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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Gunman Kills 2 at El Al Counter at LAX
Aired July 04, 2002 - 17:00 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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: This has a horrendous day at the Los Angeles International Airport and for the very latest let's go to our man on the scene, Charles Feldman. Charles, brief us. Bring us up to date precisely on what you know.
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Wolf what we know now is that there is another fatality, unfortunately, to report. There are now three dead and one was the apparent alleged gunman and the other two victims, apparently innocent bystanders, but we don't know much about their identity or why they were targets of the shooter.
But three are now dead and that includes the alleged gunman. In about 12 minutes time now by my count, Wolf, there is a news conference scheduled. It's going to be right behind me. The mayor of the city of Los Angeles, Mayor Hahn, the interim police chief, that would be Martin Pomeroy, the FBI, and an assortment of other airport security officials are expected to come before the microphones and tell us what information they have and perhaps shed some light on the key questions that we've been asking all morning and the key one key, of course, is I'm sure is the key question on your mind, Wolf, as it is on every law enforcement official I have talked to, is whether or not this is a terrorist-related incident.
We've been told repeatedly that there's not enough information yet to point in that direction. It's being investigated, I've been assured quite aggressively. It could, could turn out to be a very unfortunate shooting in a very unfortunate place, a crowded airport and at the El Al ticket counter to boot at Bradley. But it also could turn out to be something far more ominous, something far more sinister and that is exactly what the FBI and the police and all the city officials here are struggling at this hour to try to find out more about -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Charles, I know you've been speaking to eyewitnesses and other law enforcement authorities on the scene. Walk our viewers who may just be tuning in right now, walk them through precisely what we know, what happened at the El Al counter.
FELDMAN: OK, Wolf, and this is of course based on what are called preliminary, as you know, police reports because it's a long way from the final report. What we know is at about 11:30 this morning Pacific Time, a 911 call was received by the Los Angeles Police Department about a shooting at the Bradley International Terminal building.
Let me explain that for those not familiar LAX. Wolf, LAX has, I think, it's nine separate terminal buildings. Bradley named after a former mayor of Los Angeles. It houses many international carriers, El Al among them. The -- according to the police reports, the gunman was in the proximity or nearby the El Al ticket counter when he opened fire on at least one individual, not clear why an individual was chosen, if it was at random or for some other reason.
Return fire was then given by what we are told were El Al security personnel. El Al, as you know, is a very security-conscious airline all over the world. It has many armed security people prepared for events such as this. What is unclear, Wolf, though is whether or not the other two people who were shot and now as I said at the very top of this report, we can report, unfortunately three dead, one is the shooter, two other victims.
It is unclear, though, whether or not the other two were shot by the alleged assailant or somehow got caught in crossfire between the assailant and the El Al personnel. Now there's another little mystery, and I shouldn't say little. That demeans the situation, and I don't mean to do that, but it's an odd mystery and that is that there's another individual we've been told who was stabbed, unclear what that person's condition is, and equally unclear is whether or not that person was stabbed by the alleged shooter or by an accomplice or whether or not it was an unrelated but circumstantial incident that happened at the same time.
We also have been told that the Los Angeles Police Department has at least two individuals in custody that they are talking to. They have not used the characterization of suspect, so that could mean, and my apologies, this is where the press conference is about to happen, so it's a little hectic here, Wolf.
It could mean that the two people that are being questioned are material witnesses. It doesn't mean that they're suspects. It doesn't mean that they had anything at all to do with this incident, but we are told they are being questioned by the Los Angeles Police Department and lastly, as I said at the top, the official spokesman for the FBI saying, no information at the moment that this is terrorist related, but that is a possibility.
He doesn't dispute that. It is being investigated vigorously. He made sure he said that and it's something that everybody here is very conscious of, certainly we are and certainly they are -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Charles Feldman, stand by. We'll be coming back to you. We'll be coming to that news conference with the mayor and the FBI, the Los Angeles police commissioner when it happens, but right now I want to bring in California's Governor Gray Davis. He's joining us on the telephone.
Governor, thanks for joining us, and tell us what you've been told so far about the nature of this shooting at LAX.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: Well, I think you've accurately reported, Wolf, there are three people dead, and the FBI's working closely with the Los Angeles Police Department. I've talked to Mayor Hahn and offered him assistance, and we've offered assistance to every airport in the state. Some have accepted. Some have said they will call us back, but I think your reports are accurate. They're trying to determine exactly why this shooting occurred, what if anything else was behind it, and it's very, very early in the investigation.
BLITZER: Governor, the transportation minister of Israel, Ephraim Sneh, says -- he was on CNN just a little while ago, citing past incidents. He believes this was in fact a terrorist attack. Is there any hard evidence to back him up on that point?
DAVIS: That's a question better put to the FBI or the Los Angeles Police Department or the California Highway Patrol that's playing a support role there. Clearly they're going to investigate every lead.
You know, we in California as other states are on very high alert today, and if something happened today, it does raise suspicions, but the investigative folks in law enforcement will determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger problem. I have great confidence in their judgment, and I'm sure they'll come to the accurate conclusion.
BLITZER: Governor the Israelis say they were on extremely high alert around the world, all sorts of Israeli targets as they usually are. But was there any information that you know of that pointed to a possible terror strike in California?
