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EDITOR'S NOTE:
The following is a transcript of the Prince Turki Al-Faisal interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer on December 6, 2004.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal's Views on Terrorist Attacks and Bin Laden
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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