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British Investigations Continue; Suspicious Package Closes Heathrow Terminal

Aired July 01, 2007 - 16:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
MELISSA LONG, ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: It is 4 o'clock in the afternoon here at the world headquarters of CNN in Atlanta, and 9 o'clock in the evening in London. I want to bring you a developing story.

We're tracking this information of a terminal at London's busy Heathrow Airport, apparently closed over a suspect package. We're getting this information from the Associated Press right now that, again, that that terminal has been closed, because of that package, apparently in the departure section of the terminal, also quoting Reuters News Agency.

Working, of course, CNN, to independently confirm this information. CNN's Paula Newton has been tracking the widening terror probe since Friday's discovery of the two car bombs in London. And she now joins us live from London with the latest - Paula.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, LONDON: Hello, Melissa.

As you pointed out already, terminal three at Heathrow is indeed closed. They are trying to check out a suspicious package in terminal three.

We shouldn't necessarily read too much into that at this point. You can imagine, with the heightened state of alert, we are at critical right now. It means authorities will very quickly investigate anything that they believe could be suspicious.

We await word both from the transport police here in Britain, and also from BAA - the British Airport Authority - who runs security for that terminal.

Just to move on to the rest of the investigation, right now, in total, five arrests right now, three suspects being questioned here in London. One continues to be questioned in Glasgow, another in hospital in critical condition in Glasgow.

We had some comments from the head of counterterrorism here in Britain, from Peter Clarke, saying that there really can be no doubt now about the links between what happened in Glasgow yesterday and the two car bombs that were diffused in London.

Key to this investigation right now is to figure out whether or not there can be more attacks. Really, because they've raised the threat level to critical, you have to assume that they believe that more attacks like this could be on the way, which is why they continue to tell people to be vigilant - Melissa.

LONG: This investigation seems to be moving at quite a swift pace, almost a dynamic pace, with five people now under arrest.

NEWTON: Which is what officers told us at the time. They also are not ruling out more arrests and more arrests coming very quickly here.

As they say, they say that they are very happy at the pace of the investigation. And they continue to tell us that more arrests could be on the way - Melissa.

LONG: Paula Newton, thank you so much. Paula is live there from London.

Now five people, again, are under arrest after yesterday's Glasgow terror attack.

Let's get the very latest from CNN's Nic Robertson, who joins us now from Glasgow - Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: Melissa, we know from the police here that they had to detonate a suspect package outside a hospital where one of the men arrested in connection with the blast here at Glasgow airport is being treated with burns.

Again, this is perhaps a case similar to that being experienced at Heathrow Airport at the moment, where heightened security means that any suspicious device is being treated with the utmost caution. This device, in a vehicle, detonated by the police, by bomb disposal experts.

The airport here has begun to reopen a little. The vehicle that drove into the airport exploded into flames. That's now been removed by the police. The police towed that away earlier. They say that it contained a mixture of fuel, gasoline and gas canisters. That's why it exploded in flames.

The police also following a lead they've discovered investigating a house just a few minutes' drive from the airport here. Neighbors at that particular house told us that it is a house that's been up for rent, that some young men moved in there about four months ago.

They described these men as being of Asian origin. Here when people say that, it often means a sort of Indian-Pakistani-Bangladeshi origin. That's the appearance that the residents of that street said the men there had.

But they said they kept a very low profile. Nobody really knew what the men were doing. People really didn't have very much communication with them.

The police investigating that house right now. We've seen the police in there this evening, just a few minutes ago in forensic suits going through that house - Melissa.

LONG: Nic, let me ask you about the man that's being cared for at that hospital.

Yesterday, we learned that that individual may have had something on him, something explosive in nature, but the constable would not give us any additional information. Have we learned more today?

ROBERTSON: We haven't. Melissa, that is really typical of the way the investigation is going here in Glasgow and in London.

British authorities tend to give very, very, very few details away - just what they feel they really need to that's in their interest.

They were asked today, were there explosives in that vehicle that drove into the front of Glasgow airport. They said that they wouldn't comment on that.

They were asked again about the possibility of an explosive vest that was reportedly being worn by this man who was injured in the flames, taken to hospital. Again, absolutely no confirmation, no further information.

But that suspect device being found at the hospital where he was being treated really indicative of the high state of alert and caution here. And we've heard from the most senior minister here in Scotland today, urging people to be very vigilant, Melissa.

LONG: Nic Robertson, live from Scotland. Nic, thank you so much.