DAVIS: No, there was no warning that pinpointed California or any part thereof, but as we have from the very beginning, we've worked closely with Tom Ridge and the FBI and have tried to be alert to any possibility, and we have all kinds of precautions that have been taking place today. Every aircraft in possession of the Highway Patrol is in the air today.
Virtually every law enforcement official at the local and state level is on duty today. Nobody's on vacation, so every assimilatory people in this state is protected by unusually large numbers of law enforcement people. I think we're doing everything humanly possible to keep people safe.
BLITZER: Having said that, can we assume that no additional security precautions around your state have taken place in the aftermath of this shooting at LAX?
DAVIS: I don't want to go into any details about that, but I have been in close contact with a security adviser, the highway patrol commissioner. I spoke to the mayor. We will be in touch with the FBI. I will be in touch personally. My staff has been in touch with them, so we will be guided by what the professionals think as to whether or not additional security precautions are appropriate.
BLITZER: And before I let you go, Governor, and we're still standing by for that news conference at LAX with the mayor and the police commissioner of Los Angeles. Any additional security measures being taken at Israeli sites in California as far as you know?
DAVIS: No information one way or another on that subject has reached me. Again, I -- that will take us a while to track down, and we'll be happy to let you know whether additional security measures have been taken in that regard.
BLITZER: Governor Gray Davis, thanks for updating us on this very important story on this July 4th. Let's bring our Patty Davis now. She's monitoring the situation from here in Washington.
Patty, what are you hearing from federal law enforcement aviation authorities here in the nation's capital?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, an administration source says the shooting at Los Angeles International Airport does look like an isolated incident at this point. Now the source saying there is no other intelligence that would speak to the contrary. Nothing that would suggest that this is anything other than an isolated criminal act.
The Transportation Security Administration, the federal agency responsible for aviation security is monitoring the situation. I'm told the aviation system is at its highest alert right now. The FAA says air traffic control is now accepting international flights coming in to LAX. Those arriving passengers are being taken to another area of the international terminal that's separate from where this happened. Departing international flights, though, for now are on hold -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And Patty, before I let you go, are they saying anything about the rather firm statement made by the Israeli transportation minister and other Israeli officials, that they clearly suspect terrorism.
DAVIS: No, they have no comment on that right now -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Patty Davis, thank you very much. Let's go back out to Los Angeles. Our man Frank Buckley is in our Los Angeles bureau right now. Frank, I take it you've just spoken with Israel's Consul General in L.A.?
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I've just spoken with Sveev Vopny (ph),who's the deputy consul general here in Los Angeles. He tells me that the consul general himself is headed out to LAX to find out exactly what he can on the ground. However Mr. Vopny (ph) was able to provide some additional detail about what the consul's position is on what they believe happened at the airport. As you say, a direct quote from Mr. Vopny (ph) is -- quote -- "we assume it was a terror attack".
One of the reasons he says that is that at the Bradley Terminal there are a number of airline desks all next to each other at LAX. He is saying it would be an incredible coincidence for someone to just go up to the El Al counter to commit such an attack. He also provided some additional detail on the wounded, identifying for the first time one of the wounded as Haim Saphir. He is the chief security person for El Al at LAX.
According to Mr. Vopny (ph), Mr. Saphir encountered this person who, the suspect, who was running as Mr. Vopny (ph) puts it toward the El Al counter. Mr. Saphir, the security person noticed that he had a gun and a knife, and this suspect allegedly stabbed Mr. Saphir and at that point, according to the deputy consul general, Mr. Saphir shot him dead on the spot.
He also tells me that at the time that we spoke or just a few moments ago that there were a total of four wounded. That number may have changed, but that it was his view that two of the wounded were passengers and one of the additional wounded was a female counter employee who is believed shot.
We can say that LAX is a very busy place today. You've seen the various shots of all the people standing around outside, the many crowd shots. I was at LAX earlier this week and was told that they were expecting 925,000 people to pass through LAX during this very busy Fourth of July holiday period.
As you know, security was very heavy there and at other airports around the nation. But we can also say that as Patty was saving the Transportation Security Administration is still in a transitional period. The federal security screeners are not fully in place at LAX as they are at least three airports in the U.S. right now, and the TSA head person at LAX right now is Ron Palao (ph) and he is considered an interim director of the TSA at LAX.
So, again, the latest information is that one of the injured is Haim Saphir who is the chief security person for El Al. The deputy consul general telling me that that person was being transported to hospital, but earlier I talked to another staff member who said that Mr. Saphir continued to work for a while until he was taken away to the hospital -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And, Frank, as we stand by awaiting a news conference at LAX with the mayor and the police commissioner and others including presumably representatives of the FBI, did the Deputy Consul General Mr. Vopny (ph), did he say anything about the suspected shooter in this particular case who was killed himself?
BUCKLEY: I asked for any sort of a description that they might have at the moment, at least at the consul general. They don't have a description of this person other than the very initial sketchy report that came that this person was running, and had both a pistol and a knife.
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Frank Buckley. We'll be coming back to you as well. I want to bring in now the former U.S. Ambassador At Large for counter terrorism Paul Bremer who's joining me here in our Washington studio.
PAUL BREMER, FMR. AMBASSADOR AT LARGE: Thank you.
BLITZER: You've studied this. You've made a career out of studying terrorism, and we want to be precise. We don't know if this is terrorism or simply a criminal act, a lunatic out there. We have no idea, but we're getting these conflicting reports that seemingly conflicting, the FBI saying they can't rule it out, but no hard evidence to back it up at this early stage. The Israelis seal to be going out on a limb saying they suspect terrorism.
