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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Government Calls LAX Incident Terrorism

Aired July 05, 2002 - 06:05   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: As you've no doubt heard, El Al has incredibly tight security. It's known for its get tough policies. So will it get even tougher after what happened at LAX?

John Vause is live in Jerusalem with that.

And, John, before we go there, what do the Israelis think of this incident?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning again, Carol.

Well, the Israelis, as we heard, say, you know, it looks like terrorism, it smells like terrorism, by all indications it is, in fact, terrorism. And they say that not because they have any specific information about Hadayet, but they also say that this is because of the history of terrorist attacks on El Al, one of the most targeted airlines in the world, with now some of the toughest securities in the world.

And they point to an attack back in 1985 in Vienna and Rome, an attack very, very similar to what happened at Los Angeles Airport, where counter staff were targeted in this terrorist attack. Back in 1985, 19 people were killed in the simultaneous attacks at those two airports in Vienna and Rome.

As far as security at El Al, it's pretty hard to imagine that it could get even tighter than it already is. There are already armed sky marshals on every flight. When you get to Tel Aviv Airport, for instance, there are armed guards waiting for you there. There are also many, many security measures in place at El Al counters around the world, given and obviously working in with local laws in those particular regions.

But in Los Angeles Airport, for instance, the third busiest airport in the world, there were the security guards there. But here in Israel many people are wondering how, in fact, the gunman did manage to get into the airport in the first place. So a lot of questions there.

But the Israelis are now saying that this is, in fact, terrorism and the fact that he was born in Egypt, he was an Egyptian national, they say it all just keeps adding up to the fact that this was a terrorist attack on an Israeli target -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But as you said, this suspect isn't on any terrorist list that Israel has.

VAUSE: Yes, there's no other specific, credible information, at least nothing which they're telling us at this stage, that they're giving out that this guy was being watched, that he was wanted. We know that he'd been in the United States for 10 years. He had a green card. He was a limo driver. He lived in Irvine, which was quite a nice, affluent suburb, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, you know, about an hour's drive out from the city. He'd been there for 10 years. He had a job, you know?

There was no indication that this guy was, in fact, being watched by the authorities, that he had a history of this kind of thing, that he was even involved in any terrorism groups. All of this, of course, will be coming out in the hours and days ahead, no doubt, as they question his wife. We understand they're also questioning neighbors and friends and that kind of thing to try and build a profile of this Egyptian man, to try and find out if, in fact, his motivation was political, if it was, in fact, terrorism. That they do not know, because there are a number of other possibilities which could be thrown in here, as well.

And also it gets down to your definition of terrorism. As far as the Israelis are concerned, an attack by an Arab on an Israeli target, that's terrorism. The FBI, though, does not share that definition, so they're saying hang on, let's stand back, let's take a bigger look at this. Not so fast. Let's wait and see what we know in a couple of days from now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Do you think that El Al officials from over there will go to LAX to talk about security?

VAUSE: I think that the El Al Airline officials obviously are very, very concerned about it. This is the first terrorist attack that we have seen on an El Al target, if you like, since 1996. Back then 13 people were injured in Madrid when an El Al security official found a suitcase full of explosives, which was bound for a plane. This security official intercepted that suitcase and the explosives detonated anyway. Thirteen people were injured. But they did, in fact, foil the attempt to get the explosives onto the plane.

So what they are saying now is, hey, look, we've got really tight security here. We've got tight security in place. We haven't had an incident since '86. Obviously they want to go over there, review what they can do to find out if there is, in fact, any way of beefing up security.

But you've got to remember, this is, of course, in the United States. Here in Tel Aviv or in Israel, rather, at Tel Aviv Airport, it's a lot easier for El Al, which is the national airline carrier here in Israel, to do what they want with the security measures, to have full control. In other countries they're at the whim of the local authorities, with the United States government, for example.

So obviously they have to work in with the local law enforcements there at LAX Airport, as well as with the LAPD and the FBI.

COSTELLO: All right, John Vause reporting live from Jerusalem this morning. Thank you.

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