We're going to continue to focus this evening's broadcast on Scotland and now turn to ITV's Harry Smith, who reports from Glasgow.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

HARRY SMITH, NEWS CORRESPONDENT, ITV NEWS, GLASGOW: This was the moment when a threat became horrifying reality. It's what the authorities had always feared.

And even though defenses have been put in place, the bombers still managed to ram their lethal mixture of gas and explosives into an airport terminal.

Two men were arrested at the scene. This was one of them. And amazingly, no one - other than the bombers - was injured.

Those arrests quickly led police to this house a few miles from the airport, which had been rented by two Asian men. Now under intense scrutiny by the police, as well as the media, it could provide vital forensic evidence.

The attack at Glasgow Airport came just a day after the two London car bombs were found, which forced Britain to raise its security level to critical. So far, five people have now been arrested as part of the national terror investigation. Two of those were in the Jeep, which crashed into the Glasgow Airport terminal. Two more were arrested on the M6 in Cheshire. One more arrest was made in Liverpool.

This viewer's video shows the arrests on the M6. It was a moment of high drama, as three unmarked police cars slowed traffic to a halt, while uniformed officers arrested a man and a woman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The woman had a veil on, a white veil. And the police was obviously standing around them. They were doing something. I don't know what, obviously.

Anyway, they did make them take their clothes off and put white paper suits on.

SMITH: The two were then driven south in a high-speed convoy. They are now being held in London.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I am confident - absolutely confident - that in the coming days and weeks we will be able to gain a thorough understanding of the methods used by the terrorists, of the way in which they planned their attacks and the network to which they belong.

SMITH: Meanwhile, the heightened state of alert is causing major problems at airports around the country. This was Heathrow, where cars were being stopped and searched before they reached the terminals.

Harry Smith, ITV News.

(END VIDEO)

LONG: Now, Gordon Brown, the new prime minister, probably didn't expect his first week in that position to be this eventful. He's already asking for life to return to normal, but he admits that is easier said than done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The security level has been at a very high level. It's been at number two level for some time. And the reason is that we are aware, and have been aware for some time, that we're dealing with a long-term threat. It's not going to go away in the next few weeks or months.

We have to fight it in a number of different ways - militarily, by security, by police, by intelligence. And I think it's important to say, also, on a day like this, we've got to also fight it as a battle of hearts and minds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LONG: Prime Minister Brown also said that Britons might have to prepare for random car searches in the wake of the car bomb discoveries in London. Now, as British authorities are investigating the Glasgow Airport attack suspects, we're going to look at what our own government is doing to make sure nothing like that happens on the home front.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: We do actively investigate and actively monitor the activities of a significant number of people in the United States who we are concerned are linked to terrorism, either as facilitators or even as potential operators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LONG: More insight from Homeland Security chief, Michael Chertoff, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

Plus, the report from CNN's Kelli Arena on the threat level in the U.S. and the tougher security measures ahead - likely see those measures in action at our airports. We're going to have much more on that, straight ahead on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking news.

LONG: Sunday night in London. As you know, the U.K. is under a heightened state of alert. That alert level at critical, because of the thwarted bombings in London on Friday and the SUV that rammed - the flaming SUV - that rammed into the Glasgow Airport terminal.

We have received news now that the Heathrow Airport - a busy international airport in the heart of London - a terminal there has been closed because of some suspect package. It's Paula Newton who is reporting to us live from London. That's terminal three at London's Heathrow Airport. We're waiting to get more information on this.

And, of course, do keep in mind that British police are, again, on high alert, because of the terror threat that is currently in place.

Now, how will this affect U.S. security? Well, the Department of Homeland Security has not decided to raise the terror level here at home. You're looking at a live picture of four busy airports in the U.S.

It is 1:00 in the afternoon, 1:15 in Los Angeles at LAX, 4:00 in the afternoon at Reagan National - a live picture from Philadelphia, also Atlanta.

And, of course, you will see a little bit of stepped-up security, if you happen to be traveling over the Fourth of July holiday, as a reaction to what's been going on in London and also in Glasgow.

Now, the U.S. is not raising that terror threat level in the wake of the U.K. terror incidents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN ANCHOR: Are there terrorist cells now in the United States?

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Well, we do actively investigate and actively monitor the activities of a significant number of people in the United States who we are concerned are linked to terrorism, either as facilitators, or even as potential operators.

Obviously, you've seen a number of high-profile arrests in the last couple of months. I'm not saying those are linked to al Qaeda, but they certainly indicate the possibility of people becoming radicalized and deciding they want to carry out attacks on their own.

