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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Overseas Developments

Aired September 26, 2001 - 08:02   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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Other developments overseas, though, we do want to bring you up to date on this morning as well, and they involve the investigation.

And for that, we're joined here at the moment by Eileen O'Connor.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, investigation all important to maintain that political solidarity with the Pakistani regime, because they, at least, can point to this evidence that is being uncovered as evidence linking to Osama bin Laden.

And overseas, Spanish police arrested six Algerians believed to have links to suspected terrorist, Osama bin Laden. Government authorities there say they believe the six were helping to prepare attacks on U.S. targets in Europe.

Now, the Spanish government says that they all belong to an Algerian Islamic terrorist cell called the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. Now, it's on the list of 27 entities whose assets were just frozen by the Bush administration.

While sources say the investigation thus far has not uncovered a broad base of support for the suspected hijackers in this country, law enforcement still believes there is some indication that other attacks may have been planned, including the use of chemicals as weapons. As CNN reported on Sunday, at least one of the suspected hijackers visited a crop dusting company in Florida, and also attempted to obtain a loan to buy such equipment.

Now, the Justice Department says 20 people have been arrested since the attacks for trying to fraudulently obtain so-called hazmat licenses. That would enable them to drive trucks filled with hazardous materials. This has caused concern on Capitol Hill and moves to ensure that cities are prepared for any eventuality.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R), SELECT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: To say that it's not ever going to happen in America, and we're not going to sustain casualties, I think, is foolish talk. We have what we have the First Responder program under the Justice Department auspices to try to train so many of our people -- emergency management, law enforcement people all over America to deal with this.

We haven't done enough, but we're on the right track, and we've got to do more. But biological threats and chemical threats are real.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: The president took time out yesterday to thank all those working around the clock on this case, going to the lead agency, the FBI, to thank them, the ATF, Customs, INS, Secret Service -- all of the other federal agencies helping track down the tens of thousands of tips and leads they have, thus far, received -- John.

KING: Eileen, how do government officials handle the very delicate balance? On the one hand, if they have suspicions about the crop dusting or hazardous materials, they want to alert the public. On the other hand, if it's just a suspicion and no hard evidence, they might scare people.

O'CONNOR: Absolutely. And that has been a line that they have been carefully walking all weekend and at the end of last week. What they have been saying is these warnings -- grounding crop dusting planes has been an abundance of caution, and that's what they're qualifying as. They don't want to scare people, just be cautious.

KING: And more debate on Capitol Hill today about the increased security measures that might be necessary, because of concerns like this -- whether it is ability to charter a crop duster or chart a jet or airport security -- all that debate unfolding on Capitol Hill. We'll track that in the hours ahead.

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