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CNN Live Event/Special

America's New War: Ashcroft's Warnings

Aired October 01, 2001 - 05:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: But let's get back now to some other words, words we heard moments ago from Attorney General John Ashcroft, ominous words, no doubt. He says more terrorist attacks could happen on U.S. soil once the U.S. retaliates for the September 11 attacks.

CNN's Susan Candiotti takes a look at that part of the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Despite more than 500 arrests and detentions since the September 11 attacks, U.S. authorities are offering no guarantees the violence is over.

ASHCROFT: We remain in a situation where there is a significant threat of additional terrorist activity in the United States, that that threat of additional terrorist activity may well escalate as the United States responds to the assault on the United States to the acts of war perpetrated against the United States and our people.

CANDIOTTI: Appearing on CNN, the attorney general said he doubts all those who helped the hijackers are in custody.

ASHCROFT: And it's very unlikely that all of those associated with the attacks of September 11 are now detained or have been detected.

CANDIOTTI: In some cases, he added, authorities don't yet know who they are looking for. As the FBI continues to track down possible contacts and penetrate cells, arrests are building overseas.

In Germany, where sources say the hijackers may have masterminded the attack, more FBI agents are arriving to help their counterparts there. And later this week in London, another hearing on the U.S. request to extradite Lotfi Raissi. British prosecutors say he helped train some of the suspected hijackers in the U.S. Through his attorney Raissi denies any involvement.

The U.S. has charged Raissi with lying to the Federal Aviation Administration on paperwork for a pilot's license. And in India, CNN confirms the FBI is questioning the family of two men detained in the investigation. Ayub Ali Khan and Mohammed Jaweed Azmat were taken off a train in Texas the day of the attacks after their plane was diverted. The FBI says the two carried box cutters, hair dye and a large amount of cash. And agents are very interested in what they might know. Authorities in India say the two men sent home to their families more than $58,000 from doing odd jobs in the U.S.

(on camera): And a new development on the money trail. Besides the cash apparently sent back by some of the suspects in Florida just before the attacks, CNN has learned at least one of the men was also receiving money at that time from the Middle East. As to why, no shortage of theories.

Susan Candiotti. CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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