So, this is not, by no means a European problem. It's a problem here, as well.

But I have made the point of saying that I think, over the last year, Europe has become a particularly dangerous platform. And therefore, we have to be continually elevating our security with respect to travel from Europe and other parts of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LONG: Again, the U.S. is not raising the terror alert level, but it is stepping up measures to minimize risks.

Here's CNN's Kelli Arena.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: Melissa, one of the ways that the U.S. is dealing with the threat that Secretary Chertoff mentioned, is by upping the number of air marshals on flights to and from the United Kingdom.

Now, there are already a number of other security precautions in place. That's because the aviation sector has been on elevated alert since last summer.

And one of the things that makes Europe especially dangerous is the rising threat of homegrown plots. Now, we've seen cells crop up there with no official connection to al Qaeda or any other terror group, making it much harder to gather intelligence on them.

U.S. officials have been alert to see if the same thing could happen here. Now, while there have been several arrests made, there doesn't seem to be the same type of radicalization going on in the United States as we've seen in Europe.

Still, Secretary Chertoff mentioned that there are people with possible terror ties under surveillance in the United States. Now, that's something we've heard before from U.S. officials, including FBI director, Robert Mueller.

Now, our sources do not describe these individuals as sleeper agents. But instead, they describe them as individuals who, for a variety of reasons, have come to the attention of law enforcement as possible threats.

Now, while the exact number of individuals is classified, counterterrorism sources say that the FBI has at least 300 individuals currently identified as persons of interest - Melissa.

LONG: Kelli Arena in Washington for us.

Now, again, if you happen to be traveling by plane, you will see more security at airports all around the U.S. Our reporters are checking out the heightened security measures on both coasts.

Kathleen Koch is at Reagan National Airport. Kara Finnstrom is at LAX. Let's begin first with Kathleen - Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Melissa, actually, when you look around Reagan National Airport today, it looks like a very typical Sunday afternoon, though the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority does say that security has been boosted here.

They say that the Transportation Security Administration has contacted all major airports and urged them to be extra alert, extra vigilant - even advising passengers to show up at the airport somewhat early, in case they do encounter this extra security.

Now, these incidents in Great Britain and the extra security, it's unnerving some travelers. But most of them are continuing with their travel plans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my first flight ever. I'm 22, so it's kind of scary either way. And this is my second time flying back - well, first time flying back.

And after hearing the news this morning, I did get a little nervous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Flying is fine. There are events that happen all over the world, and we can't react in fear every time something happens. We just have to follow the rules and have faith that people who are in charge will do the things that they need to do to keep us safe.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

KOCH: And some of those things that they're doing to keep us safe include adding more bomb-sniffing dog teams at airports. Also, some of the measures you would not see would be as Kelli Arena mentioned - more air marshals on these overseas flights.

Also, more behavioral profiling at airports, where authorities are looking out for suspicious passengers, people acting oddly.

One thing that hasn't gone into effect here at Reagan National Airport, but has at some airports around the country, is random vehicle searches, where they basically stop vehicles coming into the airports, on the perimeter, before they get up right to the terminal areas and search them.

But again, spokesperson Tara Hamilton says that's something that could happen here, if authorities believe it's warranted.

Back to you, Melissa.

LONG: Kathleen Koch, live from Reagan National. Kathleen, thank you.

Now let's check in with Kara Finnstrom, who is at LAX - Kara.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT, LAX AIRPORT, LOS ANGELES: Well, as you can see, there's a long line of people right behind me, waiting to get their baggage screened.

LAX officials say they are under heightened security here, and that people heading through LAX this holiday week should expect possibly some delays and some changes in security. They say they will be switching up their surveillance and the security measures to keep things less predictable and also more effective.

Now, we did take some video as we came into the airport this morning of one of the random vehicle checkpoints. These can pop up any day.

We have seen them in effect both yesterday and today, with police searching vehicles, looking for any possible contraband or, of course, the concern here, any possible explosives, them checking vehicles as they come into the airport.

We also spoke with some of the travelers who are heading through today. And they say, the extra visible security, the bomb-sniffing dogs that we've seen and the more patrol of officers gives them a certain level of comfort.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was afraid that, if they did it over there, they might do it here. And I started thinking, maybe I'd just cancel to fly away a week.

