Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

9/11 Plotters May Have Met in Spain

Aired July 01, 2002 - 05:35   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: Spanish police believe key players in the September 11 terror attacks met in Spain two months before the attack to plot strategy. The details are reported in a leading Spanish newspaper.

We get details from CNN's Al Goodman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The story in "El Pais" citing Spanish police documents adds intriguing details to the investigation about the alleged summit meeting in Spain to plan the September 11 attacks. Spanish police have previously told CNN that Mohamed Atta, a suspected linchpin of the World Trade Center attacks, visited Spain in July last year. Now, the newspaper says this secluded three star hotel near Madrid's airport is where he stayed on the first night, July 8, 2001.

A senior Spanish law enforcement official confirmed to CNN on Sunday that Atta did stay here.

(on camera): The newspaper reported that on the morning of July 9, Mohamed Atta walked out of this hotel and was videotaped by a security camera from a nearby building. He boarded the hotel van, much like this one, for the short ride back to the airport. There, he rented a car and began a long drive to northeastern Spain, to the city of Tarragona.

(voice-over): That's the reported scene of the alleged summit meeting. The newspaper says that while Atta was driving there, another September 11 suspect was flying from Germany to the small airport at Raos (ph), near Tarragona. That suspect, Ramzi Bin al- Shibh, then checked into this Tarragona hotel, a previously undisclosed detail.

Bin al-Shibh was not a suicide hijacker on September 11, but has been the subject of an international manhunt ever since. The newspaper says Atta checked into this nearby Tarragona hotel, also previously undisclosed.

The senior Spanish official told CNN it was quite possible the two men did use those hotels. But, he added, there is not enough evidence to prove a summit took place. The newspaper, citing police documents, said there was a summit meeting, but it did not name a specific location and no one has reported seeing the conspirators together in Tarragona.

Al Goodman, CNN, Madrid.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com