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Florida Bomb Plot Foiled?
Aired November 12, 2003 - 15:02 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: From Florida, word of a plot to firebomb clinics that perform abortions. FBI agents believe this man was behind it, but they caught him before he could do anything about it.
As Kellie Butler with our affiliate WPLG explains, the arrest wasn't exactly textbook.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLIE BUTLER, WPLG REPORTER (voice-over): They searched the bay by boat and by air in the dark water. Fighting for about 30 minutes to get away was this man, Stephen John Jordi. The FBI says he is wanted for planning to firebomb abortion clinics around the country.
RANDY KASSEWITZ, WITNESS: There were FBI, I guess, and ATF agents in the water on small boats and on foot up and down the docks, with guns drawn. So you knew that this was something serious.
BUTLER (on camera): The drama unfolded on Miami Beach at the Marina right behind the posh Sunset Harbor condominiums. When agents arrived at the marina to arrest Jordi, witnesses say he dove into the water and made a swim for it.
RICK MANNING, WITNESS: He went under the dock. And then they couldn't see him. And then he popped up over here. And they ran over to that dock. And then he went under the water all the way over to A dock, where there was no police, he thought. And as he was approaching over there, the cops are down on the deck. And as soon as he got close, they grabbed him by the shirt and they got a boat hook. And they were hooking like this. They dragged him right up in the boat like a tarpon.
BUTLER (voice-over): Jordi was finally reeled in onto a Coast Guard boat. By the looks of it, he was intent on making everyone use some muscle to pull him up. Once in FBI custody, Jordi, the man accused of plotting to bomb abortion clinics, could be heard saying, "Somebody call my wife."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: And that report came to us from Kellie Butler, with our affiliate WPLG in Miami. Thanks to them.
For now, Jordi is charged with intent to commit a crime of violence. Authorities say he'll likely face additional federal charges, ultimately. 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 November 12, 2003 - 15:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: From Florida, word of a plot to firebomb clinics that perform abortions. FBI agents believe this man was behind it, but they caught him before he could do anything about it.
As Kellie Butler with our affiliate WPLG explains, the arrest wasn't exactly textbook.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLIE BUTLER, WPLG REPORTER (voice-over): They searched the bay by boat and by air in the dark water. Fighting for about 30 minutes to get away was this man, Stephen John Jordi. The FBI says he is wanted for planning to firebomb abortion clinics around the country.
RANDY KASSEWITZ, WITNESS: There were FBI, I guess, and ATF agents in the water on small boats and on foot up and down the docks, with guns drawn. So you knew that this was something serious.
BUTLER (on camera): The drama unfolded on Miami Beach at the Marina right behind the posh Sunset Harbor condominiums. When agents arrived at the marina to arrest Jordi, witnesses say he dove into the water and made a swim for it.
RICK MANNING, WITNESS: He went under the dock. And then they couldn't see him. And then he popped up over here. And they ran over to that dock. And then he went under the water all the way over to A dock, where there was no police, he thought. And as he was approaching over there, the cops are down on the deck. And as soon as he got close, they grabbed him by the shirt and they got a boat hook. And they were hooking like this. They dragged him right up in the boat like a tarpon.
BUTLER (voice-over): Jordi was finally reeled in onto a Coast Guard boat. By the looks of it, he was intent on making everyone use some muscle to pull him up. Once in FBI custody, Jordi, the man accused of plotting to bomb abortion clinics, could be heard saying, "Somebody call my wife."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: And that report came to us from Kellie Butler, with our affiliate WPLG in Miami. Thanks to them.
For now, Jordi is charged with intent to commit a crime of violence. Authorities say he'll likely face additional federal charges, ultimately. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
