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CNN Live Saturday
Terror Alert Raised to Orange
Aired February 08, 2003 - 18:10 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to turn to the threats facing us right here at home.
The nation's threat level is at its second highest point and that is raising new security concerns for U.S. pilots. Here is CNN's Jeanne Meserve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Effective Monday, new restrictions on general aviation and the airspace around Washington, D.C.
The reason, to protect the city's symbolic targets, says the Transportation Security Administration, and keep terrorists from using the civil aviation system as "an arsenal of improvised weapons."
That is one response to threat level orange, here is another, guns, police in heavy armor, dogs deployed outside a New York City Synagogue Saturday as worshipers prayed. Government sources say threats against Jewish targets, one of many reasons the threat level was raised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm angry at the terrorists. It is too bad we have it here in this country. Ah, I'm sick and tired of it. It is just -- I wish they were in one place where we could just nuke'em or something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As Jews we've been concerned for a very long time. We knew that our synagogue has been always been a potential target. We've been aware of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think we have to be strong enough to show them that those threats are not going to change anything from our perspective of normal lives.
MESERVE: Hotels owned by Jews and frequented by Jews are among potential terrorist target say government sources. But the FBI reached out to the Anti-Defamation League with a more general warning.
ABRAHAM FOXMAN, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: Their message was, this is a non-specific threat. You should be concerned. Jewish institutions should be concerned. And, again, it is not news for us.
MESERVE: According to communications intercepts, another potential target, subways. Washington's Metro increased surveillance and the number of transit police officers on duty. But in some cities upgrades in security were minimal because the level was already so high.
LOU CANTON, SAN FRAN. EMERGENCY SERVICES: So, there is really not much more that we can do when we go to this next state of alert, so really now, I think, it is time for the citizens to step forward.
MESERVE: With worry growing in recent days about al Qaeda's ability to acquire and use chemical, biological and radiological weapons, in Alexandria, Virginia, first responders teamed with Marines for a hazardous materials exercise. It was scheduled long before the threat level went up, but it is not a coincidence that its focus was the federal courthouse where Zacarias Moussaoui will be tried. He is the only person publicly charged in connection with the September 2001 attacks that did use airplanes to attack American landmarks.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: So, what do those new security rules mean and how might they affect you? For more on that we're joined by CNN's Mike Brooks. He's been talking a lot today about, also, the new security procedures for airplanes coming into the Washington, D.C. area.
That came down late this afternoon?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: That's correct, Carol.
And as we know, terrorists have favored aviation, especially civil aviation in the past. So, these new rules, what do they mean for you, the traveling public? Well, they are basically going to effect general aviation. What's general aviation? Those are the private planes, private jets, that are used by everyone other than commercial airlines that you fly on, Delta, United, American Airlines.
So, that there is going to be two zones. There is going to be a 30-mile radius in and around Washington that is going to effect three of the general aviation airports. So, if you fly out of these airports and you are a pilot, you have already undergone some security checks and probably -- also already have some kind of identification.
So, what does it mean to you? There's something new in effect there. They will have TSA, Transportation Security Administration inspectors there to inspect your plane before you take off from the general aviation aircraft.
Now, if you are flying into these three airports, inside of the 30-mile zone around Washington, D.C., they will steer you to an intermediate airport where you will be inspected before you come inside this 30-mile zone.
They have yet to identify what airports those will be, but they will definitely let the pilots know before the effective date, which is Monday, at 6 a.m. Now, there is still a 15-mile hard restricted airspace around downtown Washington. It will not effect general -- it will effect commercial aircraft that fly in and out of Reagan Airport, but it will effect every other aircraft.
And how is this going to be enforced? Well, we've seen before, as recently as the State of the Union message last week, where the Air Force NORAD System, these are fighter jets that will -- you can't see, they'll be out of site. They will enforce that no-fly zone. And a lower levels you'll see U.S. Customs Black Hawk helicopters that will intercept any low flying aircraft.
