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CNN Live Today
Saudi Officials Say They Foiled Terrorist Plot
Aired May 08, 2003 - 10:00 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: We'll begin with the war on terror and what may have been a major battle plan against a U.S. ally. Saudi Arabia has launched a manhunt against 19 people accused of plotting an attack.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor is following this story.
Good morning, David. What's the latest on that?
DAVID ENSOR, NATL. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, Saudi authorities are saying they foiled a plot for what could have been multiple attacks in their country by 19 suspected terrorists, and they captured a quantity of weapons and explosives, but all 19 got away during a shootout. The Saudi government put their pictures on television, and it is appealing to its public for help look for 17 Saudis, Yemeni and one dual national, who's Kuwaiti and Canadian. Some of the group are believed to be Al Qaeda members, and Saudi officials are saying today, we're told, that all trained in Afghanistan.
In the gunfight at the safehouse apartment, the suspects' car was damaged, but they stole another car and got away, Saudi officials say. U.S. officials are praising the Saudi effort, one official saying that of course any time 830 pounds of explosives are taken off the streets. That is a very good thing, and they are hoping that the appeal for help, make pictures public, may help find some of these people, but U.S. officials are also saying that the State Department travel warning, in effect, warning Americans against travel to Saudi Arabia was not based on concerns about this group, and that there are -- is other threat information out there as well.
HARRIS: David, what more do we know about what was targeted? And what does this say about the state of Al Qaeda at that point?
ENSOR: We don't know what was being targeted, and Saudi officials are not saying much about that. They were hinting that there may be more than just 19 of these people that they are looking for. As to the state of Al Qaeda, there's something of a debate right now about that, Leon. There are some in the intelligence community who feel basically that with all of the recent high-level arrests, Al Qaeda is a very damaged organization, not capable of making a major attack any more. There are others who think that it is regrouping, and lower and middle level people moving quickly up to organizational jobs, and major terrorism could still be ahead.
So, certainly, the war on terrorism is by no means over, and this move by the Saudis is being praised very warmly by the U.S. They are very glad to see the Saudis moving. They feel that that's one of the places where some of Al Qaeda's support needs to be rooted out.
HARRIS: I just couldn't help thinking about the fact that 19 here, 19 hijackers that struck World Trade center as well.
ENSOR: That's right.
HARRIS: Thanks, David. Appreciate it.
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 May 8, 2003 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We'll begin with the war on terror and what may have been a major battle plan against a U.S. ally. Saudi Arabia has launched a manhunt against 19 people accused of plotting an attack.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor is following this story.
Good morning, David. What's the latest on that?
DAVID ENSOR, NATL. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, Saudi authorities are saying they foiled a plot for what could have been multiple attacks in their country by 19 suspected terrorists, and they captured a quantity of weapons and explosives, but all 19 got away during a shootout. The Saudi government put their pictures on television, and it is appealing to its public for help look for 17 Saudis, Yemeni and one dual national, who's Kuwaiti and Canadian. Some of the group are believed to be Al Qaeda members, and Saudi officials are saying today, we're told, that all trained in Afghanistan.
In the gunfight at the safehouse apartment, the suspects' car was damaged, but they stole another car and got away, Saudi officials say. U.S. officials are praising the Saudi effort, one official saying that of course any time 830 pounds of explosives are taken off the streets. That is a very good thing, and they are hoping that the appeal for help, make pictures public, may help find some of these people, but U.S. officials are also saying that the State Department travel warning, in effect, warning Americans against travel to Saudi Arabia was not based on concerns about this group, and that there are -- is other threat information out there as well.
HARRIS: David, what more do we know about what was targeted? And what does this say about the state of Al Qaeda at that point?
ENSOR: We don't know what was being targeted, and Saudi officials are not saying much about that. They were hinting that there may be more than just 19 of these people that they are looking for. As to the state of Al Qaeda, there's something of a debate right now about that, Leon. There are some in the intelligence community who feel basically that with all of the recent high-level arrests, Al Qaeda is a very damaged organization, not capable of making a major attack any more. There are others who think that it is regrouping, and lower and middle level people moving quickly up to organizational jobs, and major terrorism could still be ahead.
So, certainly, the war on terrorism is by no means over, and this move by the Saudis is being praised very warmly by the U.S. They are very glad to see the Saudis moving. They feel that that's one of the places where some of Al Qaeda's support needs to be rooted out.
HARRIS: I just couldn't help thinking about the fact that 19 here, 19 hijackers that struck World Trade center as well.
ENSOR: That's right.
HARRIS: Thanks, David. Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
