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CNN Live Today

Terror Plot Foiled

Aired August 10, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Described simply as a plot to blow up airliners traveling from the United Kingdom to the U.S. One British official is calling it mass murder on an unimaginable scale. Here is what we know right now at the top of the hour.
U.S. Homeland Security chief, Michael Chertoff, says the terrorists were in the final planning stages. British authorities say 21 people are in custody. Chertoff says the plot is suggestive of al Qaeda.

The U.S. threat level has been raised for all domestic and international flights. Travelers are being warned to expect long delays.

Let's bring in our Homeland Security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, in Washington this morning.

Jeanne, this is for officials something that they've known about for some time?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the British have been following these threats for what was called a considerable length of time. Michael Chertoff said this morning that U.S. authorities first became aware that U.S. flights would be target just a couple of weeks ago and that's ramped up the level of cooperation between the U.S. and the U.K.

Chertoff, in his remarks this morning, called the plotters very determined, very skilled, very capable. He said this was about as sophisticated as any plot they have seen since 9/11. Clearly, it would have had major implications. They were talking about hitting allegedly multiple flights flying from the U.K. into the U.S. U.S. officials say that United, Continental and American were amongst the airlines being talked about. New York, Washington, D.C., California, amongst the destinations that were being considered by these plotters.

Twenty-one people arrested in Britain, as you know. No arrests made here. And U.S. officials saying this morning no indications at this point that there was any plotting on U.S. But out of an abundance of caution, they're taking these security measures that you mention, going up to threat level red for flights going from the U.K. into the U.S. That includes increased deployment of federal air marshals. And on flights here in the United States and coming into the U.S. from other countries, threat level orange and an absolute ban on all kinds of liquids and gel. That clearly the kind of weapon that was being contemplated, being used by these terrorists. Was this the real thing? I'll tell you, there have been a lot of questions about some of the other alleged terror plots that have been busted up, specifically recently a plot down in Miami that was busted up. People questioned exactly how serious those people were, what kind of threat it posed. A U.S. official telling me this morning this was the real deal in his opinion. No definitive links to al Qaeda, U.S. officials are saying publicly, but they do think this is suggestive of an al Qaeda connection.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Jeanne, thank you. We expect this story to develop throughout the morning, so we'll be back to you many, many times.

Color-coded alert system comes into play here. It was devised after the September 11th terror attacks. Orange, where it is here in the U.S., is the second highest level. It means the risk of an attack is high. The last time we had an orange alert, July 2005, after the London subway bombings. Right now the orange alert applies to all commercial flights flying in or to the U.S. And that means stricter airport security rules.

For flights inbound from the U.K., the level is at an unprecedented red or severe. The terror threat level for the nation as a whole remains at yellow or elevated. That's pretty much been the norm since the system was created.

Let's get more now on the situation from behind the scenes. Our chief national correspondent, John King, is in our Washington bureau.

John, what are your sources telling you this morning.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, the more you talk to members of Congress who have been briefed or to counter-terrorism and intelligence sources in the United States, the more sobering and frightening, in fact, this plot is.

I want to follow-up on what Jeanne Meserve was just saying. Publicly, U.S. officials are saying they think there are links back to al Qaeda. That this has the footprints, the fingerprints, if you will, of al Qaeda. In private they are being more definitive, saying they are convinced that they will be able to connect the dots back to al Qaeda.

Now as we near the fifth-year anniversary of 9/11, we should pose this question, what exactly is al Qaeda today as opposed to what it was five years ago. It is a very different organization. Everybody will tell you that. No corporate structure, if you will, Osama bin Laden viewed as being on the run. It's now more fragmented cells. More al Qaeda sympathizers and affiliates than a direct link, sometimes, back to a central organization.

But here's what officials are saying. I just got off the phone with a counter-terrorism official who presented quite a sobering description of this plot, Daryn. He said the design was for these people to get on board when liquid substances that when mixed could turn into something that would detonate. Now these are substances, he said, that you and I could buy and get onto an airplane without suspicion.