BREMER: My experience in these things, Wolf, is it pays to be a little bit patient, not to jump to conclusions. There is one report from the airport that this guy was shouting that somebody had taken his job. This could very well have been somebody who was laid off by El Al or another airline recently, running at the counter with a pistol and a knife, if that's what happened, does not sound to me on the face of it to be a sort of major terrorist operation. It looks at the moment to me more like an isolated criminal act.
BLITZER: El Al does have -- hold on one second. The news conference is beginning at Los Angeles International Airport. Let's listen in.
CMDR. DAVE GASCON, LOS ANGELES POLICE: Those that are going to participate here, they'll be here in about two or three minutes, and then we're going to -- I'm going to give you an overview of what's going on, and we'll interview the people that are going to be speaking and a few other people that are present.
At the conclusion you'll be able to ask questions. Conclusion of each of their statements, you'll be able to ask questions. Key players, of course, will be the mayor and the special agent in charge of the FBI and Chief Pomeroy from LAPD, OK? It's about two to three minutes.
BLITZER: And as we await that news conference, let's bring in ambassador -- the former ambassador at large for counter terrorism, Paul Bremer. The -- this is a very, very early stage in this kind of an incident. What are they primarily trying to do right now beyond trying to save lives, in fact, if they're injured?
BREMER: The most important thing, obviously, is first to try to identify the now dead assailant, and if they indeed have people in custody, whether they are suspects or material witnesses trying to find out what they know about what happened here. This was a crowded airport, so there will be plenty of witnesses around to what actually happened and they'll be going through trying to find out anybody who can shed any light on how this whole thing happened.
BLITZER: Is there a sense out there that on July 4th, El Al, terrorism all these alerts that we've been having for days and days building up to July 4th, it does seem sort of ominously suspicious, doesn't it?
BREMER: Well, we've certainly seen apparently a very substantial increase in what the intelligence community calls chatter about impending terrorist attacks and very similar to what happened last year, by the way. You know the government was on a very high alert, we now learn, last July 4th for much the same reason, a lot of chatter, a lot of reports around that something would happen and it is certainly the case that Israel and El Al have been targets before at airports.
So it -- you can't exclude that this is a terrorist attack. If it was a terrorist attack, it doesn't look like a very highly professional one to me. I mean they did manage to kill some people, which is tragic, but it doesn't look like the kind of major spectacular that we might have thought was going to take place.
BLITZER: Relatively small scale. El Al, though, is uniquely equipped to deal with these kinds of potential terror threats, and you've studied their protective services pretty closely over the years. Tell our viewers who might not be familiar with El Al, what kind of arrangements they have, not only in Israel, but around the world at their ...
BREMER: Right.
BLITZER: ... various locations.
BREMER: They have basically got permission in many places, including Los Angeles, to carry, to have arm guards basically at their sites. They use a very extensive profiling system. They take a lot of time. You often have two or three hour delays on El Al flights and they've been very successful.
They have arrested people, terrorists on the ground famously now, several years ago, in 1986 when they found a pregnant woman getting on a plane, who had been put there by her fiance with a bomb in her baggage and a suspicious El Al interviewer basically uncovered this fact, that she was flying alone.
They found a bomb in her bag. So I think you have to say El Al has got some of the best security in the world, and they do have people armed on the ground and this gives them an advantage. I think the fact that there was somebody armed there to fight back and kill this guy is significant.
BLITZER: If this shooter had gone to a Delta or United or U.S. Airways desk, counter at LAX presumably they don't have the kind of armed security personnel that El Al has.
BREMER: No, that's right. And I think if you think -- I think we are safer flying today than we were a year ago, but there are several areas that need still to be worked on. The general security of the public parts of airports obviously is still a problem, as we saw today. Secondly we have really not put into effect effective security measures on what is call general aviation, private aircraft flying here and there.
And there still are concerns, I think correctly, about the security of what is going into the cargo of both cargo flights themselves and also into the cargo on passenger planes. So the Transportation Security Agency has got a huge job ahead of it still.
BLITZER: And you came up with some major recommendations where you were the chairman of that terrorism commission. Stand by. I think the news conference in L.A. is about to begin. Let's go back to Los Angeles.
GASCON: I'm the chief of staff of the Los Angeles Police Department. In a moment I'm going to introduce three speakers that will have statements and be able to field some questions for you. I'd like to take just a brief moment at the inception here to touch a little bit on the obvious and tell you who's here working on this problem.
As you know, there was a shooting today at the El Al terminal here at Tom Bradley, and we have a major investigation going on. That's going to be an FBI lead in the investigation. The FBI is going to be supported by the Los Angeles Police Department and the airport police.
We have resources here that we're going -- that'll work with them throughout the course of their investigation. Paramount concern, of course, is returning the rest of the airport to some degree of normalcy and that is occurring now. At this point what I'd like to do is tell you briefly who's present and what their roles are.
The mayor of the city of Los Angeles, James Hahn is here; special agent in charge Richard Garcia of the FBI who will be handling the investigation with his people; chief of police Martin Pomeroy, Los Angeles Police Department; Airport Police Chief Bernard Wilson; assistant chief J.I. Davis, who will be providing investigative support resources for the investigation; Deputy Chief David Kalish, who will handle the incident outside of the investigation; Congresswoman Diane Watson is here, and we appreciate her responding. The consul general of Israel is present and Los Angeles City Fire Chief, Bill Damatri (ph) is present. With that, I'd like to turn this over to Mayor James Hahn -- Mayor.
