Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Coast Guard Issues Terrorist Warning

Aired June 09, 2002 - 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: A new development on the homeland security front. The Coast Guard says the nation's coastlines are vulnerable to scuba divers and swimmers. For more on this, CNN's Patty Davis in Washington -- Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol. Well, the Coast Guard issued a maritime threat advisory on Friday on the possibility of terrorist attacks on the nation's ports and waterways. Now, a government official says the maritime industry, cruise ships and ferry boats have also been alerted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: We've learned that al Qaeda had very sophisticated operation, and that their interest in training people to undermine our way of life also included maritime and port interests.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: Now, this is the second warning in a month mentioning divers specifically. The first came from the FBI in May. Now a Coast Guard official says the agency issued this warning because there is now additional information from across the government. The FBI, however, says that it has no new information.

Officials won't talk about threat scenarios or targets, but the Coast Guard is taking this threat seriously. It is urging people on the water -- boaters, swimmers and others -- to report any suspicious activity -- Carol.

LIN: Well, Patty, what does the government consider to be suspicious activity?

DAVIS: Well, if you're on the water, the government says that you would most likely know what you consider suspicious. You know what's out there and what you'd expect to be out there if you're a boater, what would be something that would be suspicious, a swimmer, or something that you would see that might be suspicious. So they're asking you to call their National Response Center. They have an 800 number, 800-424-8802.

There are more than 42,000 square miles of coastline along the United States, a lot of ground for the Coast Guard to cover by itself, the Coast Guard is asking for all of the help that it can get -- Carol.

LIN: All right, a call for help. Thank you very much, Patty Davis in Washington.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com