That is one of the reasons they are saying this is not a home- grown group of amateurs. That they, obviously, have sophisticated training in making their explosives and then using small, everyday electronic devices to detonate them. The plot, this person telling me, this counter-terrorism official, was to get over the mid Atlantic and to blow up these devices so that they cause structural damage or created catastrophic fires on board the airplanes. Obviously, over the middle of the ocean, where the pilot would have very few options of landing and trying to get the passengers to safety.

Now, again, why al Qaeda? He says they go back to things they're comfortable with. They've studied. There was a big al Qaeda plot back in the 1990s to blow up about a dozen airports over the Pacific Ocean. In this case, this counter-terrorism official telling me the information is still coming in. They're sorting through it all. But they believe there were six to 10 planes targeted in this plot.

And why arrest those 21 people last night? The official saying the British officials are telling U.S. officials "the trip line had been reached. They decided they had to drop the hammer. They had indications these guys were ready to go."

Daryn.

KAGAN: So, John, when we listen to official in that news conference that was a couple of hours ago with the Homeland Security chief and the FBI director and others, when we listen to that, they -- I don't want to say danced around the al Qaeda question. They say there's hints of al Qaeda. Sounds like al Qaeda. But when you talk to officials off-camera, behind the scene, they're a little bit more forward in that thinking.

KING: They're a little bit more forward. But I also want to be very careful. We are asking them, well if you're going to say al Qaeda, al Qaeda is a loaded term, of course. Al Qaeda is a term that would rally the alarm, the fears and the support for the political structure of the American people no doubt.

So you ask the question, well, how can you say al Qaeda and they say, well, we can't talk about the intelligence but we believe there are very strong links. And again, though, it is a very different al Qaeda today than it was five years ago where you had an operation that was largely based in Afghanistan. That had a central structure, I hate to sate this way, but almost like any corporation. Any organization in the United States. You had a commander in chief. You had a chief executive officer. You had a planning officer. That al Qaeda no longer exists according to U.S. officials and other intelligence agencies around the world. But there are groups of people who have been trained by al Qaeda, perhaps in those camps in Afghanistan.

Peter Bergen was on the air earlier talking about there are camps in Kashmir, camps in Pakistan, places where you can go to get the expertise. And that is why they are saying they believe this has some al Qaeda link because of the sophistication of what they were trying to do. They're not walking into an airport with known explosive materials. They're getting material that you can buy in a hardware store, a garden store, perhaps a pharmacy or the local supermarket. And they know how to mix them, we are told, and then use a small, routine electronic device as a detonator.

That is why these officials are saying this is too sophisticated for them to believe it doesn't trace back to an international terror organization. And because it so closely mirrors plots al Qaeda has allegedly tried to pull off in the past, they are pointing the finger at al Qaeda. But, Daryn, that's one of the frustrating things in our business, they say al Qaeda, we say how do you know that, and they essentially say trust us.

KAGAN: All right. We'll have to go with that for now. John King in Washington, thank you.

So you have these reports of a thwarted plot and yet the ripple effects of what's happening afterward continue to pass on through this country here. This goes now into Massachusetts. The governor there, Mitt Romney, has called in the National Guard to help with security at Logan International Airport. This is what the governor had to say just a few minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. MITT ROMNEY, MASSACHUSETTS: The efforts that have already been put in place and will be put in place include the following. The first is that I'll be placing or that I am placing the National Guard on state active duty. We'll be calling up a sufficient number of personnel to support TSA and airline personnel carrying out additional surveillance and checkpoint assignments. And I'll describe that a little more detail in just a moment.

The measures that are being taken relate to both visible deterrents, as well as detection of possible devices that could be harmful. The visible deterrents include the fact that you'll notice at the airport that our state police personnel are carrying automatic weapons. There will also be, as there have been in the past, but now at a heightened level, roadblocks and random searches, as well as trunk searches from time to time in and around the airport.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: So that's Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney describing what you'll find if you go to the airport in Boston. But really, if you go to any airport in America today, you are going to find heightened security measures. And that means more restrictions and more waiting for travelers all across the country.

The Transportation Security Administration says no liquids or gels will be permitted in carry-on baggage. And that includes beverages, as well as creams and lotions. Items like toothpaste, shampoos and hair gels are also barred. Baby formula and medicine must be presented for inspection at security checkpoints. Passengers traveling from the U.K. to the U.S. face even tougher restrictions.