But then I called. Everything was calm, it was easy. So I said, OK, let's go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had more concerns yesterday, though, when I saw the reports from Glasgow and England-Scotland area. I'm from Finland and I travel a lot anyway, so I'm glad security is beefed up.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

FINNSTROM: Now, LAX has been the target of terrorist plots before, so LAX police taking this very seriously. They're asking people traveling through here today, as are airport officials across the country, just to be extra alert and to report anything suspicious - Melissa.

LONG: Kara Finnstrom, live from LAX. Thank you, Kara.

We do want to make sure you're aware of this update. At the top of the program, we told you that terminal three at Heathrow's busy airport in London needed to be evacuated. Well, we've just been given the all-clear there.

They were concerned about a suspect package. Apparently, all is safe, so the terminal is safe and secure. People will be allowed to go back into that terminal, and, of course, make it to their final destinations, as well.

Let's continue to focus on Britain. Despite the tense atmosphere, the Brits are showing that stiff upper lip. Security is tight, and Londoners are joining Princes William and Harry at Wembley stadium for a memorial concert for their mother, the late Princess Diana.

The star-studded event marks what would have been her 46th birthday.

Becky Anderson is at Wembley stadium with more - Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, LONDON: That's right. Nothing being left to chance here, Melissa. Let me tell you, the security extremely tight. Everybody coming in and every car being checked on its way in today.

Behind me is the new Wembley stadium. I've been in and out today. There are 63,000 people in that stadium, and they've been listening for the last almost six hours now to a range of artists, pop stars and various others, including the English National Ballet - people that William and Harry say their mother would have liked to have heard.

Of course, this is to commemorate her life. It would be on August the 31st, at 10 years, of course, since she was killed in that car crash.

Well, today, Elton John kicking off the proceeding, opening the event with his hit song, "Your Song." He played the piano against a backdrop of black-and-white images of Princess Diana, taken by the very famous photographer, Mario Testino.

Now, the star Elton John has also rumored that he will be possibly singing "Candle in the Wind" as he closes the show today. Now, remember, that was the song that he sang at Princess Diana's funeral and said he would never sing again in public.

Well, he introduced the princes - Princes William and Harry - 25 years old and 22 years old, respectively. Of course, they have organized this entire event. And this is what Prince Harry had to say as things started off, as I say, just about six hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRINCE HARRY: When William and I first had this idea, we forgot that we'd end up standing here, desperately trying to think of something funny to say.

Well, we'll leave that to the funny people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Yes, well, they're not known for their comedy. And, of course, they don't need to provide any comedic value, actually, to this event and, as I say, songs that they believe that Diana would like, and also, stars that they enjoy themselves.

We just had P. Diddy, for example. But we also had Rod Stewart earlier on, singing "I Am Sailing," and looking up to the stars and saying - looking up to the sky here, as it goes dark in London - and saying, "This is for you, Diana."

And just after the boys spoke earlier on, Duran Duran on the stage, the '80s heart throbs, one of Diana's favorite bands, and now comprising of the original members - Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor. And they played "Sunrise," "Wild Boys" and "Rio." And they dedicated that to the memory of Princess Diana.

So, an extremely special event here at the new Wembley stadium today.

You said - you said it yourself - it's showing the British sort of stiff upper lip. As Gordon Brown said today, we will not yield to these terror threats. And certainly, the 63,000 in here today really enjoying themselves - Melissa.

LONG: You mentioned, of course, this is in dedication to the late Princess Diana. I understand Duran Duran was, as you mentioned, one of her favorite groups - not necessarily popular in the States right now, but popular, of course, in the U.K.

And, of course, a little bit of ballet, as well, to celebrate Diana's love of ballet.

Becky Anderson, live from Wembley, thanks so much.

Now we're going to continue to focus on domestic news, and they are on opposite sides of Colorado. They have got opposite problems this weekend. Damaging flooding in Kansas and a blazing wildfire in Utah coming up.

And Glasgow Airport looking remarkably normal a day after a bizarre bombing attack shuts down operations. We're going to have the latest from the U.K., ahead on the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LONG: Fire and water causing all kinds of problems today. The governor of Kansas has declared 12 southeast and south-central counties flood disaster areas. Authorities have issued mandatory evacuations in some spots, but many residents aren't leaving.

And in a remote section of Utah, crews are battling a fast-moving wildfire that killed three people and charred some 23 square miles since Friday. Today's dry and windy conditions not helping the firefighters.

Now, another look at the flooding in America's heartland. I want to show Osawatomie, Kansas. Heavy rains and evacuation orders have people heading for higher ground. There are plenty of road closures in and around eastern Kansas and western Missouri.

