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American Morning

Police in Britain Continue to Investigate Alleged Terror Plot; A Look at Extra Security Measures Implemented at the Nation's Airports; Update on the Middle East Crisis

Aired August 11, 2006 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The investigation just getting under way. Police looking for more suspects right now, piecing together the alleged plot to attack Trans Atlantic flights.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And travelers at airports around the world, coping with more delays, long lines and in some cases, frustration today. We'll tell you what to expect on this AMERICAN MORNING.

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody, I'm Soledad O'Brien.

HARRIS: And good morning everyone, I'm Tony Harris in for Miles O'Brien.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right to the very latest from the UK and here in the U.S., as well this morning. More arrests we're told could be coming in the plot investigation. Britain's home secretary says police are still searching for suspects. He also says, though, the major players are already in custody. The bank of England has seized the assets of 19 people arrested. They've also published their names of some of those suspects. Sources with detailed knowledge of the investigation are now saying that two of the alleged plotters left behind videotapes, martyrdom videotapes. That's pretty much like the tapes that were left behind by some of the 9/11 hijackers. Airports still on alert, extra security is in place and includes that liquid ban for carry-on luggage. Passengers are being told they can expect more delays today. No surprise there. CNN has an extensive team of correspondents on both sides of the Atlantic on this developing story. Let's begin this morning with CNN's John Vause, he's in Walthamstow. I think I pronounced it right this time, the third time John. It's a suburb of London. Did I get it right?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Soledad. In fact we're in East London. We know from that list that was issued by the Bank of England overnight, which froze the assets of 19 suspects that nine of them came from this neighborhood in the eastern part of London. Another five not far away from here, as well, within a few miles. In fact, one of the houses where you can see the British Bobbies now standing guard in front of is where one of the suspects was taken away in one of those early-morning raids over the last 24 hours. This house just across the road from the main mosque here in Walthamstow. Many people now, many worshipers arriving for Friday prayers, which is meant to start in about 30 minutes. We have spoken to a few of the people who have been coming and a few of the Ammans inside this mosque here, they say they feel very much under siege and that they don't really know anything, is all they've been saying to us for the last couple of hours.

But, from this house just across the road here, earlier within the last couple of hours we saw more police arrive. They carried out bags, what looked like evidence. Four, maybe five clear bags packed, filled with VHS tapes as well as DVDs. I took a close look into one of those bags, it looked like just ordinary DVD movies, there was also documents both printed and written inside those bags. That was taken away about an hour and a half, maybe two hours ago. Now, this scene which is happening here in Walthamstow also happening in High Wickham, which is another area just east of London about 20, 30 miles from here. And also in Birmingham, which is Britain's second largest city just to the north, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: John Vause for us with an update on the neighborhood where many of the terror suspects came from. Thanks, John. Tony?

HARRIS: Well here's the question, is there an Al Qaeda connection? CNN's Barbara Starr joins us live now from the pentagon this morning. Hello, Barbara. Good to see you. Barbara, if you would, walk us through the ways this feels like an Al Qaeda plot.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well good morning to you, Tony. Indeed, people are already calling it a potential second September 11th. Multiple, simultaneous attack on airliners designed to cause the death of thousands. Now the president's homeland security adviser Fran Townsend spoke about the potential links to Al Qaeda to AMERICAN MORNING just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRAN TOWNSEND, HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: That it does have all the hallmarks and you've heard them all during the course of your interviews. But for the president of the United States to say it, we want to be sure. We're examining those links as we speak. We're examining them with our allies around the world. And I would be frankly surprised if we didn't find them. We have already seen some and we're continuing to look for others.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: So what is she exactly talking about, Tony? Well nine or 10 airliners perhaps part of this plot, simultaneous attacks. The way officials look at it, they would have -- the attackers would have tried to have gotten all those airliners in the air and then started their attack so that there would be no security alert, that so planes wouldn't be grounded. That's a sign of sophistication. Al Qaeda has always been obsessed as we know with attacks on airliners. Several years ago, about a decade ago, plots to attack multiple airliners out in the pacific, possibly using liquid explosives which was, of course, what appears to have been planned here. Obviously, the ties now to Pakistan. A delicate issue but officials saying that some of the people involved may have received money from contacts in Pakistan, may have even traveled there.