I want to check on quite a few airports around the country right now. And we're going to start in New York, at JFK International Airport. And that's where we find our Alina Cho.

Alina, good morning.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you.

If you are planning to fly out of any U.S. airport today, including JFK, a couple of things that you need to know. Try, to the best of your ability, to get to the airport at least two hours before your flight. Try to pack lightly. And remember these restrictions that you just mentioned. They bear repeating. No liquids or gels will be allowed to be carried on to the flight. They can be checked in, but they cannot be carried on. They include beverages, hair gels, shampoos, lotions, toothpaste, even perfume. The exceptions that you just mentioned include baby formula and medications. But you may have to verify the authenticity of these items when you go through security. Passengers are expressing a range of emotion, including some who have said they believe this may be an overreaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just wonder if it's necessary so much.

CHO: Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff, says that the U.S. is responding out of an abundance of caution. He also said this morning in a news conference that if you are planning to fly today, you do not need to cancel your flight, but keep these things in mind. Come to the airport early. No liquids or gels can be carried on to the flight. Of course, as you might expect, Daryn, there are going to be delays. Lots of them. In some cases, severe delays. There will be long lines. And, of course, increased security.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Alina, tell us about the status of flights that are expected to come in from Britain.

CHO: Well, as you might expect, there are going to be severe delays, up to two hours, 40 minutes in some cases, Daryn, as we last checked. There are about a half a dozen flights, I believe, that are expected in. The first one, I believe, was supposed to get in about an hour from now. And that flight has been delayed by 90 minutes.

So you're going to see a lot of delays. Probably more so from the U.K. coming into JFK versus going out. But certainly they are going to be long lines and lots of delays today and probably throughout the rest of the week.

KAGAN: All right. Alina Cho at JFK in New York. Thank you.

A U.S. administration official says the terror plot was aimed at least three carriers. American Airlines, Continental Airlines and United were said to be the targets. The U.S. government official says some of the flights would have been headed from the U.K. to New York, Washington and California.

Let's head across the ocean. CNN's Adrian Finighan has been at London's Heathrow Airport all morning and he describes the scene from there.

Adrian, hello.

ADRIAN FINIGHAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you.

Yes, Heathrow Airport, normally one of the world's busiest -- 186,000 passengers a day normally pass through this airport, something like 1,300 aircraft movements, that means landing and aircraft taking off. However, this runway behind me is eerily quiet. You may have just seen an aircraft landing here. That was one of maybe only two or three within the last hour that we've seen.

All short haul flights to Heathrow and out of it canceled today. Long-haul flights are managing to get away but with severe delays. The only flights allowed into the airport are long-haul flights that have left their departure points and were in the air when the closure was announced.

A little earlier we heard from Tony Douglas. He's the CEO of BAA. The people who run Heathrow Airport. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY DOUGLAS, CEO, HEATHROW AIRPORT: BAA Heathrow continues to experience severe disruption to its operation. Its contingency plans have come into effect during the course of the morning. The situation is very slowly beginning to ease.

Inbound flights, all short-haul inbound aircraft, have been canceled. Inbound long-haul flights continue to operate but with severe delays. Outbound flights, check in and hand search process across all four terminals is severely affected. And this will continue throughout the day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FINIGHAN: Now Mr. Douglas, Daryn, went on to say that this level of disruption is set to continue for several days yet. And in the face of headlines like this, while they're disturbing headlines -- this is London's evening paper -- passengers seem remarkably calm about what's happening. Relieved, I think, that in the wake of the announcement about the terror operation earlier today in London, that at least security measures are in place to ensure their safety.

As they arrive at the airport, they've been given a flyer which tells them what they can and can't take on to the aircraft. They're also give an polyethylene (ph) bag, like this, into which they can put permitted items like spectacles without their cases. Contact lenses without solutions. That kind of thing. All other hand luggage has to be either re-packed, crammed into the main bags. And if it can't be crammed in, it has to go into another bag and tied on to your main bag so that it can be loaded into the hold. Daryn.