The National Weather Service says some parts of east-central Kansas have weathered 20 inches of rain since Tuesday. Obviously, a dire situation that could get worse, if the forecast for more rain holds up.

Reporter Krista Flasch is with our Tulsa affiliate, KJRH. She joins us live from one of the towns that is under the gun. That is Coffeyville, Kansas, just across the border from Oklahoma.

Christa, how does it look there right now?

KRISTA FLASCH, KJRH-TV REPORTER, COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS: Well, the east side of Coffeyville has been shut down. As you can see behind me, flood waters are covering this road.

And further down the street, about 2,500 homes have been under water, 2,500 people have been forced to evacuate their homes. But so far, no injuries have been reported.

Around this 3:00 this morning, flood waters breached a levee. The fire department had to do about 50 water rescues, because many of the residents did not heed a mandatory evacuation order last night.

Now, the flood has become an environmental concern, because there are contaminants in the water. Many of the residents that I talked to today have been complaining about a strong chemical odor in the air. But at the same time, they are sympathizing with flood victims.

The continuing rain certainly is not helping the situation. And authorities believe that a refinery may be the cause of contamination. The Kansas Department of Health is investigating that source and, of course, its environmental impact, as well.

Melissa, back to you.

LONG: Krista Flasch from our Tulsa affiliate, KJRH. Krista, thank you.

Continuing to focus on the U.K., possibly under siege. Two terror attacks in two days. Are the Brits living in fear, or supporting that stiff upper lip?

We have a live report from London straight ahead.

Plus, President Bush meets President Vladimir Putin in Kennebunkport. We're going to take you there live about 15 minutes from now in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LONG: British police, British authorities are on heightened alert today following the thwarted bombings in London on Friday and the explosive crash at the terminal at Glasgow Airport on Saturday. We can give you an update now on concern at Heathrow Airport. At the top of the hour it would have been 9:00 p.m. Local Time terminal three at Heathrow's busy international airport had to be briefly closed after a suspect package, a suspect object was found.

Well, police have now reported that that item was, in fact, no reason to cause any concern. So Heathrow's terminal three has been reopened after that brief closure. Now, the two failed terror plots that we just mentioned that unraveled in Great Britain with a fifth arrest being made today. The police are moving swiftly. CNN's John Roberts joins us live from London with more. John as you have had the opportunity to meet people on the streets of London, do you get the sense that people are just going about their daily experiences despite the new security and the circumstances?

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're trying, Melissa, to not let it affect them too much, though you can see with that temporary closure at terminal three at Heathrow Airport, it's got the whole country on edge. Any little thing is going to be magnified in the eyes of the police officials as they investigate just how widespread this terror plot was and whether they and the British people wonder if there is anything more coming.

The fact that they have got five people though detained, they have got two fully constructed bombs and a third vehicle as well, gives them a tremendous amount of evidence going forward trying to unravel just how big this plot really was. They've got assets in terms of human intelligence. They have got assets in terms of forensic evidence. I went down to Tiger Tiger earlier today, which is the scene of the very first bomb that was discovered back there early Friday morning with a fellow named John O'Connor, his is a former investigator of the Metro Police and a member of Emphasis Flying Squad. He said investigators; unlike they usually do in a case like this have an absolute gold mine at their fingertips.

JOHN O'CONNOR: They're going to have massive forensic evidence. They've got the full details of the bomb maker's signature, how he made the bomb. They'll know what went wrong with it, why it didn't work. They'll be able to trace back the materials that they used. They'll be able to check back the providence of the car where that was acquired, what the history of that car is. There's such a wealth of intelligence and information that will come out of this.

ROBERTS: Now, O'Connor says while the components of this bomb were rudimentary as these groups draw influence from al Qaeda worldwide and draw influence from each other become more sophisticated, they may eventually get their hands on explosives and triggering devices which may lead to catastrophic loss of life should they happen to get it right. But you can tell by that picture, again that was right in front of Tiger Tiger, the scene where the very first car bomb was found, the streets are still very, very crowded, so people doing their best to go about their business.

Gordon Brown, though, the new prime minister of England, who is going to be addressing members of Parliament in the House of Commons tomorrow about the situation says while he urges people not to let this obstruct too much with their day-to-day lives, they are going to increase security on the trains and tubes here. There's already increased security at the airport and he said, Melissa, that this is a threat that's going to be with us for a very, very wrong long time.

LONG: John Roberts live from London. John thank you.

