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American Morning

Man Officials Call Key Senior Al Qaeda Operative Taken Into Custody

Aired June 19, 2002 - 09:01   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get up front. First of all, this morning, the man U.S. officials call a key senior al Qaeda operative, taken into custody in northern Africa, the country of Morocco there, officials say he has a wealth of information about past and future terrorist attacks.

David Ensor working the story with us live now in Washington.

David, good morning.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Well, Bill, this is an important arrest made in Morocco sometime around two weeks ago we are told. One of a number of arrests that have occurred in the last few weeks and months that are really starting to produce dividends. Now this man's name is Abu Zubair al Haili. He's -- he weighs around 300 pounds, we're told, and thus the nickname -- his nickname is "The Bear," as you mentioned.

He has a close relationship with al Qaeda's Abu Zubaydah, who of course is already in U.S. hands. A wealth of knowledge, including the location of some terrorist cells, U.S. officials say. And they are hoping that his information could help prevent future terrorist attacks.

He will be questioned by Moroccan officials. U.S. officials have access to the information that is coming from him. They are in no hurry, however, to move into U.S. custody. They have confidence the Moroccans are getting the information that is needed.

Now, as I mentioned, this is a man who was close to Abu Zubaydah, already a prisoner of the United States. His information could be useful because he was one of the people who was recruiting operatives for al Qaeda and assigning them to where they might go. And in the aftermath of the Tora Bora fight, he was one of those who was helping people escape to various countries, helping them get false documents and so forth, according to U.S. officials.

So he has a lot of knowledge that may help prevent attacks in the future, Bill.

HEMMER: David, I may have to cut you off. Waiting on the president at the White House in a moment here. But try and classify this a bit better for us. Does he rank on a list of al Qaeda leaders? ENSOR: Well, he is a deputy of Abu Zubaydah, who is already in U.S. custody. So it's not that level. Nonetheless, it's a very useful kind of tactical knowledge, because he would have done what Abu Zubaydah told him to do, sending particular people to particular places. He would know what kind of false documents they had, what name they were operating under.

So he really could lead the U.S. to others, Bill.

HEMMER: David, thanks.

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