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CNN Live At Daybreak

New Evidence Shows Al Qaeda Planning More Attacks

Aired February 01, 2002 - 05:04   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: New evidence indicates al Qaeda operatives have been planning more terrorist attacks in the United States and overseas.

But as CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr reports, there is nothing specific about timing or targets.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Photographs of many landmarks, including Seattle's famous Space Needle, have been found in recent weeks as U.S. forces have searched al Qaeda safe houses in Afghanistan. As one Pentagon official said, "These weren't somebody's vacation pictures."

Indeed, it now appears that the al Qaeda was casing the U.S. for months, looking for potential targets across the country, including hydroelectric dams and power lines. Washington state was of particular interest.

REP. NORMAN DICKS (D), WASHINGTON: It was the kind of high profile targets that we have -- Boeing, Microsoft, the Trident submarine base -- that we have to take seriously these threats.

STARR: Officials emphasize they have no specific knowledge of the location or timing of any attack. But that may not be too comforting.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: In the years ahead, it is likely that we will be surprised again by new adversaries who may also strike in unexpected ways. And as they gain access to weapons of increasing power -- and let there be no doubt but that they are -- these attacks will grow vastly more deadly than those we suffered several months ago.

STARR: A classified intelligence report completed in the last two weeks concludes that the al Qaeda does have the intent to attack the U.S. again. It warned that nuclear facilities in the Pacific Northwest could be vulnerable, as well as Navy warships in the Persian Gulf.

The FBI late last year warned all nuclear power plant operators of still another threat. A senior al Qaeda operative being detained and interrogated by the U.S. said there were plans to fly a commercial airliner into a power plant. His claims were never substantiated.

(on camera): FBI director Robert Mueller says he believes there are al Qaeda sleepers in the United States, possibly planning more attacks. And with the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics coming up in the days ahead, the U.S. intelligence community is watching very closely.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: But live your life as normal, as normal as you can.

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