CNN "American Morning" John Roberts will be working long hours jumping into our coverage of the British terror alert. John will be anchoring "American Morning" from London tomorrow beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Now the Glasgow crash was loud, it was fiery and terrifying enough to send some witnesses fleeing in terror. Some on the other hand stayed put and watched in disbelief. One airport employee was calm enough to actually get out his camera. Thomas Conroy is joining us now live from Glasgow Airport. Thomas thank you so much for your time.

THOMAS CONROY, CRASH WITNESS: Hi, Melissa, yeah, it's OK.

LONG: Take me back to 3:00, 3:15 yesterday. I understand you work at the airport; you were dropping off a colleague, parking the car. Then tell me what you experienced and what you saw.

CONROY: Yeah. I dropped off a colleague at the front of the terminal because I had to get my temporary pass. So I parked the car and while I was parking the car, the Cherokee rammed the front of the terminal. So just as I come around, the police were running towards it. There was one man in the street fighting anybody who came near him. There was smoke from the Jeep. And then the next thing, the Jeep was on fire. And by this time, the gentleman that was fighting with everybody had been overpowered by the police. Then there was an explosion from the Jeep.

LONG: Now, let's talk about the suspects themselves. Did you hear them saying anything or screaming anything?

CONROY: The one -- the one actually fighting with everybody, he was screaming and shouting, but I couldn't make out what it was because of the distance I was away. He was just shouting at anybody who came near him. He was just throwing punches. It looked as if there was something in his hand, which I think may have been a canister with petrol in it or something. I thought maybe it was like a bomb.

LONG: Well, did you immediately, when this happened, think this was a terror-related plot or just some big misunderstanding? A car crash or something like that?

CONROY: Initially, just seeing the car, I thought it was a car crash. Then when I seen the man in the middle of the street surrounded by other men, I thought maybe it was a dispute amongst taxi drivers. And then once the car was on fire, I thought this is more serious than that.

LONG: You, of course, work at the busiest airport in Scotland, more than 8 million passengers travel in and out of that airport annually. The SUV tried to ram, the driver of that SUV tried to ram through the terminal door. Did you see an exodus of people trying to exit other doors?

CONROY: I mean, there would have been people at those doors. The doors were -- three sets of doors at the front, all in use. But this guy just come over the central reservation and tried that at 90 degrees. But because he had an angle, you get jammed. Then he reversed back and forward a bit three times with the wheel spinning and smoke belching from the tires but he was jammed. He couldn't get in.

LONG: Thomas, we are out of time. I just want to ask you one final question. With the heightened terror alert level currently in place in the UK, will you be doing anything differently in the next couple of days in the way that you live your life?

CONROY: Not at all. Nope. Carry on at normal. They won't pull us down.

LONG: Thomas Conroy, thank you so much for your time and for sharing your photographs as well. We appreciate it.

And you can do much more, find out much more on the terror alert on our Website. Do check out the new look of CNN.com. It's the new and improved CNN.com, the number one news site online.

Good weather in Maine, but is it warm enough to warm the chilly U.S./Russian relationship? We have a live report from the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport straight ahead IN THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LONG: The U.s. is trying to thaw its chilly relationship with Russia. President Bush plays host to his Kremlin counterpart today. Ed Henry is at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport awaiting Vladimir Putin's arrival.

Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello Melissa. That is right, there has been talk of the potential for a new cold war. Both sides U.S. and Russian officials trying to tamp all that talk down. This mini summit over the next few days all about trying to warm up U.S./Russian relations. Ahead of the summit, hundreds of protesters marching in the streets of Kennebunkport, some of them protesters marching and protesting against Mr. Putin, some of his policies. Most of the protesters basically protesting against the U.S. President, some of them calling for impeachment.

They tried to reach the Bush family compound down the street. They didn't make it. They were stopped at a checkpoint. But in the next hour, Mr. Putin will obviously be able to reach that family compound. They will be working on a relationship that's changed a lot since six years ago when Mr. Bush famously said he had looked into Mr. Putin's eyes, had seen into his soul and decided he could trust him. That relationship is now being tested.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY (voice over): Some fishing and fun for President Bush around the family compound on Walker's Point. Before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for serious diplomatic talks.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S: I told Vladimir we're looking forward to having him up at my folks' place in Maine beginning of July.

HENRY: The fact that the weekend host is the former president known as 41 in the family is a sensitive subject for a White House that wants to dispel any notice 43 needs dad to rescue U.S./Russian relations.

ANDREW KUCHINS, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTL. STUDIES: Given some of the dynamics, the complicated dynamics of the father/son relationship, it's unusual.

