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Prince Turki Al-Faisal's
Views on Terrorist Attacks and Bin Laden |
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Wolf
Blitzer: More now on that bloody attack on the
U.S. Consulate earlier today in the Saudi port city
of Jeddah. Earlier, I spoke with the former Saudi
intelligence chief, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who is
now that nation's ambassador to Britain. He joined
me from London.
Prince
Turki, once again thanks very much for joining us.
What's the latest information you're getting from
your government now on this attack at the U.S.
Consulate in Jeddah?
 Prince
Turki Al-Faisal: The latest information I have
is that eight people were killed, five of them
employees of the consulate and three of them were
the terrorists. My information is that there were
two wounded officers, one slightly more
seriously wounded than the other. This is as far as casualties
are concerned. I know there is a lot of confusion
now as to whether there was penetration of the
consulate or not. You have to remember, Wolf, that
the consulate in Jeddah is a compound with not only
a wall around the compound but another security
barrier outside the wall surrounding the compound. What
these people did is that they blew themselves into
the first barrier wall outside the compound. As they
tried to enter the compound itself, that's where
they were engaged by Saudi security forces, and
three of them were killed. Unfortunately, five of
the employees of the consulate were killed as well.
Wolf
Blitzer: Prince Turki, who are these people who
did this?
Prince
Turki Al-Faisal: I cannot give you a definitive
answer. I have not received anything from my
government yet, but it has all the hallmarks of
people we've been tracking and dealing with over the
last year and a half in the Kingdom -- people with
Al Qaeda or connected to it in one way or another.
Wolf
Blitzer: We heard that videotape from Ayman Al-Zawahiri,
the number two Al Qaeda leader, in which he seemed
to make a suggestion that they were going to attack
in the coming weeks, maybe around Christmas, which
is celebrated by Christians of course all over the
world. What's your reading of the level of anxiety
that should be placed right now, given this threat?
Prince
Turki Al-Faisal: I believe the threat is
present. These people have managed to inflict
destruction and devastation in many countries of the
world -- in Spain, in Saudi Arabia, in Morroco, in
Indonesia, in Turkey, let alone the September 11th
attack on the United States. So, one should be on
guard about the capabilities of these people and
never underestimate them because they have managed
to score some fantastic and very devilish and bloody
attacks worldwide.
Wolf
Blitzer: What's your latest information on Osama
bin Laden? Where do you believe he is hiding out?
Prince
Turki Al-Faisal: I believe he is still hiding on
the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Wolf
Blitzer: Do you believe the U.S. and its allies,
the Pakistani allies and the Afghan allies, are any
closer to finding him today than they were a year to
three years ago?
 Prince
Turki Al-Faisal: I don't have to speculate on
that. I've been reading statements by President
Perez Musharraf of Pakistan in which he says that
unfortunately, bin Laden's trail has been lost, but
that in his belief, bin Laden is still on the border
between Afghanistan and Pakistan. So, from a year
and a half ago or a year ago, unfortunately,
according to President Musharraf, his trail has been
lost.
Wolf
Blitzer: Prince Turki, it's always good to speak
with you. Thanks very much for joining us.
Prince
Turki Al-Faisal: Thank you.
[Interviewed
by Wolf Blitzer (CNN) on December 6, 2004.
Aired at 5pm (ET).]
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