And, the homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff said something very interesting yesterday. He talked ant what he called the sophisticated design. And that officials would try to, quote, "reverse engineer this." An indication they may have something in hand, either a design or a device, possibly, and they will look at that for hallmarks of Al Qaeda. But of course, Tony, the bottom line, what is Al Qaeda today? Five years after 9/11, Al Qaeda is a network. It is an ideology. Whether or not these people were directly tied to Osama bin Laden or were simply loyal to the movement, loyal to the ideology is something that remains to be seen.

HARRIS: That's a good point. Barbara Starr for us at the pentagon, Barbara, thank you.

O'BRIEN: And interesting about the device too, and reverse engineering it, hmm. Travelers are again being encouraged to pack their patience today. Several airlines, Delta, Continental, Northwest, United, all telling passengers to arrive three hours early, that's for both international and domestic flights. Let's take a look at some of the new security restrictions that are in place today. Liquids no longer allowed in your carry-on bags, can't be taken through security checkpoints either. That includes any beverage of any kind, also shampoo, lotion, things like that. I don't think you can just pick up a drink once you go through security. In fact, those things also will not be allowed on the plane. Baby formulas, some liquid medications can be taken on board. They will be inspected first, though. Remember to remove your shoes, send them through the x-ray machine. That's been in place for a while now. Laptops, cell phones, iPods banned on the flights that are going to Britain. iPod batteries, you'll remember, were among the items that were mentioned as possible detonators in the alleged plot. Today, some 300 National Guard troops are going to begin providing additional security at L.A. International Airport. Let's get right to CNN's Kareen Wynter, she's at the airport for us this morning. Hey Kareen, good morning.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Soledad good morning to you. It's already off to a busy start here at Los Angeles International Airport and it's expected to get a lot more crowded as you mentioned with the arrival of hundreds of National Guard troops sent in by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to help bolster security and to help just with the heavy flow of traffic that comes through this airport on a daily basis. Soledad, not too long ago we saw a few truckloads of troops starting to arrive here so their presence is already being felt here. Now, they'll be unarmed but they'll also assist with secondary screening at boarding gates. That's one of the enhanced security measures in place with this elevated threat level that now includes a ban on all carry-on liquids. Passengers are now also required to remove their shoes and that's when they're going through security screening. It's no longer optional. These troops will also be deployed to other high priority airports in California such as in San Francisco and Oakland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, (R) CALIFORNIA: My office ordered heightened security for a variety of high priority locations. And deployed 300 California National Guards to provide an armed and highly visible military presence at those airports. The airports are LAX, San Francisco and Oakland, with the most flights to and from Europe. The exact duties will be determined by airport authorities and they will remain deployed until the national threat alert is lowered back to yellow.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WYNTER: TSA, you can see some of the screening going on right now, very busy at this hour. Surprisingly, Soledad in this terminal where we are, American Airlines, everything on the board says on time, there are no delays. But I can tell you yesterday when we were on the international end, there were so many delays coming in, especially flights coming in from London to LAX. A couple more things to mention, in terms of those extra resources called in by the governor, we're also seeing bomb-sniffing dogs here and the California Highway Patrol will also be assisting. Soledad?

O'BRIEN: And a big old line behind you Kareen. I was just about to say, wow, those people look so happy, it's not so bad. And then I see -- you know, considering how early it is where you are. And then I saw how far back that line snakes, whew. All right, hopefully they'll stay that way.

WYNTER: It's very long here. It's very long and we hope, you know, they have a lot of patience because it's going to be a very long day for those arriving a little bit later and that's when we usually see a lot of the traffic pick up, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Yeah it's only just begun and I'm sure by the time they've heard pack your patience for the ten thousandth time, they're going to want to choke somebody. All right Kareen thanks a lot. Tony?

