Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

FBI Apparently Issuing Bulletin For 21-Year-Old Saud A.S. Al- Rasheed

Aired August 21, 2002 - 09:01   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI apparently issuing a bulletin to law officers around the world for 21-year-old Saud A.S. Al-Rasheed. He is a young Saudi man. Al-Rasheed not charged with any crime, but he may be connected to the hijackers of last September.
Kelli Arena, our justice correspondent, working the story in Washington with more now.

Kelli, good morning. What do we know?

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, officials say that the image of Al-Rasheed's passport was found on a CD-ROM during recent searches in Pakistan. Now also on that computer disk were pictures of several of the September 11th hijackers. In fact, we're told Al-Rasheed was only individual pictured on this CD-ROM who is not a hijacker. So the obvious question, what was his connection, if any, to the September 11th plot.

Now investigators point out he does fit a pattern. He is Saudi, as were 15 of hijackers. Now, there is no indication that he tried to enter the United States, although he could obviously have used fake papers. Another curve for the FBI, the name itself, Al-Rasheed, could be a fake name.

Now, the FBI says it does not know whether he is alive or dead, or where in the world he may be. Officials say that he was not known to the FBI or other U.S. intelligence before this. And as you said earlier, Bill, He is not facing any charges. He is just wanted for questioning at this point.

Back to you.

HEMMER: Kelli, do you know, has the U.S. government thrown a line out to Saudi Arabia, and if so, has there been any return cooperation on that front?

ARENA: I not know, on that front. I do know that law enforcement has reached out to his partners around the world. His picture and information went out over Interpol, and I am told that there is a global effort to try to find him.

HEMMER: Thank you, Kelli. Kelli Arena, live this morning in Washington. Good to see 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