MAYOR JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES: Thank you, Chief Gascon. I'm Jim Hahn, mayor of Los Angeles. This morning at 11:30, a male individual armed with a gun opened fire in the ticket line at El Al inside Tom Bradley Terminal. Two civilians have been killed. The suspect was subdued and killed by security personnel working at El Al.
The airport police were on scene immediately as well as LAPD. Everyone worked well to coordinate controlling that scene, evacuating the passengers from that terminal. As you heard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has assumed jurisdiction over this investigation with assistance by LAPD. And we have detectives from LAPD working with FBI personnel, ready to interview the passengers and other witnesses to this event.
The people who were killed were immediately transported to local hospitals both UCLA and USC where they succumbed to their injuries. One of the El Al security personnel was also injured. He's been transported to a hospital. Another woman, who I believe was shot in the leg, has also been transferred to a local hospital.
We have no information that indicates that this incident is connected to any terrorist event or anything else, but the matter is under investigation right now and will continue to be so under FBI. We have continued operations at LAX. Obviously people who have flights out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal can expect significant delays in getting on their flights or meeting passengers from those flights.
That terminal is still closed while investigation continues. We hope to re-open part of the terminal away from the crime scene in the next few minutes, but in the meantime it's going to create significant delays. Again it appears that this was an isolated incident. The incident was immediately ended by quick action by security personnel, and the situation certainly is under control now.
We appreciate the interest of the media. We know as much as we know now. Obviously more information will be forthcoming and we'll provide you with further details later. Now I'd like to introduce from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Rich Garcia, special agent in charge of this investigation.
RICHARD GARCIA, FBI: Thank you Mayor Hahn. The FBI has responded to this particular incident and we're working closely with the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as the airport police. The reason that they're indicating that we're the lead agency in this particular investigation is we want to make all the determinations we can to determine exactly the cause of the actual incident and to make sure there's no other connections any place else.
As of this moment we are not aware of anything else that might be related to this. This appears to be an isolated incident. We're making the determinations through our investigation to see whether or not this is, in fact, a situation between individuals only versus an actual situation against a particular incident, entity or a particular organization.
Right now we're working closely, as I said, with the police department here. As the investigation continues and we make a determination, motives and such, the actual lead in the investigation will take place from that point. I also might indicate, too, that the quick response of the security personnel here at the airport, the security measures that were taken to this airport actually helped reduce any further injury that took place.
QUESTION: What can you tell us about the suspect at this point?
GARCIA: We cannot say anything about the suspect at this point other than we're trying to make a full identification of the person. That one suspect is deceased and we are trying to make a determination on where this person is from.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... several reports that another individual was stabbed and that the LAPD had at least two people in custody that they were talking with. Do you know anything about that?
GARCIA: There are various weapons there that we're looking at. The details I cannot provide you at this time. There are several injuries involved, and we're trying to make the determination who caused those injuries and what extent was made by what weapon. As ... QUESTION: There are stab injuries, is that what you're saying?
GARCIA: It appears to be, but we do not have the determination exactly who did what right now.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Are you looking for somebody else?
GARCIA: No we're not. No we're not.
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or two, two civilians and the suspect. Is that correct?
GARCIA: Right now we have two civilians and the suspect are deceased.
QUESTION: What is the relationship (UNINTELLIGIBLE) between the suspect and the civilians?
GARCIA: We can't make that determination right now.
(CROSSTALK)
GARCIA: That is still under investigation on how that took place.
QUESTION: Was it that same suspect ...
GARCIA: It's still under investigation.
QUESTION: And is it coincidence it was near El Al?
GARCIA: Pardon.
QUESTION: Coincidence near El Al.
GARCIA: Right now it's a coincidence.
QUESTION: But Richard, you're saying you're not looking and the police are not looking for any other individuals. Is that right?
GARCIA: That's correct.
QUESTION: OK.
GARCIA: We have no information to look for anybody else. We have no indication that this thing is related to any other incident that might be out here. Right now we're looking at it as an isolated incident.
Now I would like to introduce the chief of police (UNINTELLIGIBLE) comments.
CHIEF MARTIN POMEROY, LOS ANGELES POLICE: Good afternoon. I'm Martin Pomeroy, chief of police for the city of Los Angeles, LAPD. From a tactical standpoint, not from an investigative or personal standpoint, from a tactical standpoint, we were well prepared to handle this incident. Our resources flowed quickly to the airport. We had sufficient personnel on duty to contain this matter.
I think we quickly established a command post. We have quickly coordinated with the other agencies and so from a tactical or coordinating or controlling standpoint, we're doing well. We have done a risk assessment. We find nothing else going on in the city or in the nation that would that any of our venues are not safe at this moment.
And although we will have additional resources, looking at some of the places where our citizens will gather this evening. We have not issued any kind of alert. We have not told anybody not to go. We are not suggesting that anybody not attend any public events that may be scheduled.
Repeating that, there's just no indication now that there's any risk at any other location. This appears to be an isolated incident. Of course if we find something other than that, we'll let you know immediately. We have our department operations center open to coordinate our response to this incident.
