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CNN Live Today
Interview with Michael Hamdan
Aired June 21, 2002 - 10:21 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And, as promised, we want to head live to Las Vegas now to KVVU where Michael Hamdan is standing by. He is the man who heard a cell phone transmission about a threat to Las Vegas on July 4.
Thank you very much, Michael, for joining us this morning.
MICHAEL HAMDAN, LAS VEGAS RESIDENT: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Tell us how you came to hear this.
HAMDAN: On June 15, it was Saturday afternoon, I was driving through Las Vegas Boulevard where I pick up my cell and I tried to call home to speak to my wife to tell her that I'm on my way home, and I dial the number, and I press send, and it seems the call didn't go through so I listen. There is no click, nothing. So I was going to hang up when I heard somebody talking in Arabic, it seems another line crossed my line.
COSTELLO: And you understand Arabic, right?
HAMDAN:. Yes. I am from Lebanon originally, and I understand very well Arabic, and I -- as curious as any person, I want to listen to it, to see what is this call. .
COSTELLO: So, was it in the middle of a conversation?
HAMDAN: No, I didn't -- when I called my home to speak to my wife, the line didn't go through.
COSTELLO: Oh, no, no. You misunderstand. I mean, when you got that strange transmission, did the two people seem in the middle of ...
HAMDAN: It was. Absolutely. It was like two people are talking, and I heard all the conversation was in Arabic, not even one word of English.
COSTELLO: What did they say?
HAMDAN: Well, one party talking, and it seemed there is many people in this side talking to one, another individual telling him exactly in Arabic, which I'm going to say it in English, of course, "We are here in the city of corruption, the city of prostitution and gambling, the city of the unbelievers. And they are talking about freedom? We are going to hit them in the day of freedom."
COSTELLO: What do you think they meant by hit them?
HAMDAN: Well, when they are talking about gambling and corruption, whatever, so I -- it's Las Vegas. And, also, when they say we are going to hit them in the day of freedom, you know the freedom for us, for all Americans, is the Independence Day, is the fourth of July.
COSTELLO: And you suspected they have violence in mind, and what made you suspect that?
HAMDAN: Well, the tone of voice and the words has been really carefully chosen, and the other individual, he was only answering by OK, OK, as if he's getting instruction or getting statement. And he was saying, in Arabic, "tayeb (ph), tayeb (ph)," which is really more affirmative than OK. It means like, I understand.
COSTELLO: I got you.
HAMDAN: It was very -- it's unbelievable. I mean, I felt shocked. I felt stunned.
COSTELLO: Yes, and we know you went to the FBI. We're going to have to cut the interview short because folks in Las Vegas need the studio there. But we do thank you for joining us, and telling you -- telling us your story. Michael Hamdan.
HAMDAN: Thank you for having me.
COSTELLO: No problem. And, of course Mr. Hamdan went to the FBI, and the FBI is now actively investigating.
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