HENRY: But Kennebunkport is soaking in the spotlight of what some are calling the lobster summit. This clam shack even created a menu in Russian and Mr. Bush is hoping the casual atmosphere will help calm the sudden tensions with his Russian counterpart.

DMITRY PESKOV, KREMLIN SPOKESMAN: The fact that Kennebunkport was chosen for a place of invitation is actually highly appreciated by President Putin.

HENRY: Both sides are desperately trying to down play expectations.

PESKOV: We shouldn't expect any breakthroughs. We certainly expect any agreements and announcements.

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I would caution against expecting brand new announcements.

HENRY: But they have to deal with a controversial U.S. plan to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to protect against attacks from rogue nations like Iran.

Mr. Putin initially responded with a threat to aim nuclear weapons at Europe but then offered a counter proposal to try to defuse the matter. Mr. Bush has prodded Putin over his back slide on Democratic reforms while still insisting they're not feuding.

BUSH: Russia is not an enemy of the United States.

HENRY: Signs perhaps this relationship is close enough that it can endure rough patches. And with both men leaving office soon, they have incentive to come together.

KUCHINS: I don't think that they want to have as part of their political legacy, their presidential legacy, a trashed U.S./Russian relationship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Another big issue will be Iran. Mr. Bush trying to push Mr. Putin to support tough new sanctions against Tehran. Melissa.

LONG: Ed Henry from Kennebunkport, Maine. Thank you.

So a few months in and have more U.S. troops on the ground added up to more security in Iraq? The progress and the problems coming up.

And a general in charge of some dangerous anti-insurgent missions talks to CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Karen Maginnis with a look at your CNN allergy report. The areas that allergy and asthma sufferers will struggle the most will be across the western half of the country. The orange and the yellow is where we have the highest level of allergens in the atmosphere. Also into the Great Lakes, much of New England and in central Florida.

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LONG: U.S. troops are scouring areas south of Baghdad trying to weed out insurgents who until now have gone unchallenged. But moving in and getting militants out is just half the battle. Reporting from Iraq, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): U.S. troops fire mortar round at an suspected insurgent position. Their mission, clear and secure this area south of Baghdad so Iraqi forces can take control of a checkpoint. After almost three days of fighting they hand over the outpost. Now it's up to the Iraqi national police to hold the position.

COL. SHAKR, IRAQI NATIONAL POLICE (via translator) "This is a big sector and we need a lot of troops and coalition forces will hopefully help us stand here," the Iraqi colonel says.

PLEITGEN: The insurgents came sooner than expected. A mosque right next to the checkpoint. And this is that same mosque only two hours after U.S. troops left the area. As this video shot from an aerial drone shows, the insurgents at the mosque launched an attack on the outpost, destroying a guard tower and killing several Iraqi officers.

With the Iraqis struggling, a British aircraft is called in to aid them. The fighter drops a massive 2,000-pound bomb on a house used by the attackers, a rare opportunity for coalition forces to effectively use air power against insurgents.

COL. WAYNE GRIGSBY, U.S. ARMY: When the enemy does mass this way we focus on the line of operation and take everything we have to kill or capture the enemy.

PLEITGEN: But while military officials call the air strike a success, they acknowledge it highlights a major problem for U.S. forces in Iraq. American troops fight and die to win terrain from insurgents, but Iraqi security forces are often unable to hold the ground on their own.

MAJ. GEN. RICK LYNCH, U.S. ARMY: The key is someone has to stay. There has to be a persistent security presence, and that has to be Iraqi security forces. So we continue to work with the government of Iraq and the leader of Iraqi security forces to get that presence.

PLEITGEN: A crucial point, military leaders say, even with the major increase of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, they will not be able to hold all the ground they are now fighting for. That is something the Iraqis must do on their own.

Frederik Pleitgen, CNN, Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LONG: So do U.S. military leaders in Iraq believe Iraqi forces will ever be able to secure their own country? Earlier today, I talked to Major General Rick Lynch, who you just saw in Frederik Pleitgen's report. General Lynch is in charge of U.S. forces clearing out insurgent strongholds along the Tigris River outside Baghdad.

LYNCH: We have the southern belts of Baghdad and the southern provinces and our primary task is to block the acceleration of violence into Baghdad. We have to identify those places the enemy owned, we call those sanctuaries, then conduct operations and deny them access. Once we clear those areas, we won't go farther than we can without holding those same areas. And those areas have got to be held by us, the coalition forces or more importantly by the Iraqi security forces.

