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CNN Live Today

Bomb Threat on D.C. Banks Has Passed

Aired April 15, 2002 - 12:54   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More on that story that we have been following throughout the day about reports that terrorists have been targeting U.S. banks. Our Justice Department Kelli Arena joins us live from Washington with more on that. Hi, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, it look like the threat has passed. Basically, what happened was that the Metropolitan Police here in D.C. received a phone call yesterday from an unnamed caller who was calling from the Netherlands, who told them that there was a plot to detonate a bomb at a national bank in the D.C. area today at 12 noon.

When the caller was questioned he was able to provide some specific about the type of explosive that would be used. Of course, he knew the target, the time. And so that information was passed along to the FBI who in turn alerted the Banking industry. And said while we do not assign a high degree of credibility to this phone call, that coming from the FBI, we wanted you to know that there was this threat out there.

As a result, some of area banks closed today including some branches of Riggs, Citibank, SunTrust, Chevy Chase Adams Bank. Customers were told to go away although they could in some instances use -- still use the ATM at those banks. We are also told that some of those banks will be opening up for business again later on this afternoon. The FBI did not instruct the banks to close. That was a move that the industry took on its own, individual banks making that decision for security reasons.

Again that threat -- it was very specific, about 12 noon. That time has passed. And so, we think that right now it is the all clear, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Justice Department correspondent Kelli Arena, thank you so much.

ARENA: You're welcome.

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