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American Morning
Kuwaiti Officials Warn of Possible Attacks
Aired October 11, 2002 - 07:38 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. officials are becoming increasingly worried that there may be more terrorist attacks overseas. A preliminary investigation found that the explosion aboard the French oil tanker was the work of terrorists. And officials in Kuwait say the next attack against Americans there could be a multi-story target.
Martin Savidge is standing by in Kuwait City. He joins us now by video phone -- Martin, what's the latest from there?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
This all goes back to, if you'll remember that attack that occurred on the Marines on Failaka Island on Tuesday. One Marine was killed, another was wounded. The two attackers were killed. One of those attackers was 21-year-old Anas al-Kandari. Now, it is being reported by the Ministry of Information here that that young man may have actually been part of a larger group. Immediately after that attack on the U.S. Marines, the Kuwaitis launched a massive investigation. Dozens and dozens of people were brought in for questioning.
And as a result of that investigation, they found a number of associates and friends. They searched their homes, their apartments, and they found diagrams, documents, what appear to be plans for a broader attack that had been looked at by this group of about 15 people.
The Ministry of Information does identify them as a cell, but not necessarily connected to al Qaeda. Where it gets a bit gray here is exactly what were they planning to target. The Kuwaiti government reportedly has told the U.S. Pentagon that the targets could include American installations such as diplomatic facilities, such as military bases here. There was even a report of possibly some sort of school that was used by Americans.
It should be pointed out that the U.S. Embassy here says they have not had any generalized threats from the Kuwaiti government against U.S. schools or schools that Americans attend.
Nonetheless, there is a very, very strong concern by the Americans in Kuwait at this particular time. The Kuwaiti government says it will reveal all about this plot tomorrow at a news conference -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Martin Savidge, thanks for that update out of Kuwait City.
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 October 11, 2002 - 07:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. officials are becoming increasingly worried that there may be more terrorist attacks overseas. A preliminary investigation found that the explosion aboard the French oil tanker was the work of terrorists. And officials in Kuwait say the next attack against Americans there could be a multi-story target.
Martin Savidge is standing by in Kuwait City. He joins us now by video phone -- Martin, what's the latest from there?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
This all goes back to, if you'll remember that attack that occurred on the Marines on Failaka Island on Tuesday. One Marine was killed, another was wounded. The two attackers were killed. One of those attackers was 21-year-old Anas al-Kandari. Now, it is being reported by the Ministry of Information here that that young man may have actually been part of a larger group. Immediately after that attack on the U.S. Marines, the Kuwaitis launched a massive investigation. Dozens and dozens of people were brought in for questioning.
And as a result of that investigation, they found a number of associates and friends. They searched their homes, their apartments, and they found diagrams, documents, what appear to be plans for a broader attack that had been looked at by this group of about 15 people.
The Ministry of Information does identify them as a cell, but not necessarily connected to al Qaeda. Where it gets a bit gray here is exactly what were they planning to target. The Kuwaiti government reportedly has told the U.S. Pentagon that the targets could include American installations such as diplomatic facilities, such as military bases here. There was even a report of possibly some sort of school that was used by Americans.
It should be pointed out that the U.S. Embassy here says they have not had any generalized threats from the Kuwaiti government against U.S. schools or schools that Americans attend.
Nonetheless, there is a very, very strong concern by the Americans in Kuwait at this particular time. The Kuwaiti government says it will reveal all about this plot tomorrow at a news conference -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Martin Savidge, thanks for that update out of Kuwait City.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
