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Hijacking Plot?
Aired July 29, 2003 - 14:05 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: 9/11, could it happen again? The U.S. government has invested a lot of time and money to make sure that it doesn't. But federal authorities aren't taking any chances after receiving information about a possible airline hijacking in the coming weeks.
Let's turn to our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena. She's in Washington.
Kelli, what's the latest?
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the information was developed in part from interrogations of high-level Al Qaeda detainees. That's according to intelligence officials. Now it suggests that there could be a threat to U.S. interests at home or abroad against national symbols, sites of economic importance, and places where there could be a high number of casualties.
Now, it is important to note that several officials have questioned the credibility of this information, some calling it dubious.
But still in this post 9/11 era, it is important to remain vigilant and the Department of Homeland Security did send out an advisory to the aviation community and state and local governments.
FBI director Robert Mueller today did not mention the intelligence specifically, but he did speak in general about the persistent threat that Al Qaeda poses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, DIR., FBI: Al Qaeda now is dispersed throughout the world, which makes it exceptionally difficult where al Qaeda had the same communication structure to do the same type of planning and organization that went into the attacks of September 11th.
Secondly, with our counterparts overseas, principally the Pakistanis and now the Saudis, a number of Al Qaeda operatives have been detained.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Sources tell CNN the possible scenario that authorities are looking at is different from the one used on 9/11, and that it would not require the hijackers to have any type of flight training. Officials say that the hijacker might try to lead passengers to believe that they are facing a conventional hostage situation rather than using the aircraft itself as a weapon.
Now one official says that by doing this the hijackers might hope to minimize the chances that passengers would act out against the terrorists.
Now there are no plans to hike the nation's threat level at this point, but the aviation sector has been encouraged to implement new random security measures. And the FBI has consistently warned that Al Qaeda maintains an interest in aircraft, and industry officials say there really isn't much new to get worked up about. This time, however, they do understand the need to put out this warning.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 29, 2003 - 14:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: 9/11, could it happen again? The U.S. government has invested a lot of time and money to make sure that it doesn't. But federal authorities aren't taking any chances after receiving information about a possible airline hijacking in the coming weeks.
Let's turn to our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena. She's in Washington.
Kelli, what's the latest?
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the information was developed in part from interrogations of high-level Al Qaeda detainees. That's according to intelligence officials. Now it suggests that there could be a threat to U.S. interests at home or abroad against national symbols, sites of economic importance, and places where there could be a high number of casualties.
Now, it is important to note that several officials have questioned the credibility of this information, some calling it dubious.
But still in this post 9/11 era, it is important to remain vigilant and the Department of Homeland Security did send out an advisory to the aviation community and state and local governments.
FBI director Robert Mueller today did not mention the intelligence specifically, but he did speak in general about the persistent threat that Al Qaeda poses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, DIR., FBI: Al Qaeda now is dispersed throughout the world, which makes it exceptionally difficult where al Qaeda had the same communication structure to do the same type of planning and organization that went into the attacks of September 11th.
Secondly, with our counterparts overseas, principally the Pakistanis and now the Saudis, a number of Al Qaeda operatives have been detained.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Sources tell CNN the possible scenario that authorities are looking at is different from the one used on 9/11, and that it would not require the hijackers to have any type of flight training. Officials say that the hijacker might try to lead passengers to believe that they are facing a conventional hostage situation rather than using the aircraft itself as a weapon.
Now one official says that by doing this the hijackers might hope to minimize the chances that passengers would act out against the terrorists.
Now there are no plans to hike the nation's threat level at this point, but the aviation sector has been encouraged to implement new random security measures. And the FBI has consistently warned that Al Qaeda maintains an interest in aircraft, and industry officials say there really isn't much new to get worked up about. This time, however, they do understand the need to put out this warning.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