KAGAN: Incredible. One thing I don't quite understand, if the target of this plot was supposed to be overseas flights -- flights coming from the U.K. into the U.S., why did they cancel so many short- haul flights on to the European continent?

FINIGHAN: That is purely a technicality. Now when this news broke this morning of the disruption ensued as people were taking so long to get through security, flights just weren't able to leave. So, of course, any aircraft coming in had nowhere to park. Some people were faced with not only having traveled long distances across the Atlantic from Asia, from Africa today, they then spent a couple of hours waiting on the tarmac until bays became free within Heathrow Airport so that their aircraft could park and disembark. Authorities felt it far safer to ensure that all of these passengers could get off their aircraft safely just to cancel all inbound and outbound flights from Heathrow.

KAGAN: Got it. It turned into a huge plane traffic jam. Adrian Finighan, thank you.

OK. Now if you are traveling today, the Internet could be a huge tool for you. Different companies putting up on their website the latest on what you need to know. Our Carol Lin is keeping an eye on that.

Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, first I want to start with the Department of Homeland Security's website here confirming through a press release that there's no indication of a plot within the United States. It's saying, we believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has entirely been eliminated or the plot thwarted. No guarantee also on this statement of Homeland Security when these measures are going to be lifted.

Taking a look at some of the other websites. Heathrow Airport's website is so busy, Daryn, that this is all they can post up right now. They're saying that they need to give a synopsis because they can't -- there's so much traffic on their regular website. Indicating that all short-haul, inbound flights of a time less than three hours have been canceled. British Airways canceling its short-haul departures as well.

And then going to Delta, for example. The Delta website. Giving a whole list here of things that you will be able to take on the airplane and conditions. But, for example, saying that you can bring your glasses, sunglasses on, but don't bother bringing your glasses cases. Also you can bring your contact lens holders but no bottles of solution. And also, important for new parents that if you're traveling with an infant, you can bring baby food or milk but that the contents of each of the bottles will have to be tested, dranken, at the security site by an accompanying passenger. It goes on to give more details about sanitary items, for example, that you would normally not think about taking on an airplane but are now being restricted, including tissues, Daryn. You've got to take your tissues out of the tissue box. No tissue boxes allowed. That's how detailed this list is.

Taking a look also at British Airways flights also confirming canceling short-haul inbound and outbound U.K. and European plus Tripoli, Libyan terrorists responsibility for the downing of Pan Am flight -- the Pan Am flight over Lockerby, Scotland.

So, once again, just interesting little tidbits on these website. But many of them, Daryn, so busy right now. There's so much traffic on these websites that you can't even get on.

KAGAN: Absolutely incredible. We're going to keep you on them so that you can update us on what we're learning. Carol Lin, thank you.

LIN: Sure.

KAGAN: We'll continue to monitor what we're learning on the Internet.

As we go forward, we're going to talk more about what we're hearing about a possible link between al Qaeda and the plot that has been thwarted. Also Osama bin Laden, the stories you've never heard before from the people who know him best. Know your enemy. That is the top. CNN Presents takes viewers "In the Footsteps of bin Laden." The two-hour special event premiers in less than two weeks. That's Wednesday, August 23rd, 9 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.

We're going to get back to the airline terror investigation. Twenty-one arrests. Countless questions. We'll talk with a British politician who shared his neighborhood with one of the accused plotters. That's coming up.

Also, carry-on luggage. The rules have changed while you were sleeping. What you need to know before you get to the airport. Find out on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A situation that's affecting every airport in the world. The alleged plot to blow up airliners traveling from the United Kingdom to the U.S. Here's what we know right now. U.S. Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff says the terrorists were in the final planning stages. He says the plot is "suggestive of al Qaeda." British authorities are not saying anything about the 21 people they have in custody.