Now, -- these airports, you know, they can look at airports right now as hard targets. We heard the attorney general and the FBI Director Mueller, yesterday, talk about soft targets. So, right now, they are looking at these airports and they're trying to harden up, if you will, some of the general aviation aircraft in and around D.C.
You know, you are still going to have, Carol, though -- still going to have the federal air marshals in and out of Washington's Reagan National Airport. You are still going to have the code words, you are still going to have to remain seated for a half hour after take off, leaving Reagan National Airport, and also remained seated coming back into Regan National, as we have seen since September 11th.
LIN: Right.
BROOKS: Now, we know, as you recall, Reagan had been closed for a long time. They were the last airport to open back up. And they want to keep Reagan open for right now, so they're not going to be closed down. It is not going to effect the flying public, but there is still going to be these stringent securities measures in place, in and out of Reagan National.
LIN: Quick question for you.
BROOKS: Yes.
LIN: If a terrorist does fly into those restricted zones, how quickly -- I mean, what happens. How quickly can somebody respond?
BROOKS: Well, those jets are up 24 hours, seven days a week. As are the Custom's Black Hawk helicopters. They have incursions all the time, in and around Washington. Right now there are two. There have been for years, what they call P-56, and P-57, which are two restricted airspaces in downtown Washington, one around the White House and one around the Capitol.
Just recently, during the State of the Union message, we saw that the restricted airspace around the Capitol stretched to 30 miles. In fact, as the president was finishing up his speech, the night of the State of the Union message, there was an incursion into that 30-mile zone. And a U.S. Customs helicopter intercepted that plan and escorted them out.
LIN: Took them out. BROOKS: Now, it was a friendly aircraft, the pilot just ventured into that airspace.
LIN: Right.
BROOKS: But we have seen in the last six months over 162 incursions into those restricted airspaces.
LIN: Well, all right, at least we know the response is quick.
BROOKS: Absolutely.
LIN: Thank you very much, Mike.
BROOKS: Thank you.
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 February 8, 2003 - 18:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to turn to the threats facing us right here at home.
The nation's threat level is at its second highest point and that is raising new security concerns for U.S. pilots. Here is CNN's Jeanne Meserve.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Effective Monday, new restrictions on general aviation and the airspace around Washington, D.C.
The reason, to protect the city's symbolic targets, says the Transportation Security Administration, and keep terrorists from using the civil aviation system as "an arsenal of improvised weapons."
That is one response to threat level orange, here is another, guns, police in heavy armor, dogs deployed outside a New York City Synagogue Saturday as worshipers prayed. Government sources say threats against Jewish targets, one of many reasons the threat level was raised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm angry at the terrorists. It is too bad we have it here in this country. Ah, I'm sick and tired of it. It is just -- I wish they were in one place where we could just nuke'em or something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As Jews we've been concerned for a very long time. We knew that our synagogue has been always been a potential target. We've been aware of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think we have to be strong enough to show them that those threats are not going to change anything from our perspective of normal lives.
MESERVE: Hotels owned by Jews and frequented by Jews are among potential terrorist target say government sources. But the FBI reached out to the Anti-Defamation League with a more general warning.
ABRAHAM FOXMAN, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: Their message was, this is a non-specific threat. You should be concerned. Jewish institutions should be concerned. And, again, it is not news for us.
MESERVE: According to communications intercepts, another potential target, subways. Washington's Metro increased surveillance and the number of transit police officers on duty. But in some cities upgrades in security were minimal because the level was already so high.
LOU CANTON, SAN FRAN. EMERGENCY SERVICES: So, there is really not much more that we can do when we go to this next state of alert, so really now, I think, it is time for the citizens to step forward.