We have bureau command post available. We have anti-terrorist personnel, metropolitan division personnel, mounted unit personnel, the extra units that we had already planned to have on duty for this day. I think the citizens can by and large feel that they are safe wherever they are in the city. We're just not aware of any other threat, and we have a maximum or a high deployment available for the rest of the evening. Thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... reports earlier of at least two individuals that the police department was talking. Are those reports accurate and if so, how would you characterize those individuals?
POMEROY: I'm going to leave all comments about individuals and the course of the investigation to Mr. Garcia. As for us, all I'm going to comment is on the tactical response and what else is going on in the city.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... about the individuals.
QUESTION: When this broke out, we understand a ticket area. Can you describe exactly what happened when this broke out?
GARCIA: As far as exactly what happened when this broke out, I cannot describe that to you other than the fact that the shooting took place in the upper level of the Bradley Terminal in the ticket line area. And that's about all I can tell you at this time.
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
GARCIA: I cannot explain exactly what took place. We're doing through right now with an investigation.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... over documentation with this gentlemen.
GARCIA: I cannot comment on anything on that particular nature at this time. We are continuing -- pardon.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Richard, about those two individuals and the police ...
GARCIA: The only thing I can say is right now that we are conducting an investigation. We have numerous witnesses who were flying out of the particular terminal at this time that we have to interview. The investigation is continuing, and I cannot further comment any longer regarding the investigation.
QUESTION: No other suspect's being questioned, is that right?
GARCIA: The initial determination that we have right now, we have no other suspects we're looking for, and we are dealing with the investigation here at this location.
(CROSSTALK)
GARCIA: I can't -- I can't divulge exactly how many suspects. Right now, we have one individual who's deceased.
QUESTION: Mr. Garcia, can you confirm...
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- to this, did they not? Can you tell us about that, how that worked?
GARCIA: They are security people from El Al that were involved with the particular stopping of this incident.
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
GARCIA: I will not -- I cannot firm that up, as far as exactly (UNINTELLIGIBLE). This is what we are trying to make the determination.
(CROSSTALK)
GARCIA: I'll just let you know that we are going to have another press conference a little bit later on, and some more questions probably can be answered, at that point.
(CROSSTALK)
GASCON: OK, let me -- let me cut this off, at this point. I hope everybody realizes the sensitivity of the investigation and how thorough the FBI and its support staff have to be in trying to make factual determinations of what occurred and what the implications are for all of that. And so we don't want to be rush anything and, we don't want to rush anything out there publicly that we would find to be in error later on.
The approach will be very methodical. They have adequate resources. They'll do everything they need to do. Everyone's working well together, and it really speaks well for the professionalism of all involved. We recognize the interest, and we have made a commitment that we will come back out and provide you all the up-to- date information as quickly as we can. But please be patient as the FBI conducts this investigation.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Can you tell us the status of flights in and out of the airport, at least?
GASCON: Right now, for all flights other than the international terminal, we are trying to restore normalcy, and it appears as though everything is operating. We will get into greater detail on that at the next press conference. Thank you for your time.
(CROSSTALK)
HAHN: Let me add one more thing. I just wanted to add one more thing, that with us here today is Congresswoman Diane Watson, who indicated that she will work very closely to make sure all the federal resources that we need will be forthcoming in this investigation. I also was contacted by the governor of California, Gray Davis, who also offered help with the highway patrol in helping to secure this airport and help with, you know, any problems associated with this incident.
We're going to work very closely with our state and federal authorities to make sure that this airport can function, that flights can continue normal operation, and this investigation can be concluded. At this point in time, as Chief Gascon pointed out, as much information as the FBI knows now is being communicated to you. As more information develops in this investigation, that will follow in further briefings.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Does this tell you anything about security at the airport, when a person can get to the counter with a gun in his -- on his person?
HAHN: Well, clearly, you know, as -- the security that has been set up by the Federal Transportation Security Agency is aimed at, you know, the security of -- of the planes themselves, making sure that nobody can get on a plane with any kind of a weapon. That is, you know, the present focus of security.
I think that we need to, you know, take a look at the entire security plan to ascertain what additional measures that we need to take to protect the terminals themselves. Right now, the perimeter of security is to prevent anybody from getting on that plane. Up until that point in time, people don't go through security screening. You know, I think that we need to take a look at that. That's why I proposed a security plan at LAX that differs markedly from what we are dealing with today. I know the Transportation Security Agency is, you know -- you know, continuing to evolve their security plans. Obviously, when incidents like this happen, we're going to -- you know, certainly learn from this and take what lessons we can learn, to see if we can make the airport even safer.
QUESTION: Mayor Hahn, are you concerned that this (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HAHN: Well, you know, until we know more about this incident, you know I don't know that there's any reason, at this point in time, for the traveling public to shy away from air travel. We don't know exactly what the motivation is here yet. Until we know, I think it's premature to speculate as to whether or not this'll have any impact on the flying public.
Unfortunately, as I've said, you know, over the years, there are too many guns out there. You know, in America, there's too many people who are walking around with guns. It makes, I think, it less safe for everybody everywhere. But until we know more about what the motivation is here, I don't know that we can speculate that has any impact on air transportation.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: The two civilians -- were they possibly related to this man in any way? Were they (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
HAHN: Until there's been the opportunity to contact the families of the victims, we can't really give out further information at this time. That will be coming later.
QUESTION: How many people injured, at this point? What's the latest number?
HAHN: Chief Damatri (ph), how many other injuries do you have? This is the fire chief, Bill Damatri.
