USA: SECURITY FORCES SEARCH FOR REPORTED SHIPLOAD OF ARMED AL QAEDA OPERATIVES HEADING FOR UNITED STATES

Record ID: 646607

  • Title: USA: SECURITY FORCES SEARCH FOR REPORTED SHIPLOAD OF ARMED AL QAEDA OPERATIVES HEADING FOR UNITED STATES
  • Date: 20th June 2002
  • Summary: (W1) LOS ANGELES HARBOUR, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 18, 2002) 1. SLV LARGE COAST GUARD VESSEL RETURNING TO PORT; SLV COAST GUARD VESSEL AND HARBOUR; SLV SMALL SHIPS PASSING A CONTAINER SHIP CALLED EVER REWARD (3 SHOTS) 0.28 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIEUTENANT STEPHEN LALONDE, U.S. COAST GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER REPORTER ASKING: "Can you comment at all about the specific threat that was made today about al Qaeda off the coast." ANSWER: "Yes, sir. It's not the policy of the Coast Guard to speak regarding individual intelligence reports or specific security measures, so I won't be able to discuss specifically those that have been reported by the Washington Times today." 0.52 3. SLV SMALL COAST GUARD VESSEL RETURNING TO PORT 1.01 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English ) LIEUTENANT STEPHEN LALONDE, U.S. COAST GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER SAYING "Since September 11th, the Coast Guard has conducted over thirty five thousand port security boardings. We've escorted over two thousand high-interest vessels, vessels that have been targeted through a decision-making process, a risk matrix, escorted into and out of U.S. ports. We've escorted passenger ships into and out of port as well. The Coast Guard has conducted over three thousand five hundred air patrols directly related to port security." 1.38 5. SLV SMALL COAST GUARD VESSEL TURNING 1.55 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIEUTENANT STEPHEN LALONDE, U.S. COAST GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER SAYING "Additionally, some new initiatives that are coming on line, there are four Marine safety and security teams that are being deployed, specialized forces. This will be our SWAT teams. One was just enacted, its home base is up in the Seattle area, another one will be home-ported right here." 2.16 7. SLV COAST GUARDSMEN ON DECK; SLV PORT OF LOS ANGELES SIGN; SLV TRAIN SWEEP TO BRIDGE; SLV BOAT PASSING CRANES (4 SHOTS) 2.53 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVADG3VM3I6HVJIG9P97TWW1BOTB
  • Story Text: U.S. security forces are searching off the coast of
    Southern California after intelligence sources have warned
    that a shipload of armed al Qaeda operatives is heading for
    the United States.

    The FBI and the Coast Guard are heading up the search
    for alleged al Qaeda operatives headed for the United States.

    Coast Guard officials say they have maintained heightened
    vigilance for terrorist activity since September 11. But an
    article in the Washington Times newspaper caused alarm that an
    attack on Los Angeles was forthcoming.

    According to the article, al Qaeda operatives are believed
    to be heading to an island near Los Angeles, where they will
    disembark with a load of weapons.

    As many as forty al Qaeda operatives are said to be aboard
    a freighter that left the Middle East in May.

    Coast Guard officials declined to comment on the report,
    citing security concerns.

    "It's not the policy of the Coast Guard to speak regarding
    individual intelligence reports or specific security measures,
    so I won't be able to discuss specifically those that have
    been reported by the Washington Times today," said Lt. Stephen
    LaLonde of the U.S. Coast Guard. Several suspects connected
    with the ship were apparently questioned in Los Angeles last
    week.

    The Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach is the third-largest
    container port in the world and the largest in the United
    States. It's believed some 12 percent of the U.S.'s GDP flows
    through the massive complex in the form of consumer goods,
    oil, chemical products, seafood, tourists and a host of other
    sources. Many of the products are brought to and taken away
    from the port on trucks. Enhanced security measures are now
    coming into effect that will screen more trucks more
    effectively.


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