MESERVE: With worry growing in recent days about al Qaeda's ability to acquire and use chemical, biological and radiological weapons, in Alexandria, Virginia, first responders teamed with Marines for a hazardous materials exercise. It was scheduled long before the threat level went up, but it is not a coincidence that its focus was the federal courthouse where Zacarias Moussaoui will be tried. He is the only person publicly charged in connection with the September 2001 attacks that did use airplanes to attack American landmarks.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: So, what do those new security rules mean and how might they affect you? For more on that we're joined by CNN's Mike Brooks. He's been talking a lot today about, also, the new security procedures for airplanes coming into the Washington, D.C. area.
That came down late this afternoon?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: That's correct, Carol.
And as we know, terrorists have favored aviation, especially civil aviation in the past. So, these new rules, what do they mean for you, the traveling public? Well, they are basically going to effect general aviation. What's general aviation? Those are the private planes, private jets, that are used by everyone other than commercial airlines that you fly on, Delta, United, American Airlines.
So, that there is going to be two zones. There is going to be a 30-mile radius in and around Washington that is going to effect three of the general aviation airports. So, if you fly out of these airports and you are a pilot, you have already undergone some security checks and probably -- also already have some kind of identification.
So, what does it mean to you? There's something new in effect there. They will have TSA, Transportation Security Administration inspectors there to inspect your plane before you take off from the general aviation aircraft.
Now, if you are flying into these three airports, inside of the 30-mile zone around Washington, D.C., they will steer you to an intermediate airport where you will be inspected before you come inside this 30-mile zone.
They have yet to identify what airports those will be, but they will definitely let the pilots know before the effective date, which is Monday, at 6 a.m. Now, there is still a 15-mile hard restricted airspace around downtown Washington. It will not effect general -- it will effect commercial aircraft that fly in and out of Reagan Airport, but it will effect every other aircraft.
And how is this going to be enforced? Well, we've seen before, as recently as the State of the Union message last week, where the Air Force NORAD System, these are fighter jets that will -- you can't see, they'll be out of site. They will enforce that no-fly zone. And a lower levels you'll see U.S. Customs Black Hawk helicopters that will intercept any low flying aircraft.
Now, -- these airports, you know, they can look at airports right now as hard targets. We heard the attorney general and the FBI Director Mueller, yesterday, talk about soft targets. So, right now, they are looking at these airports and they're trying to harden up, if you will, some of the general aviation aircraft in and around D.C.
You know, you are still going to have, Carol, though -- still going to have the federal air marshals in and out of Washington's Reagan National Airport. You are still going to have the code words, you are still going to have to remain seated for a half hour after take off, leaving Reagan National Airport, and also remained seated coming back into Regan National, as we have seen since September 11th.
LIN: Right.
BROOKS: Now, we know, as you recall, Reagan had been closed for a long time. They were the last airport to open back up. And they want to keep Reagan open for right now, so they're not going to be closed down. It is not going to effect the flying public, but there is still going to be these stringent securities measures in place, in and out of Reagan National.
LIN: Quick question for you.
BROOKS: Yes.
LIN: If a terrorist does fly into those restricted zones, how quickly -- I mean, what happens. How quickly can somebody respond?
BROOKS: Well, those jets are up 24 hours, seven days a week. As are the Custom's Black Hawk helicopters. They have incursions all the time, in and around Washington. Right now there are two. There have been for years, what they call P-56, and P-57, which are two restricted airspaces in downtown Washington, one around the White House and one around the Capitol.
Just recently, during the State of the Union message, we saw that the restricted airspace around the Capitol stretched to 30 miles. In fact, as the president was finishing up his speech, the night of the State of the Union message, there was an incursion into that 30-mile zone. And a U.S. Customs helicopter intercepted that plan and escorted them out.
LIN: Took them out. BROOKS: Now, it was a friendly aircraft, the pilot just ventured into that airspace.
LIN: Right.
BROOKS: But we have seen in the last six months over 162 incursions into those restricted airspaces.
LIN: Well, all right, at least we know the response is quick.
BROOKS: Absolutely.
LIN: Thank you very much, Mike.
BROOKS: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