LONG: How much of a challenge is that, to transfer that power from the U.S. troops to the Iraqi security forces?

LYNCH: I've been back here four months now. And I've got to tell you the Iraqi army that works in our battle space I find to be competent, capable military professionals and a lot of our patrol bases, that's already happening. So since we're side by side with the Iraqi army, it will be easy to transition away and allow the Iraqi security forces to have that area so we can continue operations. In other places there are no Iraqi security forces, none. No police, no army. In those areas the coalition forces hold, we'll have to hold for a period of time until that security force can be generated.

LONG: So do you have the numbers, do you have the sheer numbers of trained Iraqi security forces ready to take control?

LYNCH: No, we don't. No, the Iraqi government has to work to recruit and train and build security forces that will be sufficient to deny the enemy these sanctuaries. See, what can happen is the enemy can have a place where he can use to store munitions, train suicide bombers, train car bombers. He can't have that. So with the surge forces that we brought in, we're able to deny him those sanctuaries over time but the Iraqi national security forces have be he to be generated to maintain persistent presence in those areas or the enemy will just come back.

LONG: Are you concerned, though, you won't have the backup of the Iraqi security forces to maintain that permanent presence.

LYNCH: See, everything takes time and generating the additional security forces is going to take time. So one of the techniques we're using now is finding members of the local population who want to help secure the areas. That's very important. What we're finding as we work our way through the area we have see, primary Sunni area, we find the local population saying, once we clear it, hey, we want to be part of the solution. Let us help secure this area. So even in the absence of legitimate Iraqi security forces, we're finding Iraqis who are so tired of the violence that they're willing to say, let me be part of the security force. That gives me a lot of optimism if.

LONG: You're encountering a warm reception as you travel south along the Tigris.

LYNCH: I wouldn't call it a warm reception. Right now the enemy --

LONG: Not of the enemy but the people in the area?

LYNCH: Yeah, I think so. What I'm finding, we're finding the local population, once they're convinced we're going to stay, they're leery of us until they are convinced we're going to stay. Then they say, hey, let us help. There's the IED and there's the car bomb maker and they're helping.

LONG: Why is it that you're focusing on as you call the sanctuary south of Baghdad and as you are traveling south along the Tigris? Why are you focusing on that area geographically?

LYNCH: It's the area where the enemy is building the car bombs he's taking into Baghdad. We're trying to improve the security inside of Baghdad. That's our primary task. So you got to take away his ability to build car bombs and store munitions and conduct training. And there are four areas in our battle space, the area that I defined, that the enemy's been using as a sanctuary. We've now got the forces to take away all those forces over time.

LONG: Earlier you said it will take time. It will take time to control the areas and find the Iraqi security forces who will be able to maintain that permanent presence. But there are a lot of people that are saying it's taking too much time.

LYNCH: Well, it takes as much time as it takes. That's the issue. People keep asking me do you feel some pressure? The only pressure I feel is killing or capturing the enemy insurgents, securing populations, allowing those populations to be secure and flourish. That takes time. Nothing has here quickly.

LONG: That was General Rick Lynch earlier today from Baghdad.

Now it is the equivalent of a busy signal in the Internet age. After its mega successful iphone launch, Apple servers are swamped by people trying to activate them online. The frustrating details after the break.

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LONG: So you waited in line for hours, maybe days. Shells out $500 and you can't get your dang iphone to work. Guess what, you're not alone. Apple has sold so many since Friday, the company's computer services got swamped. Apple said the majority got running in minutes and are working. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM begins right now.

Now in the CNN NEWSROOM parts of the Midwest under siege and under water. Floods take over homes and cars. Thousands of people ordered to evacuate, we are going to take you there live.

Plus it was one of the most dangerous spots in Iraq that was then; today we take a walk along very different streets in Baghdad.

Now our top story new information from Britain about terrorist attacks in Glasgow and London. Hello I am Melissa Long in for Fredricka Whitfield we have the very latest on the UK terror probe. A terminal in London's Heathrow Airport is back open. In a report they had closed a little earlier after a suspicious package turned up.

Now police are examining their search for possible suspects in the Glasgow Airport attack today. They are looking at areas near the Glasgow airport. They launched operations in several spots including areas near the Glasgow Airport. At least five people have been arrested since that flaming SUV crashed into the airport yesterday. Authorities say there is a definite link to Friday's failed car bombings in London. In the U.S., increased security measures at major airports. U.S. officials say it's just a precaution. They say there's no credible intelligence that points to a pending attack on U.S. soil.

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