BILL DAMATRI, FIRE CHIEF: We had a total of seven patients. Six were transported. One had small lacerations, refused transport. One of those six that we transported was at the lower level, complaining of chest pains, a bystander, but we believe it was related to the commotion at that time. We have the two confirmed dead. Apparently, we're getting information the a third has expired, also. We need to follow up on that before we pass any additional information.
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hospital on the way (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
DAMATRI: That's our understanding, at the hospital.
QUESTION: Could you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) total number again?
DAMATRI: Altogether? Had a total of seven patients. Six were transported. QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
DAMATRI: I've got that information. Until we can contact the relatives, we're not going to give that information out. We'll give that out later through the FBI.
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
DAMATRI: I don't have that information.
QUESTION: Chief Pomeroy, could we...
QUESTION: Chief Pomeroy...
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: We just were interviewing a manager over at the airport. He talked to a fellow worker at Mexicana Airlines next door, and that individual said that he had seen the shooting and that there was a dispute over identification prior to the shooting. Are you saying that is not correct? It is correct?
POMEROY: I'm neither confirming nor adding to nor correcting that. I don't know, and if I did know, it's best handled by the FBI. That's their responsibility.
QUESTION: Could the FBI step up and at least tell us whether this is totally out of the realm? A Mexicana Airline person said he saw the shooting and that there was a dispute over identification. Yes, no?
GARCIA: We are looking at all -- there's several different theories because we have information from numerous locations, whether it be airport employees or other witnesses here. And until we make a correct determination, basically, we're not going to confirm or deny anything.
QUESTION: Is one of the theories that somebody lost their job? Is there a theory that there was a dispute over identification?
GARCIA: Those all seem plausible to me, but we are all looking at different things that are out there.
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) looking at (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
GARCIA: We're looking, trying to make sure the determination that everything that's supposedly said or took place, we're trying to make the determination. Now, I must explain something. This is -- we are going to have another press conference. The assistant director, Ron Eiden (ph), from the office in Los Angeles, will be later this afternoon, as well, as well as the other special agent-in-charge and...
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I'm just trying to get (UNINTELLIGIBLE) That is one of the things you are looking at, that there was a dispute over identification? GARCIA: We are looking at that and other different things that are going on.
GASCON: Thank you. We'll be back in a little while.
QUESTION: How long?
GARCIA: Probably an hour.
BLITZER: And so that's the very latest from Los Angeles International Airport, where there was a shooting some three hours ago, a shooting that resulted in three people dead, including the suspected shooter, two individuals.
Let's recap what we know right now -- three dead, including the shooter, the shooter -- we have no information about the identity of the shooter, at this point, the FBI, local law enforcement in Los Angeles insisting that that information will be made available when they have it. Two others were wounded. Indeed, update on that particular point -- the fire chief that was just on CNN says a total of seven people were injured, were wounded. Six of them were transported to hospital. One was treated on the scene.
The incident, of course, took place at the El Al ticket counter at the Los Angeles International Airport. We've also learned that there was one flight, one El Al flight scheduled in the afternoon from Los Angeles, El Al flight 106, scheduled to leave Los Angeles as 4:20 PM local time for Toronto, with continuing service to Tel Aviv, is scheduled to arrive in Toronto tonight at 8:45 PM, leaving Toronto 10:40 PM for Tel Aviv. It was supposed to arrive tomorrow, 4:10 PM local time at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. That flight, obviously, has not departed Los Angeles International Airport.
I'll bring back Ambassador Paul Bremer shortly, but joining us now from New York is the New York City police commissioner, Ray Kelly. This was supposed to be a very different interview, Commissioner Kelly, on this 4th of July, but as you well know, El Al has a very significant presence in New York City at John F. Kennedy International Airport. What, if anything, are you doing to beef up security there?
COMM. RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE: Well, we talked immediately to Port Authority police officials, Charles DiRienzo (ph), the director of the Port Authority police. He immediately deployed extra police resources to the El Al counter and the El Al aircraft at Kennedy Airport. We are covering all of the El Al facilities, including hotels that El Al staff personnel stay at in New York, and also other higher-profile locations for the Jewish community in New York City.
I've confirmed with the consul general, Ambassador Pinkas, here in New York. So we believe that we're doing everything that we can in response to this incident. Again, no one is certain at this time what the nature of this incident is.
BLITZER: Just to be precise on that point, Commissioner, the FBI, the mayor, others, the police commissioner in Los Angeles, all saying basically the same thing, no information that they have specifically linking this incident to terrorism, but they say the matter is under investigation. Other officials say they can't rule that out, but they're also saying this appears to be an isolated incident. Is that what you're hearing, Commissioner Kelly, as well?
KELLY: Well, so far, that's what we're hearing. Obviously, the investigation is just beginning. The identity of the assailant here is key to the investigation, and I'm sure they're working diligently on identifying the shooter in this case.
BLITZER: And at this point, you have -- do you have any additional information? You heard what the mayor and police commissioner in L.A. had to say, the FBI special agent. Is there anything else that you know about this that you could share with our viewers?
KELLY: No, we have no additional information. We have, of course, the Largest joint terrorist task force in the country here. We work closely with the FBI. We don't have any additional information, other than what we've all heard at the press conference.
BLITZER: So just to be precise, Commissioner, in an abundance of caution now, not based on any hard information, you're beefing up security at El Al and other Israeli and perhaps even Jewish locations in the New York City area?
