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CNN Saturday Morning News
U.S. Law Enforcement Picks Up Suspicious Activities Among Terror Cell Members
Aired October 06, 2001 - 09:05 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: U.S. investigators have been monitoring known and suspected terrorists here in the U.S. Now there's word of suspicious activity among terror cell members. To John King, who first reported this story last evening. John, hello.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello again to you, Bill.
These sources stressing to us they have no information about any specific or credible threats on any targets here in the United States or, indeed, overseas, where they say much of the suspicious activity is centered. But law enforcement sources obviously very concerned. There is an unprecedented effort around the world now, not just involving U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials, but officials from a number of other governments tracking suspected terrorist cells and members of those cells, watching travel, listening in on phone conversations, tracking financial transactions and the like.
Two senior U.S. law enforcement officials I spoke to last night saying that there are some disturbing things that people are picking up, activities very reminiscent, they say, of what those blamed for the September 11 hijackings did in the days and weeks before those attacks. To quote one of the officials, quote, "There are people we are watching who are talking the same language, things like, quote, `You will be happy soon,' and other things reminiscent of pre-9/11 activities, people talking the same language, circles of calls, things that are just very similar."
A second law enforcement official telling CNN among the suspicious activities, travel in and out of Afghanistan by suspected members of terrorist cells. This official saying, "We have pieced together a pretty good picture of the activities of the days just before September 11, and there are just things that are similar that have people on a heightened sense of alert. It is nothing really hard, but it is eerie in some ways and adds to the sense of unease."
Again, these law enforcement officials stressing the overwhelming majority of this activity they are tracking, suspicious activity, is overseas. They say there is no specific or credible threat on any targets here in the United States or any individuals in the United States. But this activity and the unprecedented surveillance effort gives you a sense of one of the lessons learned, one of the adjustments law enforcement and intelligence officials have made in the days since the September 11 attacks, and certainly as the United States seems to be preparing for a military action, the defense secretary in recent days saying that was inevitable, U.S. officials bracing for the possibility, some believe probability, that there would be additional attempts to strike here in the United States as a retaliation should the United States launch military action.
Bill?
HEMMER: Yes, John, just to follow up on that, National Guard troops now being deployed at certain airports across the country. Is airport security still one of these major concerns?
KING: One of the paramount concerns. These law enforcement officials saying despite the steps that have been taken in recent days, they remain quite concerned that it is still possible for people to get access to planes who should not have access to planes. And we should note, the government has taken so many steps because of these concerns. One, you see the National Guard, two, air space, not only over federal installations like the White House and the Capitol, but air space over dams, over major industrial centers now put off limits, all this as the United States tries to adopt a new homeland security plan, they call it.
We should also note that on Monday morning, the man who will lead that effort will be sworn in, former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, who resigned yesterday, takes over his new post. The president swears him in Monday morning.
Bill?
HEMMER: But again, no specific threat, the alert, though, still high, correct?
KING: Law enforcement, they're obviously anxious because of what happened. They say every time they pick up a phone conversation or see members of suspected cells moving in or around, in some cases, they said, people just not showing up for work all of a sudden. So any activity obviously in this environment raises alarms. They're trying not to be too alarmist, they don't want to scare the American people, but they also say they have a duty and obligation to track everyone they can in this environment.
HEMMER: Indeed they do. John, thanks. John King.
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