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CNN Live Sunday
Police Foil Plot to Kidnap Posh Spice
Aired November 03, 2002 - 18:26 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Posh Spice is back in the headlines, not because of her singing but because Scotland Yard says she was the target of a kidnapping plot. Nine people are in custody after police got a tip from a tabloid. ITN's Dan Rivers picks up the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): David Beckham arrived home in Cheshire today in his armor-plated bulletproof Mercedes. He bought the 150,000 pound car earlier this year. In light of the alleged kidnap plot, it now seems like money well spent.
The men accused of masterminding the plan were caught by police yesterday after a tipoff from "The News of the World." They had been lured to a hotel car park in East London to allegedly sell some stolen artwork. Handcuffed and surrounded, the men were led away for questioning.
This evening, they're still being held at several central London police stations, along with four other people arrested overnight.
It's claimed the men were planning to kidnap Victoria Beckham and hold her for ransom in a safe house. They were filmed at the gates of the Beckhams' home and heard discussing the plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's no problem to get her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much would you ask for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four, five million I think is fine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIVERS: This afternoon, David Beckham issued a statement saying "I'd like to thank the police for their professionalism and support yesterday. Because of this incident, we will be reviewing our security arrangements again with help from both the police and security experts at Manchester United. The first role of a father and husband is to keep his family safe."
One former flying squad officer agrees that threats should be taken seriously.
JOHN O'CONNER, FORMER FLYING SQUAD COMMANDER: If I was the Beckhams, I would be very, very worried. You know, it's a real infringement on their freedom of movement and so forth, but I really do think that they are going to really have to consider beefing up their security to the same level as royalty protection.
RIVERS: Victoria Beckham spoke of her absolute and total shock, but this isn't the first time she's heard news of the kidnap plot. Three years ago, police foiled another attempt to snatch her and Brooken (ph).
VICTORIA BECKHAM: They knew where they were going to take him, what time he was going to be taken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said that Brooken (ph) was going to go the next day.
BECKHAM: I mean, I think that's the most terrifying thing that can happen to any parent. Brooken (ph) lived like a prisoner. It was awful. Absolutely terrifying.
RIVERS: Now once again the couple are having to review security, seemingly paying a high price for their celebrity status.
Dan Rivers, ITV News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 November 3, 2002 - 18:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Posh Spice is back in the headlines, not because of her singing but because Scotland Yard says she was the target of a kidnapping plot. Nine people are in custody after police got a tip from a tabloid. ITN's Dan Rivers picks up the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): David Beckham arrived home in Cheshire today in his armor-plated bulletproof Mercedes. He bought the 150,000 pound car earlier this year. In light of the alleged kidnap plot, it now seems like money well spent.
The men accused of masterminding the plan were caught by police yesterday after a tipoff from "The News of the World." They had been lured to a hotel car park in East London to allegedly sell some stolen artwork. Handcuffed and surrounded, the men were led away for questioning.
This evening, they're still being held at several central London police stations, along with four other people arrested overnight.
It's claimed the men were planning to kidnap Victoria Beckham and hold her for ransom in a safe house. They were filmed at the gates of the Beckhams' home and heard discussing the plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's no problem to get her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much would you ask for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four, five million I think is fine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIVERS: This afternoon, David Beckham issued a statement saying "I'd like to thank the police for their professionalism and support yesterday. Because of this incident, we will be reviewing our security arrangements again with help from both the police and security experts at Manchester United. The first role of a father and husband is to keep his family safe."
One former flying squad officer agrees that threats should be taken seriously.
JOHN O'CONNER, FORMER FLYING SQUAD COMMANDER: If I was the Beckhams, I would be very, very worried. You know, it's a real infringement on their freedom of movement and so forth, but I really do think that they are going to really have to consider beefing up their security to the same level as royalty protection.
RIVERS: Victoria Beckham spoke of her absolute and total shock, but this isn't the first time she's heard news of the kidnap plot. Three years ago, police foiled another attempt to snatch her and Brooken (ph).
VICTORIA BECKHAM: They knew where they were going to take him, what time he was going to be taken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said that Brooken (ph) was going to go the next day.
BECKHAM: I mean, I think that's the most terrifying thing that can happen to any parent. Brooken (ph) lived like a prisoner. It was awful. Absolutely terrifying.
RIVERS: Now once again the couple are having to review security, seemingly paying a high price for their celebrity status.
Dan Rivers, ITV News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