KELLY: Yes, that's correct. Exactly. We're going to err, if we err, on the side of caution here. And we've done as you said. We've gone to all the El Al facilities here in New York, and the Port Authority police are providing extra coverage at the airport where the airplanes are, where the ticket counter is. As I say, we've conferred with Israeli officials here in New York City. And other high-profile locations that we have covered in the past, we're now putting additional police coverage at those locations.
BLITZER: At John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, when you walk into the El Al section of that terminal -- I don't know if you've done it. I've done it over there. It's not that difficult to just walk in and go up to the ticket counter. You go through the magnetometers and the metal detectors, the security, once you're inside. Is there any sense that you have to try to beef up security outside that terminal before individuals can walk inside?
KELLY: Well, I'm going to leave that up to the Port Authority police, who police the airport. But El Al has a very robust security program. We work closely with them. We have exercises with El Al security out at the airport. That's both the New York City police and the Port Authority police. They're really very proficient in providing security. And of course, if anything additional has to be done there, I'm sure they'll be doing it.
BLITZER: Other than this incident in Los Angeles, Commissioner Kelly, anything strange or unusual happening in New York City on this Fourth of July, at least so far?
KELLY: No. . So far, things are very quiet here. Of course, we're getting ready for a major fireworks display this evening. There are key points, mostly in Manhattan, but in Queens and Brooklyn, as well, where people will observe these -- the fireworks. There are other events also happening throughout the city. We have several thousand police officers deployed throughout the city. But particularly for these events, we're using our bomb squad, our aviation units, our harbor patrol. The joint terrorist task force is deployed throughout the city. So we believe we're doing everything that we reasonably can do to make this a safe holiday.
BLITZER: And any specific advice, Commissioner Kelly, that you have for our viewers not only in New York but around the country, as they get ready for some fireworks, some special Independence Day celebrations tonight?
KELLY: Well, of course, as so many people have said, we want everyone to go out and enjoy the holiday. We'd like people to be vigilant, though, to be a little bit on guard, on alert, to see if they see anything that's unusual. In New York, we have special hotline. It's 1-888-NYC-SAFE -- New York City SAFE. Anybody sees anything out of the ordinary, we would appreciate a call to that hotline. But otherwise, go out and enjoy. Again, law enforcement, I think, is very much on the job not only here in New York but throughout the country.
BLITZER: We know they are. Commissioner Kelly, thanks so much for joining us on this Independence Day. Happy Fourth of July to you and all your police officers in New York. Appreciate your joining us, as well.
KELLY: Thank you, Wolf. Thanks.
BLITZER: We're going to continue our special coverage of this July 4th and the shooting at Los Angeles International Airport. Much more coverage coming up. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Welcome back to our continuing coverage of the shooting at Los Angeles International Airport -- three individuals dead, including the suspected shooter, some six or seven individuals injured. Six of them have been taken to hospital, one treated on the scene. We're continuing our coverage of this.
Ambassador Paul Bremer, the former U.S. ambassador-at-large for counterterrorism, you heard what the Israelis said, that they suspect terrorism. You heard what the mayor of Los Angeles, the FBI agents, the police chief -- that they're not sure right now. They can't -- they can't say it is terrorism, but they're continuing an investigation. What do you make of this so far?
BREMER: I think we should start with the assumption that this is not terrorism, certainly not a major, planned terrorist attack of the kind that ought to cause us a lot of concern. It looks and sounds like an individual operation here. Let's let the investigation continue. We're really at the beginning part here. BLITZER: And the investigation obviously will depend, a big chunk of the investigation, on the identity of the shooter.
BREMER: Yes. The most important unknown, at least unknown to us now, until the FBI says more, is who this fellow was. And then you can start to look at motives and figure out why he might have done this.
BLITZER: You chaired that commission, that national commission on terrorism. Anything that -- as a result of what you know right now, that was done in Los Angeles spark some suggestions that you think should be taken as security precautions at other airports around the United States, indeed, perhaps around the world?
BREMER: No, I don't think so. I think that -- it is -- as Commissioner Kelly pointed out, for New York it's probably prudent for other airlines -- other airports where El Al is flying to take some extra precautions just because you could also get copycat attacks on something like this, not -- not even necessary planned. But I -- I -- until we see something else, I think we're looking at an isolated incident.
BLITZER: And yet...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: It's appropriate for the FBI to be the lead agency in this...
BREMER: The FBI should be the lead agency, and they're the best law enforcement agency in the world. They'll get to the bottom of this.
BLITZER: All right, Ambassador Paul Bremer, thanks for joining us.
Let's go to Jerusalem now. Our bureau chief there, Mike Hanna, is standing by with reaction from Israeli officials.
Mike, what are they saying in Jerusalem?
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, at the moment, slightly mixed messages as to the motives for the attack. El Al, the airline, the Israeli airline at which counter the attack took place, is characterizing this attack as a terrorist attack. It says that the flight due to leave from that particular gate was on its way to Tel Aviv by Toronto.
Israel's transport minister earlier on this evening said that any attack on Israeli citizens at an international airport must be assumed to be a terrorist attack. We have spoken to him in the last few minutes, and he says this -- and I stress -- is an assumption. He has told us that he has no evidence that this was, indeed, a terrorist attack.
A spokesman for Israel's prime minister has said that he, along with others, are waiting for clarification as to the incident. No characterization is being made from that quarter of the Israeli government as to what was the reason or the cause of this particular attack.
