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CNN Live Sunday
Capabilities of Explosive Material Onboard Flight 63 Unknown
Aired December 23, 2001 - 18:01 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. officials have determined the man suspected of planning a suicide attack on American Airlines Flight 63 did have an explosive material in his shoes. Passengers and flight attendants subdued the man after he tried to set the shoes on fire, and he is now being held in Boston, and faces an initial charge of interfering with a flight crew. It wasn't the first time the suspect tried to board the Paris to Miami flight.
CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us now for more.
Major, we were surprised to hear that the man was actually detained the day before.
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. It appears that he tried to board a flight from Paris, and the exact same Paris to Miami flight on Friday. But there was some suspicions raised, not only by French police, but by American Airlines officials. He did not answer all of their questions, and was detained for a period of time. But after French authorities determined that he had a valid British passport, he was allowed to board another flight on Saturday for that same destination, and that's how this process all began.
Carol, CNN has confirmed several vital facts in the story today. Let me summarize them for you in order. First of all, the suspect's shoes are here in Washington at the FBI. They have been analyzed today. The FBI investigators have determined that there was an explosive device of some kind -- not a device, rather, but explosive material inside the soles of the sneakers of those tennis shoes. About 10 ounces of a variation of plastic explosives. Not a powdery, but something malleable -- plastic-type explosives. The exact kind has yet to be determined.
Also, senior Transportation Department officials tell CNN they do not believe that this person was part of any larger plot to strike a blow at the U.S. transportation system generally, or the U.S. airlines system specifically. They believe he acted alone.
Also, senior officials tell CNN the suspect is a Sri Lankan national, meaning he was born there. But it appears he did have that valid British passport. There is some confusion about his name. U.S. officials are still trying to work all of that out. And the investigation, of course, continues -- particularly into how he was able to board that flight on Saturday after suspicions were raised on Friday -- Carol.
LIN: Major, let me ask what might sound like a dumb question. If he has a valid British passport, then why are there so many questions about his who he is and whether he has any links to any existing terrorist networks?
GARRETT: Well, it appears that there were several flags raised by his general travel itinerary. First of all, no checked baggage, paying cash for a one-way ticket. Also, when stopped and questioned by French authorities at Charles De Gaul Airport, at least initially he was a bit evasive in his answers.
All of those things, and the general atmosphere since September 11 raised some legitimate questions. However, both American Airlines, so the reports go, and French national police decided he had answered things sufficiently. And with that valid -- or what appeared to be a valid British passport -- was allowed to board on Saturday.
LIN: Got you. All right. In the meantime, it might -- maybe it's just a coincidence, but apparently the FAA just a couple of weeks ago issued a warning to airlines that passengers might try to sneak some sort of weapons in their shoes, and that the airlines should be aware of this. Is there something the FAA knows that it's not saying publicly?
GARRETT: Well, on December 11, Carol, the Federal Aviation Administration dispatched a circular to all the airlines advising them of this potential. Let me read to (sic) that circular for you: "We are concerned" -- meaning the FAA -- "that hijackers may attempt to smuggle disassembled weapons onboard an airliner by hiding weapon components within their shoes. This method of weapons concealment has been demonstrated to be successful in the past," the circular goes on to say.
One of the key things there is "disassembled" bomb parts in shoes. Essentially, the FAA was alerting airlines of the possibility there might be materials concealed in shoes that could be later assembled into something that could constitute an actual explosive device.
That may be what happened in this case. The FBI simply does not know if this plastic explosive material that was found could have, in fact, been detonated with a simple match, which it is clear this suspect lighted while onboard the plane. If not, this may have just been someone who tried to do something, but didn't have the materials or the expertise to actually carry it off.
Nevertheless, any type of explosives on any plane constitutes a real threat, and that's where the investigation is leading from -- Carol.
LIN: No doubt about it. I know you're learning much more as the investigators are, and they try to question this man. Thank you very much. Major Garrett reporting live from the White House tonight.
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