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No Specific Terrorist Threats for 9/11 Anniversary

Aired September 06, 2002 - 14:03   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As we approach the anniversary of September 11 attacks, there is growing concern about possible new acts of terrorism.
CNN National Correspondent David Ensor has been talking with intelligence sources about that -- David, where do things stand as far as the level of threat that we know of right now?

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials are obviously watching very closely during this period of anniversaries, the run-up to 9/11, and some of the other events in this period that are anniversaries, like the death Sheikh Massoud in Afghanistan.

They say that there is an uptick in the threat level. There is an increase in the noise level, as they put it, the kinds of things that they are hearing when they listen in on suspected al Qaeda members or monitor their communications of one kind or another. More talk about action, but no specific actionable intelligence, nothing that the U.S. can specifically act to thwart, no specific attacks that they are aware of.

Now the last time it was at this level was around the July 4 holiday period, and officials say this kind of uptick comes -- has come several times since the 9/11 incident a year ago. They don't -- usually, al Qaeda does not usually use anniversaries for its attacks. Here you have the Homeland Security Advisory System. It is still at the elevated level, but has -- officials say they don't plan to change that. There are no specific warnings that are planned to be put out to the public.

Al Qaeda does not usually use anniversaries for its attacks. Officials say they -- over the years, have shown they basically take whatever opportunities they can find, they don't try to mark anniversaries. At the same time, some officials say these commemorations, lots of gatherings of people in large numbers together, would be a tempting target, so it is something they want to keep a close eye on.

Again, they say an uptick in the threat level, but nothing specific -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. So you talked about this noise. Anywhere have you heard a possible threat of weapons of mass destruction, David?

ENSOR: Have not heard any discussion of the threat of weapons of mass destruction in any kind of attack that is planned, that could be specifically pointed to, no.

PHILLIPS: Alright. National Security Correspondent David Ensor. Thanks, David.

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