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Three Terror Suspects Appeared in Court Today in London
Aired November 18, 2002 - 11:26 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Three terror suspects appeared in court today in London. No charges were read but prosecutors were granted a four-week extension to gather evidence. Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers joins us now from London to explain what authorities think these men might have been planning.
Good morning, Walt.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. A British judge did, indeed, remand into custody for four more weeks three North African Muslims suspected of hatching a terrorist plot against the City of London. The three men have been charged under Britain's terrorism statutes. They are suspected of having articles which according to the law could be used in the preparation, instigation or commission of a terrorist act. It is not clear the extent of the plot, if any. Remember, these are just accusations but the arrest of the men sparked and spawned headlines like these that, in fact, a poison gas attack was being planned against London's underground, its tube, its subway system which carries upwards of 3 million passengers a day. This morning during rush hour, I spoke with more than a few people, who had just commuted in after this story broke. Their reactions ranged from outright fear to fatalism.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing I can do about it, is there? So I just take -- accept it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought, well, if it happens, it happens. There's not a lot we can do about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The problem is the government doesn't really know what the threat is and I think the intelligence sources are probably having problems interpreting this as much as what happened in the states last year. Unfortunate. So I'm sure there will be an attack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm walking quicker than I usually do because I just want to get out of there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS: Now, it is not clear the extent of the alleged plot. It is not even clear, as a matter of fact, British officials have said that the three men arrested were not in possession of chemicals, gas or explosive devices. Nonetheless, the British MI-5, their equivalent of the FBI had these three North African men under surveillance for six months, the British MI-5 wanted to continue surveillance. Prime Minister Tony Blair apparently learned something which frightened him sufficiently enough to say, let's end the surveillance and arrest these men. That's where we are now. Leon?
HARRIS: Walter Rodgers reporting for us in the evening there in London. Thank you very much, Walt. Have a good one. We'll see you later on.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 18, 2002 - 11:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Three terror suspects appeared in court today in London. No charges were read but prosecutors were granted a four-week extension to gather evidence. Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers joins us now from London to explain what authorities think these men might have been planning.
Good morning, Walt.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. A British judge did, indeed, remand into custody for four more weeks three North African Muslims suspected of hatching a terrorist plot against the City of London. The three men have been charged under Britain's terrorism statutes. They are suspected of having articles which according to the law could be used in the preparation, instigation or commission of a terrorist act. It is not clear the extent of the plot, if any. Remember, these are just accusations but the arrest of the men sparked and spawned headlines like these that, in fact, a poison gas attack was being planned against London's underground, its tube, its subway system which carries upwards of 3 million passengers a day. This morning during rush hour, I spoke with more than a few people, who had just commuted in after this story broke. Their reactions ranged from outright fear to fatalism.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing I can do about it, is there? So I just take -- accept it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought, well, if it happens, it happens. There's not a lot we can do about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The problem is the government doesn't really know what the threat is and I think the intelligence sources are probably having problems interpreting this as much as what happened in the states last year. Unfortunate. So I'm sure there will be an attack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm walking quicker than I usually do because I just want to get out of there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS: Now, it is not clear the extent of the alleged plot. It is not even clear, as a matter of fact, British officials have said that the three men arrested were not in possession of chemicals, gas or explosive devices. Nonetheless, the British MI-5, their equivalent of the FBI had these three North African men under surveillance for six months, the British MI-5 wanted to continue surveillance. Prime Minister Tony Blair apparently learned something which frightened him sufficiently enough to say, let's end the surveillance and arrest these men. That's where we are now. Leon?
HARRIS: Walter Rodgers reporting for us in the evening there in London. Thank you very much, Walt. Have a good one. We'll see you later on.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
