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CNN Live Today

Justice Department Agreement With Alleged Al Qaeda Figure

Aired June 19, 2003 - 11:42   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we want to go in and bring in our justice correspondent Kelli Arena. We are getting some news just in to us right now that there has been some sort of agreement that the Justice Department has made, a plea agreement that is, with an alleged Al Qaeda figure.
We want to get more information on that now. Once, joined by Kelli Arena.

Hello to you, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.

Sources tell CNN that the government has reached a plea agreement with an Ohio truck driver who allegedly had ties to Al Qaeda. That driver's name is Iman Faris (ph). And according to government sources, Al Qaeda leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who is in U.S. custody, told investigators that Faris was ordered to surveil the Brooklyn Bridge with the ultimate goal of trying to cut the suspension bridge's cables.

He was also allegedly involved in a plot to drive a truck loaded with explosives onto an airport tarmac to blow up a plane.

Now obviously, neither plan came off. Faris virtually disappeared from sight. CNN has confirmed that he was taken into custody and questioned, and because of the extreme sensitivity of this case, details were kept secret, including details of a plea agreement. He is expected to be charged with providing material support to terrorists and a conspiracy to provide support. We expect an official announcement with more details possibly as early as this afternoon.

Heidi, back to you.

COLLINS: All right, Kelli Arena, always keeping her eye on the situation with the Justice Department. We'll check in with you later should anything else develop.

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 June 19, 2003 - 11:42   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we want to go in and bring in our justice correspondent Kelli Arena. We are getting some news just in to us right now that there has been some sort of agreement that the Justice Department has made, a plea agreement that is, with an alleged Al Qaeda figure.
We want to get more information on that now. Once, joined by Kelli Arena.

Hello to you, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.

Sources tell CNN that the government has reached a plea agreement with an Ohio truck driver who allegedly had ties to Al Qaeda. That driver's name is Iman Faris (ph). And according to government sources, Al Qaeda leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who is in U.S. custody, told investigators that Faris was ordered to surveil the Brooklyn Bridge with the ultimate goal of trying to cut the suspension bridge's cables.

He was also allegedly involved in a plot to drive a truck loaded with explosives onto an airport tarmac to blow up a plane.

Now obviously, neither plan came off. Faris virtually disappeared from sight. CNN has confirmed that he was taken into custody and questioned, and because of the extreme sensitivity of this case, details were kept secret, including details of a plea agreement. He is expected to be charged with providing material support to terrorists and a conspiracy to provide support. We expect an official announcement with more details possibly as early as this afternoon.

Heidi, back to you.

COLLINS: All right, Kelli Arena, always keeping her eye on the situation with the Justice Department. We'll check in with you later should anything else develop.

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