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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: New Developments About Terrorists

Aired September 28, 2001 - 07:32   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: New details are emerging about a document linked to two of the suspected suicide hijackers. Sources tell CNN the document outlines the rules of engagement for carrying out a strike against the enemy.

FBI Director Robert Mueller says that one more or one or more of the hijacking suspects had ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. He made the comments as the FBI released pictures of the 19 men believed to have carried out the terrorist attacks.

The world can now put a face on those believed to have taken part in the deadliest terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. The FBI released photos of all 19 suspected hijackers, hoping for new clues.

CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The FBI is releasing the photos of the alleged hijackers, says Attorney General John Ashcroft, in hopes of generating more leads. There's just one catch. The FBI is not 100 percent sure all the photos match the names on the list. The use of false names or passport photos is still a possibility.

These are the faces of the men the FBI says hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the first World Trade Center tower -- five hijackers in all, one very key player -- Mohamed Atta, possibly the pilot. He studied in Hamburg, Germany with two of the suspected pilots of other flights. Intelligence sources say he was observed meeting with an Iraqi intelligence agent in Prague, though it's not known what was said.

Five more faces, from United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the second tower of the World Trade Center. The key player, investigative sources say, Marwan Al-Shehhi. He studied in Hamburg with Atta and attended the same flight school at the Venice Airport in Florida.

On American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon, an ominous connection -- Khalid Almihdhar. He was observed last year meeting with a man in Malaysia who authorities suspect was later involved in the bombing of the USS Cole.

And on Flight 93, which crashed into Pennsylvania, the government named four hijackers. Investigators believe passengers wrestled with these men for control of the airplane to prevent them from crashing into another target. The probable pilot, Ziad Jarrah, who got his flying license in Hamburg, where he studied at a technical university there.

Some of the hijackers, according to FBI Director Mueller, may be related to one another. And he said one or more of the suspects had contacts with Al Qaeda, the network headed by suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Along with finding any possible associates of these men, the FBI says its main focus is on preventing any future attacks.

(on camera): The FBI says it's pursuing more than 200,000 leads and that more than 300 people remain in custody, Robert Mueller going out of his way to say the FBI is playing by the rules when it comes to detaining anyone questioned in relation to the case.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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