HARRIS: I've said it about 999 times this morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Let's turn now to the crisis in the Middle East. Southern Beirut's been hit hard again today. CNN staff based in Beirut report hearing several explosions and the attacks come one day after Israel dropped those leaflets urging civilians to leave. In addition to the airstrikes today, Israel hit a number of southern towns with heavy artillery shelling and more shelling in Tyre today. Take a look at this large cloud of smoke, look at that, wow, rising after a new attack. There's word also that there is shelling going on near the coast of Tyre. Unclear though at this point at least where that shelling is coming from. As the attacks continue, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to travel to the U.N. today, she's going to push for a vote on that draft resolution that's aimed at stopping the violence. Let's get right to CNN's Richard Roth, he's at the U.N. headquarters in New York. Hey Richard, good morning.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Soledad. The State Department says Condoleezza Rice is coming up to close the deal but the State Department says there's still a lot more work to be done, as echoed by U.S. Ambassador John Bolton after talks last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Our negotiations with the French continue. We have not yet reached agreement but we're continuing to work on it. We're going to continue to work on it this evening and meet again early tomorrow morning. So, we're still working away.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: A possible monkey wrench thrown in last night dramatically by Russia which wants a new resolution, 72 hour humanitarian cease- fire between Israel and Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VITALY CHURKIN, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: We are also extremely concerned, profoundly upset by the fact that we have this humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Lebanon. So we think that time is right to call for humanitarian cease-fire and try to use this opportunity to accomplish and to bring to a successful end the political and diplomatic efforts.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Russia thinks the current U.S.-French resolution doesn't accomplish anything to stop the killing. John Bolton called the Russia draft a distraction. More talks today. Soledad?

O'BRIEN: Talks continue as we keep saying. All right, thanks, appreciate that. Let's continue to talk this morning about that alleged plot to blow up those jets flying from Britain to the U.S. Do all roads in the investigation lead back to Pakistan? We're going to take a closer look at that ahead this morning.

HARRIS: Also, new information on how terrorists may have planned to carry out the attacks. Stunning Al Qaeda training videos and documents give step by step instructions.

O'BRIEN: Then later, the new -- TSA's new security measures, are they really going to keep you any safer? We're going to check in with an airline security consultant. Those stories and much more ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): -- plane and take seats throughout the cabin. At a predetermined moment, the leader leaves its seat, carrying a small carry on bag. He collects an ingredient along the way. Other participants get the signal to meet at a washroom. They provide the final pieces. Inside the bathroom, the leader begins mixing the chemicals. Then he attaches an electronic trigger. Until now disguised as a cell phone. Once the bomb is complete, the leader returns to his seat or wherever he deems to be the most effective spot and triggers it, killing himself and destroying the plane.

(on camera): And experts tell us it wouldn't take much, liquids that could easily fit into containers of household items, things people normally take on planes, then mixed together on board. In this case, something as small as a sports drink and maybe some hair gel.

DENISE NORMAN, GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS: It could take as little as a water bottle to cause enough damage to an aircraft.

GRIFFIN: British intelligence officials report the planned explosive mixture was to be peroxide based and involved liquid and paste-like ingredients according to official U.S. sources. Previous CNN investigations in Afghanistan have uncovered Al Qaeda training videos and documents giving step by step instructions in using similar household and industrial chemicals to create bombs. Individually, components that in small amounts would be hard to detect which is why airport security expert Rafi Ron says, it would be much more effective to search for suspicious people instead of suspicious liquids.

RAFI RON, FORMER SECURITY DIRECTOR, TEL-AVIV AIRPORT: It is extremely difficult for people to disguise the fact that they're under a tremendous amount of stress, that they're going to kill themselves and many other people around them, in a short period of time and all the other factors that affect their behavior.

GRIFFIN: More time spent searching for the terrorists themselves, he says. Not just their deadly tools. Drew Griffin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Drew's report first aired on "PAULA ZAHN NOW" and you can catch that weeknights at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

British authorities say the plot was planned to commit mass murder. We're going to bring you the very latest on the investigation that's now under way in just a few moments.

