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CNN Live At Daybreak

Head of FBI Issues Grim Warning About Suicide Bombings in U.S.

Aired May 21, 2002 - 07:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned, the head of the FBI has issued a grim warning about suicide bombings in the U.S., saying -- quote -- "There will be another terrorist attack, and we will not be able to stop it." Those are his words.

We begin our coverage with a report from our own Kelli Arena at the Justice Department.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The FBI director says suicide bombers, like those who have attacked in Israel, will almost certainly hit the United States. Responding to questions from local prosecutors, Robert Mueller said -- quote: "I think we will see that in the future. I think it's inevitable."

That echoed a warning from Vice President Cheney over the weekend.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think there is a real possibility that we may see that kind of thing here or in other open societies.

ARENA: U.S. officials caution there is no specific or credible information about a target or a time for a possible attack. Still, the threat is a serious one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The problem is that it's very difficult to defend against. It can occur anywhere. It's essentially the sophistication is in its simplicity, that it revolves around one person who is willing to surrender their lives in the commission of an act.

ARENA: So-called walk-in suicide bombers are not the only concern. The FBI has alerted real estate industry leaders that terrorists might try to rent apartment units and rig them with explosives.

And in Orlando, Florida, security around water purification and distribution centers has been stepped up, after the FBI warned about a vague threat to the area's water supply.

REP. PORTER GOSS (R), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: You don't want people to think they are 100 percent safe when they are not. That's not fair. On the other hand, you don't want to scare them so much they starve to death, because they didn't go to the supermarket. So you've got to find that right balance and get people to understand and be alert.

ARENA: There is, according to one official, a greater sense of urgency in these past few weeks. That's because intelligence agencies are reporting an increase in activity and communication by suspected terrorist groups, including al Qaeda.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: You have to recognize that we have more in the way of sheer volume of information now. We have detainees in custody. We have kind of worldwide mobilization of the intelligence network, so we are just getting a lot more information and some of it may be sheer volume.

ARENA: Nonetheless, officials say the volume of information currently coming in is similar to the volume just before the September 11 attacks.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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