U.S. Seeks Paris-L.A. Plane Passengers

Associated Press ^ | 12/26/03 | LARRY MARGASAK

[TexKat]

WASHINGTON - U.S. investigators are searching for a small number of people who failed to show up at the Paris airport to board flights to Los Angeles that fell under close scrutiny in a possible terrorist plot, a U.S. official said Friday.

One of those people was receiving pilot training, but was not yet certified, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Investigators remain interested in talking with those people to ease concerns some passengers aboard those flights might have intended to use them to launch terror attacks against the United States, the official said.

Discussions between U.S. and French officials led to the cancellation of six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday. U.S. officials also were talking to officials in other countries.

After the Air France cancellations, French investigators questioned seven men pointed out by U.S. intelligence but found no evidence they planned to use a Los Angeles-bound jet to launch terror attacks against the United States, French authorities said.

Meanwhile, U.S. counterterrorism officials were turning to possible threats next week that might target large, public gatherings, such as New Year's Eve celebrations. One U.S. official said there was no specific information such an attack was likely, but said such gatherings would obviously be an attractive target for terrorists hoping to inflict large-scale casualties.

Already, Homeland Security officials have enhanced their ability to monitor the air for biological warfare agents in 30 cities, one of several ways the government is preparing for possible terrorist strikes during a high, Code Orange alert.

The alert also has activated special disaster response teams, while federal officials have been conferring with foreign governments to prevent terrorists from boarding international flights bound for the United States.

"People have their antennas up," said Brian Roehrkasse, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department.

President Bush kept abreast of terrorism threats from the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland as he celebrated Christmas Day with his family.

The department previously modified air pollution monitoring equipment in the 30 cities to pick up any harmful biological agents and provide test results in 12 to 24 hours.

After the national threat alert was raised to orange on Sunday, officials took several dozen additional monitors and installed them in the same cities. The locations were not identified for security reasons.

The emergency response units that have been activated are divided up by areas of expertise.

Separate teams would:

_Provide expert advice and support to the on-scene commander if there was a threat or an incident involving weapons of mass destruction.

_Respond to any release of radiation with advice and air monitoring equipment.

_Provide medical personnel to assist state and local medical authorities.

___

On the Net:

Homeland Security Department: http://www.dhs.gov

[diamondjoe]

As with so many things, we may never know whether or not DHS actually foiled a plot, or if they simply over-reacted. The true story won't be known for 50 years or so, when we'll start hearing about all the scary plots that were thwarted back in the early part of this century.

[Dog]

They are really worried...

[Wright is right!]

Missing in this and all other stories about the flight cancellations is information about WHEN the flights were cancelled vis a vis their scheduled departure times. Also missing from these stories is any mention of when the cancellation info was broadcast by the media. It would be helpful to know, for instance, if the media was informed of the cancellations and the information broadcast sufficiently in advance of the flights' departures for people to know not to go to the airport. We haven't been told of that.

Michael

[rageaholic]

French investigators questioned seven men pointed out by U.S. intelligence but found no evidence they planned to use a Los Angeles-bound jet to launch terror attacks against the United States, French authorities said.

French authorities questioned and released Richard Ried too.

[FairOpinion]

Instead of having a sting operation, the French tipped off some of the terrorists, and allowed the rest of them to go free.

Remember Richard Reid. The French detained him, then released him, so he can board and try to blow up the next flight.

Same with these terrorists.

I think the US government is also seriously concerned with WMD.

On CNN they mentioned yesterday, that they have the NEST (Nuclear Emergency Survey Team) at LAX -- but couldn't see it anywhere in any article on the web.

But there are articles about monitoring the air for biological agents, in major cities.

And I just read a somewhat discouraging news, that it takes 12-24 hrs to find out the result, if they actually find something.

You don't think they would be doing this, unless they did have credible information regarding chem, bio and nuclear threat.


From the article:

"The department previously modified air pollution monitoring equipment in the 30 cities to pick up any harmful biological agents and provide test results in 12 to 24 hours.

After the national threat alert was raised to orange on Sunday, officials took several dozen additional monitors and installed them in the same cities. The locations were not identified for security reasons.

The emergency response units that have been activated are divided up by areas of expertise."

[carlo3b]

I have an entirely different take on this situation. I am glad the FROGS released these suspicious people. This way we can do our own research and grab them if necessary (you know we have them under surveillance) and whisk them off to a safe harbor to question them.

If the French actually caught a terrorist that threaten to do harm to the US, they would have awarded them the Legion of Merit Medal, and tried them for "Bad Thoughts" and found not guilty, apologized and placed them on a fully paid leave.. with a ticket anywhere they wished. We would have been prevented from re trying them by the World Court because of some double Jeopardy provision in the Belgium laws..until the year 2304.. :)

[Diogenesis]

========= IRAQI WEAPONS from France USED Against US and Coalition Heroes ========

French missiles were found by the Poles, and to protect France, blown up.

The pompous froggies said they did not say "2003". Decide for yourself.

[MediaMole]

But there are articles about monitoring the air for biological agents, in major cities.