Also, no lotion, no shampoo, no water bottles in your carry-on. Are these measures really going to keep us safe? We'll take a closer look ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: News of the foiled terror plot in Britain is having a ripple affect at airports across the United States. With beefed up security that includes a ban on liquids in your carry-on luggage. Larry Wansley is an airline security consultant and former head of security for American Airlines and he joins us from Dallas this morning. Larry, good to talk to you.

LARRY WANSLEY, AIRLINE SECURITY CONSULTANT: Good morning.

HARRIS: Well Larry, as you know, there was a similar plot that was being hatched in 1994 to blow up a number of planes crossing the pacific. To use liquid explosives to carry out that plot and that was led, let me show you a couple of pictures here, by Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his nephew Yussef. I'll have to ask you, after that was uncovered, why didn't aviation just ban all liquids and gels on carry- on luggage at that time?

WANSLEY: Well when you say aviation, I assume that you're speaking of the airlines per se.

HARRIS: Sure.

WANSLEY: And any deviation from the requirements or standards from the regulatory agencies, the intelligence agencies, is something that the airlines are not allowed to do. And, the intelligence agencies sift through and analyze information on a daily basis and the measures are gauged upon the existing threat at the time.

HARRIS: But would it have made sense back in '94, '95 to have implemented the kind of measures that we're seeing today?

WANSLEY: Well it was done in '94 and '95 because there was a prevailing threat at the time and the adjustments were made.

HARRIS: So is -- are these security measures sort of tied to the intelligence revealing prevailing threats?

WANSLEY: That's exactly it, Tony. As I mentioned, the daily work done by the intelligence agencies really filter down to the aviation industry or the airlines and the measures are adjusted accordingly.

HARRIS: You know it seemed for some it might make more sense to sort of be proactive, to be thinking ahead as to what the terrorists might be thinking of next. Is there any word going on in any kind of coordinated way to bring those kind of critical thinkers to the table who are suggesting not only is this happening now but this could be happening down the road?

WANSLEY: Well I would say that that work is ongoing, and it's really taking place with the people that are charged with doing that on a daily basis. I have full confidence that that's certainly being done today.

HARRIS: So a few months ago congressional investigators snuck bomb making components past screeners at 21 airports. Just in a general sense, how safe are these airports?

WANSLEY: Those types of tests are ongoing. When you have human beings as part of the system, and you have a combination of technology and the human factor and unfortunately, there are failures in both cases but primarily with the human factor and I can say that the ongoing testing is something that is a critical component of the process.

HARRIS: And Larry, moving to checked luggage now. The luggage is currently being x-rayed. Is that enough?

WANSLEY: The x-ray of the checked luggage, it is also screened for explosives.

HARRIS: Ok. So, just back to a previous point. Are the terrorists in your mind, you're a consultant to these airlines now, you ran security for American Airlines, are the terrorists in your estimation out working us, out thinking us?

WANSLEY: Well they only have to be right one time and certainly the industry and the intelligence agencies have to be right all the time. Of course, you know that that's virtually impossible but people are working day and night around the clock to be as far advanced as we possibly can be but certainly they've got patience. They've got motivation. They've got the ability, the resources. And it's a battle. It is truly a war. It's been characterized as that and I firmly believe that.

HARRIS: Are we working, but the question again is, are we working as hard to protect passengers as these terrorists are working to kill passengers?

WANSLEY: I would say that we are. There's always, always room for improvement and every, every nuance, every bit of additional intelligence information that will allow us to further progress and further grow and extend our capabilities, that's being explored every day.

HARRIS: Larry Wansley is an airline security consultant. Larry thanks for your time this morning. Appreciate it.

WANSLEY: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Much more on the alleged terror plot in just a moment. What exactly is the link to Pakistan? We're going to take a closer look this morning.

And later, a look at the Middle East crisis, as Lebanese refugees still try to run. Israel is warning people to stay off the roads in southern Lebanon. This morning, we meet a woman who's going to defy that order, risk her life in the process. We'll talk to her ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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