So mixed messages, somewhat, coming from Israeli administration. Although, to repeat, El Al is characterizing it as a terrorist attack. Israel's transport minister is saying he assumes it is a terrorist attack but has no information or evidence that it was indeed so, Wolf.
BLITZER: Is that unusual, Mike, for the Israeli government, Israeli officials, to be jumping to that conclusion? Given the very strong, clear statements from FBI agents on the scene, the mayor of Los Angeles, the L.A. police commissioner, that at this point, they have no indication that it is terrorism, although they're not ruling it out -- they're saying the investigation is only beginning. Is there any explanation you're getting why the Israelis seem to be jumping to that conclusion so quickly?
HANNA: Well, Wolf, I must make very clear here that these statements did come before that news conference that happened within the last half hour. These statements both from El Al and also from Israel's transport minister did come before the formal news conference that we heard within the last half hour from the airport itself.
So these, I think, at this stage, we must say, are based on assumptions. That has been stated very clearly by Israel's transport minister, Ephraim Sneh, who has said in his initial statement, which was broadcast on CNN, that when there is an attack in Israeli passengers at an El Al check-in counter at an international airport, then the assumption is that it is terrorist attack. He has just repeated this to us now, but this time, he has added that proviso that he has no evidence that this is the case.
So what, perhaps, we are seeing here is the assumption ruling at an initial period, when the news of the accident was coming in, rather than on any real detail that was being received by the Israeli government or other sources from the personnel involved at the airport itself.
So too, we cannot draw any conclusions to this stage, whether Israeli authorities are in dispute with those official statements from the U.S., from the FBI, that we heard earlier. Let us just take, at this stage, Wolf, the opinion that those statements were made before the formal statements or initial statements being made by the FBI on the ground itself.
BLITZER: All right. Our bureau chief, Mike Hanna. He's on the scene in Jerusalem. I'm sure you're going to be spending some time now trying to get some more information for us. And once you do have that, we'll be bringing you back, as well.
Just to update those viewers who may just be tuning in -- a shooting incident at Los Angeles International Airport earlier today. The shooter in this particular case, identity still unknown, killed by an Israeli El Al security guard who was at the ticket counter. Two others, two people, standing by, we assume passengers, although don't know for sure -- two individuals were killed, either by the shooter or the crossfire. Again, another question, we don't know.
Some six or seven people were injured in the course of this shooting that occurred at the Bradley terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. The El Al flight was El Al flight 106, a Boeing 747 that was scheduled to depart at 4:20 Los Angeles time for Toronto, with continuing service to Tel Aviv. Some 90 passengers were due to depart on that flight from Los Angeles International Airport.
We're continuing to monitor the situation. The FBI, local law enforcement in Los Angeles, the mayor, Mayor James Hahn, and others saying, at this point, it appears to be -- the emphasis on the word "appears" -- it appears to be an isolated incident. No indication terrorism, but they're not ruling that out. They're saying the investigation is underway right now, with the FBI being the lead agency in the investigation, the lead law enforcement agency.
Israeli officials, on the other hand, are working under the assumption that this is terrorism. They think it's more than just coincidental that there was shooting at the El Al ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport.
All this is taking place on this 4th of July -- all this is taking place on this 4th of July where there have been some heightened concerns on other aviation issues, as well. The "Detroit Free Press," for example, is reporting today that suspected terrorists have broken into hotel rooms of flight crews, stealing uniforms and credentials. Joining us now from Detroit is the reporter, Daniel Fricker. He broke this story earlier this morning. And from Montana, from Boseman, Montana, Steve Lucke (ph). He's a retired Northwest Airlines captain who chairs the Airline Pilots Association national security committee.
First to you, Daniel. Give our viewers who haven't read your story a brief synopsis what you reported.
DANIEL FRICKER, "DETROIT FREE PRESS": There were a couple elements this week, Wolf, regarding possible terrorist activity and pilots. First, the Northwest Airlines pilots' union warned the 6,500 pilots they could be surveilled in London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt by Middle-Eastern-looking males and females. That security alert came on Tuesday.
Then last night, Captain Lucke revealed to the "Free Press" that there had been a series of break-ins at hotels -- hotel rooms occupied by flight crews. These break-ins have happened since September 11, and dozens of flight crew uniforms, credentials and flight bags have been taken.
BLITZER: The suspicion is what, that some suspected terrorist might be able to get a whole crew together and pose as the real -- as the real thing? Is that the fear?
FRICKER: Yeah, captain Lucke said that the suspicion is that terrorists may be trying to assemble a flight crew to board a plane. He is advocating use of transportation workers, worker identity cards, which would use biometrics to positively identify flight crews before they board planes. He said these break-ins, unlike break-ins in the past, are of a professional nature. And instead of targeting jewelry and other valuables, they're just concentrating on identity theft, taking uniforms, flight bags, flight crew credentials and passports.
BLITZER: OK, I just want to leave it right there. Unfortunately, we're out of time. Daniel Fricker, thanks for your reporting. Thanks for joining us on this continuing story. We'll be monitoring it, as well.
Just to add one point -- a representative of the Airline Pilots Association here in Washington tells CNN the following. He says, "These are continuing alerts that crews must be vigilant. There is a reminder to everyone, particularly international flight crews, that vigilance needs to be maintained."
Our special coverage of this July 4th and the shooting at the Los Angeles international Airport will continue with Judy Woodruff right after this.
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