Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Arrests Made in Saudi Bombing Attacks
Aired May 28, 2003 - 06:02 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: We turn our attention to Saudi Arabia now. One report says the mastermind who planned simultaneous terror attacks in Riyadh is in custody, and so are at least seven more suspects said to be responsible for 34 deaths, including 8 Americans.
On our live line right now, Walter Rodgers in Riyadh.
What can you tell us about these suspects, Walter?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
The Saudi government has been making more arrests in connection with the suicide bomb attacks on Western residential compounds in Riyadh earlier this month. Unofficial sources told CNN as many as eight Islamic militants were arrested in Medina last night, this, after a running gun battle.
The Ministry of Interior, however, has not released information on these latest arrests, and there are conflicting reports about the numbers of those nabbed, ranging from three to five to eight men.
Reuters has reported one of those arrested was the alleged mastermind of the May 12 bombings, but again, there has been no official confirmation from the Saudi government.
The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Robert Jordan, briefing reporters this morning said there remains a continuing threat to Western interests here and the Saudi government from the Islamist terrorists. Ambassador Jordan said despite the efforts of the Saudi, it's very likely there are other terrorist cells operating in Saudi Arabia. Most likely, he said, they are al Qaeda.
All U.S. embassy dependents and non-essential personnel left Riyadh earlier this month, and the embassy is basically assuming the worst about a future threat. The string of bombings that occurred May 12, 25 people killed, including 8 Americans, and 9 of the bombers were also killed.
A 60-person FBI investigating team, which has been sifting through the evidence here, is returning to the United States. Toward the end of this week, another much smaller FBI team is expected to replace it. Unlike previous investigations of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia, however, this time the Saudis are getting high marks from the United States for their cooperation Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, did you say the Saudi government has now linked these suspects to al Qaeda?
RODGERS: No, I said that the American ambassador believes they are al Qaeda, but the Saudi government is also operating on that same premise. They just have not said yes, definitely. But all of the footprints, all of the similarities are there. The modus operandi is very, very similar.
And so, both the Saudi government independently and the United States ambassador here are assuming and saying that it probably was al Qaeda. Beyond that, they are not saying anything definitively. Of course, there is a continuing investigation, and the suspects will be questioned, and perhaps then the link will be established.
But again, the Saudis are very, very secretive about this kind of process, so a real announcement from the government in Riyadh may never be forthcoming Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Walter Rodgers live on the line 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.
Aired May 28, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our attention to Saudi Arabia now. One report says the mastermind who planned simultaneous terror attacks in Riyadh is in custody, and so are at least seven more suspects said to be responsible for 34 deaths, including 8 Americans.
On our live line right now, Walter Rodgers in Riyadh.
What can you tell us about these suspects, Walter?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
The Saudi government has been making more arrests in connection with the suicide bomb attacks on Western residential compounds in Riyadh earlier this month. Unofficial sources told CNN as many as eight Islamic militants were arrested in Medina last night, this, after a running gun battle.
The Ministry of Interior, however, has not released information on these latest arrests, and there are conflicting reports about the numbers of those nabbed, ranging from three to five to eight men.
Reuters has reported one of those arrested was the alleged mastermind of the May 12 bombings, but again, there has been no official confirmation from the Saudi government.
The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Robert Jordan, briefing reporters this morning said there remains a continuing threat to Western interests here and the Saudi government from the Islamist terrorists. Ambassador Jordan said despite the efforts of the Saudi, it's very likely there are other terrorist cells operating in Saudi Arabia. Most likely, he said, they are al Qaeda.
All U.S. embassy dependents and non-essential personnel left Riyadh earlier this month, and the embassy is basically assuming the worst about a future threat. The string of bombings that occurred May 12, 25 people killed, including 8 Americans, and 9 of the bombers were also killed.
A 60-person FBI investigating team, which has been sifting through the evidence here, is returning to the United States. Toward the end of this week, another much smaller FBI team is expected to replace it. Unlike previous investigations of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia, however, this time the Saudis are getting high marks from the United States for their cooperation Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, did you say the Saudi government has now linked these suspects to al Qaeda?
RODGERS: No, I said that the American ambassador believes they are al Qaeda, but the Saudi government is also operating on that same premise. They just have not said yes, definitely. But all of the footprints, all of the similarities are there. The modus operandi is very, very similar.
And so, both the Saudi government independently and the United States ambassador here are assuming and saying that it probably was al Qaeda. Beyond that, they are not saying anything definitively. Of course, there is a continuing investigation, and the suspects will be questioned, and perhaps then the link will be established.
But again, the Saudis are very, very secretive about this kind of process, so a real announcement from the government in Riyadh may never be forthcoming Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Walter Rodgers live on the line 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.
