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In Buffalo Terror Cell Investigation, Authorities Trying to Find Two More Men

Aired September 17, 2002 - 05:07   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: In the Buffalo terror cell investigation, authorities are trying to find at least two more men suspected of aiding al Qaeda along with the six others already in custody.
Our Susan Candiotti has details on the suspects and the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kamal Derwish is the man government sources characterize as the recruiter, a central player in the alleged conspiracy. Sources say Derwish arranged for young men from the streets of a now blighted former steel town to make their way to terror training camps in Afghanistan. Derwish and another man are still at large overseas, possibly in Yemen.

In Bahrain, 22-year-old Mukhtar al-Bakri was arrested over the weekend on his wedding day. Authorities tracked him after his family in New York made arrangements to attend the celebration.

PETER AHEARN, FBI: These were upstanding members of the community. They went to school, they did things. Well, that's true, but frankly that's the same thing that you heard about a lot of the 19 hijackers.

CANDIOTTI: Al-Bakri is a U.S. citizen, like the other five men who were rounded up in Lackawanna over the weekend. They are charged with participating in an al Qaeda training camp in the summer of 2001 and therefore providing material support to a terrorist organization.

Ahmed Al-Bakri says his brother did travel overseas, but could not be involved in doing any harm to the U.S.

AHMED AL-BAKRI, SUSPECT'S BROTHER: No. My brother loves his country.

QUESTION: Why not?

AL-BAKRI: He just, he graduated from the high school and he is a U.S. citizen. He's not a member of a terrorist type, of a terrorist organization.

CANDIOTTI: Al-Bakri was last in Western New York in July, before returning to Bahrain. FBI agents interviewed Al-Bakri on September 11, when America marked the anniversary of the attacks. The government says Al-Bakri admitted going to an al Qaeda camp and implicated others. That prompted the weekend arrests. He appeared in court wearing leg irons and handcuffs. The judge appointed the unemployed former deliveryman an attorney. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

JOHN MOLLOY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: My client seems, he's a little bit confused because of everything happening so fast.

CANDIOTTI: Two other suspects are believed to be in Yemen, according to the FBI. One of their names, Jaber Elbaneh, revealed in a criminal complaint unsealed in court.

(on camera): The FBI does not characterize the men as a sleeper cell. The government says it has no idea what, if any, terrorist plans the men had and insists their training makes them too dangerous to be let out on bond, a point prosecutors plan to make in court Wednesday.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Buffalo.

(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




to Find Two More Men>


Aired September 17, 2002 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the Buffalo terror cell investigation, authorities are trying to find at least two more men suspected of aiding al Qaeda along with the six others already in custody.
Our Susan Candiotti has details on the suspects and the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kamal Derwish is the man government sources characterize as the recruiter, a central player in the alleged conspiracy. Sources say Derwish arranged for young men from the streets of a now blighted former steel town to make their way to terror training camps in Afghanistan. Derwish and another man are still at large overseas, possibly in Yemen.

In Bahrain, 22-year-old Mukhtar al-Bakri was arrested over the weekend on his wedding day. Authorities tracked him after his family in New York made arrangements to attend the celebration.

PETER AHEARN, FBI: These were upstanding members of the community. They went to school, they did things. Well, that's true, but frankly that's the same thing that you heard about a lot of the 19 hijackers.

CANDIOTTI: Al-Bakri is a U.S. citizen, like the other five men who were rounded up in Lackawanna over the weekend. They are charged with participating in an al Qaeda training camp in the summer of 2001 and therefore providing material support to a terrorist organization.

Ahmed Al-Bakri says his brother did travel overseas, but could not be involved in doing any harm to the U.S.

AHMED AL-BAKRI, SUSPECT'S BROTHER: No. My brother loves his country.

QUESTION: Why not?

AL-BAKRI: He just, he graduated from the high school and he is a U.S. citizen. He's not a member of a terrorist type, of a terrorist organization.

CANDIOTTI: Al-Bakri was last in Western New York in July, before returning to Bahrain. FBI agents interviewed Al-Bakri on September 11, when America marked the anniversary of the attacks. The government says Al-Bakri admitted going to an al Qaeda camp and implicated others. That prompted the weekend arrests. He appeared in court wearing leg irons and handcuffs. The judge appointed the unemployed former deliveryman an attorney. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

JOHN MOLLOY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: My client seems, he's a little bit confused because of everything happening so fast.

CANDIOTTI: Two other suspects are believed to be in Yemen, according to the FBI. One of their names, Jaber Elbaneh, revealed in a criminal complaint unsealed in court.

(on camera): The FBI does not characterize the men as a sleeper cell. The government says it has no idea what, if any, terrorist plans the men had and insists their training makes them too dangerous to be let out on bond, a point prosecutors plan to make in court Wednesday.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Buffalo.

(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




to Find Two More Men>