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Six Suspects Arrested in Italy Accused of Helping Islamic Militants Tied to al Qaeda
Aired June 24, 2003 - 15:04 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well more now on the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda fugitives. A top Pakistani official says the country's troops have secured nearly all the passes in an imported border area with Afghanistan. But the troops face continued opposition from some local tribesmen in a remote region in northwest Pakistan.
In Italy today, meanwhile, police arrested six people accused of helping Islamic militants allegedly tied to al Qaeda. CNN's Alessio Vinci has more on the charges and on Italy's war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Italian police describe the raid as a massive operation against international terrorism, involving more than 170 agents searching at least 40 different sites in and around Milan. The sweep led to the arrest of six individuals now charged with providing logistical and financial support to a group of Islamic militants police say have close links to al Qaeda.
Five of the suspects are from Tunisia, and the six are from Morocco. Police are still looking for a seventh man, but it isn't clear whether he escaped the sweep or may already be in custody in Tunisia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Some of the suspects seem to have been already arrested abroad for links with terrorism. And in some cases, strong links with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have been found, who, himself, seem to be strongly linked to the September 11 attacks.
VINCI: Police observed the movements and tracked the financial activities of the suspects for months. All are believed to be involved with helping illegal immigrants obtain fake documents and in some cases seeking recruits to be trained abroad at terrorist camps.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): One of these people is on the list sent out by the United States to freeze funds because he is believed to be part of a terrorist organization.
VINCI: Italy has long been identified as a logistical base for alleged terrorists involving what investigators say are al Qaeda- sponsored operations. In the wake of the September 11 attack, Italian police have arrested dozens of suspects believed to have links to international terrorism, but so far none have been sentenced on terrorism charges. Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Militants Tied to al Qaeda>
Aired June 24, 2003 - 15:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well more now on the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda fugitives. A top Pakistani official says the country's troops have secured nearly all the passes in an imported border area with Afghanistan. But the troops face continued opposition from some local tribesmen in a remote region in northwest Pakistan.
In Italy today, meanwhile, police arrested six people accused of helping Islamic militants allegedly tied to al Qaeda. CNN's Alessio Vinci has more on the charges and on Italy's war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Italian police describe the raid as a massive operation against international terrorism, involving more than 170 agents searching at least 40 different sites in and around Milan. The sweep led to the arrest of six individuals now charged with providing logistical and financial support to a group of Islamic militants police say have close links to al Qaeda.
Five of the suspects are from Tunisia, and the six are from Morocco. Police are still looking for a seventh man, but it isn't clear whether he escaped the sweep or may already be in custody in Tunisia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Some of the suspects seem to have been already arrested abroad for links with terrorism. And in some cases, strong links with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have been found, who, himself, seem to be strongly linked to the September 11 attacks.
VINCI: Police observed the movements and tracked the financial activities of the suspects for months. All are believed to be involved with helping illegal immigrants obtain fake documents and in some cases seeking recruits to be trained abroad at terrorist camps.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): One of these people is on the list sent out by the United States to freeze funds because he is believed to be part of a terrorist organization.
VINCI: Italy has long been identified as a logistical base for alleged terrorists involving what investigators say are al Qaeda- sponsored operations. In the wake of the September 11 attack, Italian police have arrested dozens of suspects believed to have links to international terrorism, but so far none have been sentenced on terrorism charges. Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Militants Tied to al Qaeda>
