Tanvir Hussain, 25, Ahmed Ali, 25, Umar Islam, 28, Arafat Khan, 25, Assad Ali Sarwar, 26, Adam Khatib, 19, Ibrahim Savant, 25 and Waheed Zaman, 22 – were ordered held until a second court appearance on Sept. 4.

A dozen family members and a swarm of journalists squeezed into the courtroom. Each suspect was accompanied by a guard and stood in the dock. As they were led away, Khan and Islam smiled toward the public gallery.