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Saudi Bombings: Three Suicide Bombers Tied to Al Qaeda Cell
Aired May 19, 2003 - 06:06 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: To the Saudi terrorist bombings now. The investigation has turned up a direct link to al Qaeda. Saudi investigators say at least three of the suicide bombers are members of Osama bin Laden's network. Progress, yes. But there is apparent tension, too, between Saudi and U.S. investigators.
We have Sheila MacVicar on the line live from Riyadh.
Good morning -- Sheila.
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The Saudi investigators one week on after last week's triple attacks have identified three of the nine suicide bombers. They say that those three men were part of a group of 19 men earlier listed as wanted by Saudi authorities after the discovery of a large cache of weapons and explosives in a house very close to one of the compounds which was attacked.
Now, the link that Saudis are drawing to al Qaeda comes from the two men that they believe were the lead, if you will, operatives here. Both men have very strong links with al Qaeda, and it is believed by Saudi investigators and other intelligence agencies that those men participated in the recruiting and surveillance and logistics required to carry out the plot.
In addition to that, Saudi authorities said yesterday that they have four men in custody who did not participate directly in the attacks, but they say had some knowledge of the attacks before they took place. And it is those four men, say Saudi authorities, who they believe they have evidence, have strong links to al Qaeda. That's where the closest tie so far is coming to al Qaeda, the closest implication, direct implication, of al Qaeda in this plot.
In terms of the FBI, Carol, we heard yesterday some confusing statements from the Saudi interior minister, who insisted repeatedly that the FBI agents here in the country would not be permitted to investigate, but would rather be permitted only to inspect the work of Saudi investigators.
Well, we're hearing this morning from U.S. officials, senior U.S. officials, that in fact there has been, what they are describing, as really good cooperation between the FBI on the ground here and the Saudi authorities. They say that they're in close touch with the Saudi investigators, that they've had full access to the sites, and that all of the logistical needs of the FBI offices here have been taken care of.
So, it seems, Carol, that there may be two messages going out, one for internal consumption and one that may be a little bit closer to reality -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, you have to wonder if the FBI will get to question the suspects in custody.
MACVICAR: Well, that is indeed a key question. That goes back to the Khobar Towers investigation, where the Saudi authorities at that time did not permit the FBI to directly question the suspects in custody. Instead, they asked the suspects a series of more than 200 questions, put together by FBI investigators at that time.
Now, what we are hearing here again from U.S. officials is that in terms of interrogation -- quote -- "We are nowhere near at that stage."
And officials are pointing out that in many ways, Saudi interrogators may be more efficient, because they simply have a better knowledge of dialect and customs and families ties than U.S. investigators would -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sheila MacVicar reporting live from Riyadh this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
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Aired May 19, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: To the Saudi terrorist bombings now. The investigation has turned up a direct link to al Qaeda. Saudi investigators say at least three of the suicide bombers are members of Osama bin Laden's network. Progress, yes. But there is apparent tension, too, between Saudi and U.S. investigators.
We have Sheila MacVicar on the line live from Riyadh.
Good morning -- Sheila.
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The Saudi investigators one week on after last week's triple attacks have identified three of the nine suicide bombers. They say that those three men were part of a group of 19 men earlier listed as wanted by Saudi authorities after the discovery of a large cache of weapons and explosives in a house very close to one of the compounds which was attacked.
Now, the link that Saudis are drawing to al Qaeda comes from the two men that they believe were the lead, if you will, operatives here. Both men have very strong links with al Qaeda, and it is believed by Saudi investigators and other intelligence agencies that those men participated in the recruiting and surveillance and logistics required to carry out the plot.
In addition to that, Saudi authorities said yesterday that they have four men in custody who did not participate directly in the attacks, but they say had some knowledge of the attacks before they took place. And it is those four men, say Saudi authorities, who they believe they have evidence, have strong links to al Qaeda. That's where the closest tie so far is coming to al Qaeda, the closest implication, direct implication, of al Qaeda in this plot.
In terms of the FBI, Carol, we heard yesterday some confusing statements from the Saudi interior minister, who insisted repeatedly that the FBI agents here in the country would not be permitted to investigate, but would rather be permitted only to inspect the work of Saudi investigators.
Well, we're hearing this morning from U.S. officials, senior U.S. officials, that in fact there has been, what they are describing, as really good cooperation between the FBI on the ground here and the Saudi authorities. They say that they're in close touch with the Saudi investigators, that they've had full access to the sites, and that all of the logistical needs of the FBI offices here have been taken care of.
So, it seems, Carol, that there may be two messages going out, one for internal consumption and one that may be a little bit closer to reality -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, you have to wonder if the FBI will get to question the suspects in custody.
MACVICAR: Well, that is indeed a key question. That goes back to the Khobar Towers investigation, where the Saudi authorities at that time did not permit the FBI to directly question the suspects in custody. Instead, they asked the suspects a series of more than 200 questions, put together by FBI investigators at that time.
Now, what we are hearing here again from U.S. officials is that in terms of interrogation -- quote -- "We are nowhere near at that stage."
And officials are pointing out that in many ways, Saudi interrogators may be more efficient, because they simply have a better knowledge of dialect and customs and families ties than U.S. investigators would -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sheila MacVicar reporting live from Riyadh this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
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