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CNN Live Today
Saudi Terror Attacks
Aired May 19, 2003 - 11:10 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Saudi officials have detained four people in connection with the terrorist attacks in Riyadh. They say they have linked some of the suicide bombers to Al Qaeda.
Our senior international correspondent Sheila MacVicar joins us by phone from Riyadh with details.
Sheila, hello.
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
Saudi officials said yesterday at a press conference that they have identified three of the men who died, three of the nine men who died in suicide bombers in last Monday's attacks as being amongst a group of 19 men they had previously publicly named as being wanted following the discovery of a large cache of weapons and explosives here.
Saudi investigators also say that the four men they have in custody said, although did not participate in the attacks, they say they had knowledge of the attacks before they took place. They have not been more specific. They have not said how or in what way these men may have assisted those who carried out the attacks. They have also said they have evidence that leads them to link these four men to Al Qaeda. They haven't been any more specific on that.
Of course the role of Al Qaeda, or the possibility of a role of Al Qaeda has been speculated widely, given the nature of the attacks, the meticulous planning which it was clear was carried out.
One official here today suggesting that perhaps these attacks had been planned for a year or more before they were actually carried out. In addition to that, two of those who are currently being sought by Saudi authorities are known to be very senior members of Al Qaeda. They are believed by intelligence agents to have been the key members who have planned these attacks over that period of time.
In addition, Daryn, there's another event here today outside the U.S. consulate in the city of Dahrain, where a single individual armed with some kind of weapon, rammed his car into a security barrier at the U.S. consulate in the early hours of this morning. We are told no one was hurt, but the individual did not threaten anyone, and he is currently in Saudi custody and undergoing interrogation -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, Sheila MacVicar in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thank you for that. 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 19, 2003 - 11:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Saudi officials have detained four people in connection with the terrorist attacks in Riyadh. They say they have linked some of the suicide bombers to Al Qaeda.
Our senior international correspondent Sheila MacVicar joins us by phone from Riyadh with details.
Sheila, hello.
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
Saudi officials said yesterday at a press conference that they have identified three of the men who died, three of the nine men who died in suicide bombers in last Monday's attacks as being amongst a group of 19 men they had previously publicly named as being wanted following the discovery of a large cache of weapons and explosives here.
Saudi investigators also say that the four men they have in custody said, although did not participate in the attacks, they say they had knowledge of the attacks before they took place. They have not been more specific. They have not said how or in what way these men may have assisted those who carried out the attacks. They have also said they have evidence that leads them to link these four men to Al Qaeda. They haven't been any more specific on that.
Of course the role of Al Qaeda, or the possibility of a role of Al Qaeda has been speculated widely, given the nature of the attacks, the meticulous planning which it was clear was carried out.
One official here today suggesting that perhaps these attacks had been planned for a year or more before they were actually carried out. In addition to that, two of those who are currently being sought by Saudi authorities are known to be very senior members of Al Qaeda. They are believed by intelligence agents to have been the key members who have planned these attacks over that period of time.
In addition, Daryn, there's another event here today outside the U.S. consulate in the city of Dahrain, where a single individual armed with some kind of weapon, rammed his car into a security barrier at the U.S. consulate in the early hours of this morning. We are told no one was hurt, but the individual did not threaten anyone, and he is currently in Saudi custody and undergoing interrogation -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, Sheila MacVicar in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thank you for that. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