Here in the U.S., though, the threat level is raised for all domestic and international flights. Travelers are facing long delays. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales say the alleged plot was well advanced. And as we are saying, suggestive of al Qaeda. They spoke at a news conference just a couple of hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The perpetrators who were arrested overnight were extremist who had gone beyond just stating a desire to kill Americans. Their plotting turned to action as they took several steps to carry out their deadly plan. Their focus appears to have been on the use of liquid explosives. We are still assessing the links to al Qaeda.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: In light of the nature of the liquid explosive devices which were designed by the plotters, we are temporarily banning all liquids as carry-ons in aircraft cabins. That means no liquids or gels will be allowed in carry-on baggage. Any liquids or jells have to be checked as part of baggage to go into the hold. There will be exceptions for baby formula and medicines, but travelers must be prepared to present these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: London knows only too well about terror. The most recent bloodshed just over a year ago as four suicide bombers struck the city's subway system and a bus. Fifty-two people were killed in that attack. The attacks were the city's deadliest bombing since World War II. Terror analysts say the bombings bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda.

British authorities have raided the homes of the terror suspects. Our next guest lives just one block away from one of those sights. Peter Cartwright knows his neighborhood in southern England very well. And for the past 30 years he has served on the district council.

Mr. Cartwright, thank you for joining us.

PETER CARTWRIGHT, WYCOMBE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Yes. Good afternoon.

KAGAN: What can you tell us about your neighborhood of High Wycombe.

CARTWRIGHT: Well, it's normally a very quiet neighborhood. It's virtually all Residential. The house sits very near me that was raided. It was a semi-detached house, which you would call a duplex, built between the walls. And the people there are of Asian origin. But not much more is known about them.

KAGAN: What can you say about what you saw this morning happen in High Wycombe?

CARTWRIGHT: Well, my own road, which adjoins the property in question, has been a hive of police activity earlier on this morning. And for the last few hours, a police helicopters has been circling overhead. Plus a lot of activity. And, of course, we've now learned that this particular house has been raided.

KAGAN: Often in this country when something happens in someone's neighborhood they say, it's the last thing I expected to happen here. Things like this. People like this don't live here. Were you surprised with all the activity and the allegations.

CARTWRIGHT: Very much so. Very much so. I was actually very near that house yesterday afternoon, probably about 20 yards away, on council business and didn't suspect a thing.

KAGAN: You've lived in High Wycombe well over a quarter century. How has the neighborhood changed?

CARTWRIGHT: Well, I've lived in Wycombe all my life actually, which is now over 60 years. It's been quite a dramatic transformation probably over the last 30 years, and more particularly over the last decade. We've actually got in High Wycombe now probably well over 10,000 Pakistanis from the Kashmir parts of Pakistan. That's the area bordering Afghanistan. Plus, of course, people from all over the world that have come into the town seeking work.

KAGAN: And how has that worked in the neighborhood?

CARTWRIGHT: Well, normally the community has been quite calm. This has come completely out of the blue. In fact, I'm the chairman of the local community association in the area and we have no problems whatsoever. In fact, the Muslims, until quite recently, used our community centers for prayers.

KAGAN: You say until quite recently. Why did that change?

CARTWRIGHT: Well, I think they've actually relocated to another hall because there are a number of meeting places within the area and they've actually relocated somewhere that's a bit cheaper for them.

KAGAN: Not that we know that there's any connection, but I think I heard that you told one of our producers that there are a lot of people who live in this neighborhood that work at Heathrow, that work at the airport.

CARTWRIGHT: Yes, indeed. We're less than 20 miles from Heathrow Airport. A there are lots of people have moved out in recent years from the London area who work at Heathrow. And, of course, there's local people, as well, who work at Heathrow. Heathrow probably draws many thousands of people from the Wycombe area to work in the greater Heathrow area.

KAGAN: And I guess, in the end, everyone in your neighborhood watching with great interest, like across much of the U.K. and across the world as this develops.

CARTWRIGHT: We are indeed. We're watching the developments. Because this is about particularly five properties in the High Wycombe area that are the source of police attention at the moment.

KAGAN: All right. Well, thank you for giving us some insight into this neighborhood, the High Wycombe area and on the council. Peter Cartwright talking to us from London. Thanks you.

CARTWRIGHT: Thank you very much. Thank you.

KAGAN: Now as we were mentioning, this is going to affect you if you plan on traveling today or in the next few days. There are some things you need to know that might make your trip a little bit more smooth. Our Gerri Willis will be along with those tips.

Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Daryn.

The threat level is raised for all domestic and international flights. Up next, my "Top Tips" on what you need to know if you're flying today. CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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