I would check the health of the people who failed to show up. Long aircraft trips are great for spreading disease.

[Teri0811]

"You don't think they would be doing this, unless they did have credible information regarding chem, bio and nuclear threat."

Supposedly, there is credible information regarding an attack of this type. According to the Northeast Intelligence Network page of the NHS website:

"Specific intelligence obtained by this network determined the following:

1. There are four or five "teams" of terrorists, consisting of four or five members per group who already have, or about to acquire the same number of air cargo planes for use as missiles against US targets as they did with passenger aircraft on 9/11. Although it was reported by DHS that the aircraft are believed to be originating outside of the US, our information suggests that some or perhaps all are already within the continental United States, although their locations have not been confirmed.

2. Some or all of the terrorist groups are believed to possess some form of weapons of mass destruction, exacerbating the impact (or perhaps releasing the cargo in flight and prior to impact, depending on the nature of the WMD).

3. The targets include government facilities in Washington, possible strategic military sites in the US, nuclear power plants, and other sites that would create the greatest devastation and loss of life.

4. In conjunction or in addition to the above, evidence indicates the possession of a nuclear device, devices, material or materials already inside the continental US."

With regard to this information, I had also read that concerns included: (1) For NYC: weapons grade anthrax being distributed via remote control planes and from buildings; (2) For Washington D.C.: the possession of a nuclear device in the form of a suitcase nuke; and (3) that a major cable network would be tipped off of any event planned to occur in Las Vegas.

Unfornately, I don't remember where I had read this information. Therefore, the information I read could be quite wrong. However, the only 2 websites I had been reviewing were the Northeast Intelligence Network page of the NHS website and the website of Steven Quale, which can be linked via the NHS website, possibly the Northeast Intelligence Network page.

[Dog]

On CNN they mentioned yesterday, that they have the NEST (Nuclear Emergency Survey Team) at LAX -- but couldn't see it anywhere in any article on the web.

I heard that also...

[mrs tiggywinkle]

bookmarking...

[Publius6961]

French investigators questioned seven men pointed out by U.S. intelligence but found no evidence they planned to use a Los Angeles-bound jet to ...

One can't help wondering what the French would consider "evidence". What possible evidence can there be if the aircraft itself is meant to be the instrument of destruction?

[Azzurri]

Missing in this and all other stories about the flight cancellations is information about WHEN the flights were cancelled vis a vis their scheduled departure times. Also missing from these stories is any mention of when the cancellation info was broadcast by the media. It would be helpful to know, for instance, if the media was informed of the cancellations and the information broadcast sufficiently in advance of the flights' departures for people to know not to go to the airport. We haven't been told of that.

I agree with you, the reporting on this story has been woefully inadequate. I don't know if it's due to the holidays and perhaps a skeleton staff of competent editors or what, but there is just so much information missing that could've easily been discovered had these reporters had any ability.

[Smogger]

There was something going on in downtown last night prior to the Lakers Houston game. Police had everyting north of 12th street blocked off and there were ambulances and firetrucks, a circling police helicopter and lots of smoke. The parking lot attendant reported seeing an flash of light that looked like an explosion coming from downtown. There was a news chopper (KCAL Channel 9), but when I called my brother he told me there was nothing on the news. Lo and behold today there was no coverage of what was obviously a major event in the local news today.

[Teri0811]

"I have an entirely different take on this situation. I am glad the FROGS released these suspicious people. This way we can do our own research and grab them if necessary (you know we have them under surveillance) and whisk them off to a safe harbor to question them."

That'd be nice; however, Fox News reported at sometime between 10AM-11:30AM that at least 3 of the individuals scheduled to be on AF060 (I think I mistakenly stated that it was flight 068 in another post)are now missing and cannot be located. This either includes or is in addition to a pilot that was said to have been on the flight but was not scheduled to be flying nor scheduled to be a passenger. This story, however, has NOT been repeated, which leads me to wonder if it hasn't been killed for some reason or another.

[Yaelle]

(3) that a major cable network would be tipped off of any event planned to occur in Las Vegas.

This is important for all those who say that a Terrorist Would Never Give Heads Up, because 9/11 was a surprise. As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand bloviating words. It was the shocking images of the towers that will remain with those who were alive on 9/11 for the rest of our lives. The terrorists now WILL BE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE their attacks in time to get the news crews there for the photos.

[Yaelle]

This either includes or is in addition to a pilot that was said to have been on the flight but was not scheduled to be flying nor scheduled to be a passenger.

I heard this on Fox too. Does it make sense? Why would we pester the French about a supposed Tunisian pilot when he was not even listed as being on the flight? Or was he, under an assumed name? Perhaps he was tipped off and thus they never got a look at the phony passport he may have been using.

[Peach]

FNC just had a French reporter on who said the French goverment is alluding to the fact that President Bush made this up in an election year to garner international support for the war on terrorism!

[carlo3b]

I trust that we are watching these perps 24/7, all of them, and may be putting out a cover story to set them up again.. I TRUST BUSH AND ASHCROFT are on top of this baby. I am not going to believe nothing, or no one else, including FOX in this case.