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American Morning

Al Qaeda Suspects Identified Around Country

Aired February 14, 2003 - 07:09   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: There is some new information this morning about what led the U.S. government to raise the nation's threat level to high. Earlier this week, FBI Director Robert Mueller told Congress that militants linked to al Qaeda could carry out operations inside the U.S.
Kelli Arena now has more on these possible terror cells inside America's borders.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: There is new information about the al Qaeda threat within U.S. borders. Officials confirm that there are about a dozen individuals living in the United States who have trained in terror camps in Afghanistan. Sources say that they are scattered around the country, living in New York, New Jersey and in some western cities.

Now, they are and they have been under surveillance for several months, according to sources.

We have reported in the past that there are as many as 1,000 individuals under surveillance from suspected terrorists to those sympathetic to their cause. Well, we can now tell you that surveillance effort is under way in as many as 30 U.S. cities.

What's more, the group under surveillance includes between 20 and 40 people described as militant Muslims with strong al Qaeda ties.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Kelli.

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 14, 2003 - 07:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: There is some new information this morning about what led the U.S. government to raise the nation's threat level to high. Earlier this week, FBI Director Robert Mueller told Congress that militants linked to al Qaeda could carry out operations inside the U.S.
Kelli Arena now has more on these possible terror cells inside America's borders.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: There is new information about the al Qaeda threat within U.S. borders. Officials confirm that there are about a dozen individuals living in the United States who have trained in terror camps in Afghanistan. Sources say that they are scattered around the country, living in New York, New Jersey and in some western cities.

Now, they are and they have been under surveillance for several months, according to sources.

We have reported in the past that there are as many as 1,000 individuals under surveillance from suspected terrorists to those sympathetic to their cause. Well, we can now tell you that surveillance effort is under way in as many as 30 U.S. cities.

What's more, the group under surveillance includes between 20 and 40 people described as militant Muslims with strong al Qaeda ties.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Kelli.

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