French seek man from canceled flight
PARIS, France (CNN) -- French authorities said Wednesday they are looking for a man, believed to be an Afghan, who failed to show for an Air France flight to the United States that was canceled over security concerns.
The French Interior Ministry National Police said the man was booked on Air France Flight 68 from Paris to Los Angeles, California, on December 24, one of six Air France flights between the two cities canceled on December 24 and 25.
Three days before the man's flight was canceled, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced he was raising the nation's terror alert level to "high" -- or Code Orange. He warned of increased threat-related intelligence -- some of it indicating near-term strikes that might rival or exceed the attacks of September 11, 2001. "Al Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon," Ridge said.
The man authorities are seeking, Abdul Hay, has the same name as an Afghan who escaped U.S. custody in Khandahar, Afghanistan, the French intelligence sources said. Abdul Hay was known to be close to former Taliban chief of intelligence Mullah Mohammed Abdul Haq, the sources said.
French intelligence sources also said U.S. officials told them Abdul Hay may have access to a concealed explosive device. There was no confirmation of this from U.S. officials.
French and U.S. authorities do not know whether the Abdul Hay who booked a seat on the Air France flight is the same man.
French Justice Minister Dominique Perben, in a radio interview Wednesday with Paris-based Radio Monte Carlo, said, "I confirm that we are looking for someone, but I can't say more. What's important when someone doesn't take a plane is to know why he didn't take it."
French intelligence sources told CNN that French intelligence officials flew to Washington for a meeting with CIA and FBI officials on January 3. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice took part in the meeting as well, the French intelligence sources said.
French and U.S. officials looked at the passenger lists from all six canceled Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles and determined that there were between two and four names that they were concerned about. All have been eliminated as concerns except for Abdul Hay, according to French intelligence sources.
French officials said a second man, a pilot from Tunisia who was listed as a passenger, also did not show up for Air France Flight 68. But French intelligence officials said he is no longer a concern.
Flight 68 was canceled after the United States received intelligence saying it was a possible terrorist target.
On Tuesday, Delta Airlines Flight 43, from Paris to the airport that serves Cincinnati, Ohio, landed without incident after a suspicious passenger wasn't allowed to board the aircraft in France.
The passenger was a woman wearing a heated jacket containing wiring that triggered security concerns, U.S. government sources said.
Sources said the woman was a 22-year-old Saudi electrical engineer carrying a Jordanian passport. Her nationality, passport and occupation, along with the wires in her jacket, all were factors that raised concerns.
"Nothing suspicious was found," the spokesman said. "She took the next flight to Cincinnati." (Full story)
Meanwhile, the level of threat information and intelligence from so-called "chatter" has fallen off a bit, but remains at high levels, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The officials said the difference in the information is that it is less specific. For example, there was specific intelligence regarding certain flight numbers and intelligence regarding a possible attack on New Years Eve. Now, the intelligence is more general in nature, according to officials.
Officials also said that the Code Orange threat level could be lowered to Code Yellow, or elevated, soon, although no decision has been made. Certain sectors, such as aviation, could be kept on a higher alert while the national threat level is lowered, the officials said.
[/quote]
...glad they aren't asleep behind the proverbial wheel on this one. I am quite impressed that they are working with us and not against us.
PARIS, France (CNN) -- French authorities said Wednesday they are looking for a man, believed to be an Afghan, who failed to show for an Air France flight to the United States that was canceled over security concerns.
The French Interior Ministry National Police said the man was booked on Air France Flight 68 from Paris to Los Angeles, California, on December 24, one of six Air France flights between the two cities canceled on December 24 and 25.
Three days before the man's flight was canceled, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced he was raising the nation's terror alert level to "high" -- or Code Orange. He warned of increased threat-related intelligence -- some of it indicating near-term strikes that might rival or exceed the attacks of September 11, 2001. "Al Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon," Ridge said.
The man authorities are seeking, Abdul Hay, has the same name as an Afghan who escaped U.S. custody in Khandahar, Afghanistan, the French intelligence sources said. Abdul Hay was known to be close to former Taliban chief of intelligence Mullah Mohammed Abdul Haq, the sources said.
French intelligence sources also said U.S. officials told them Abdul Hay may have access to a concealed explosive device. There was no confirmation of this from U.S. officials.
French and U.S. authorities do not know whether the Abdul Hay who booked a seat on the Air France flight is the same man.
French Justice Minister Dominique Perben, in a radio interview Wednesday with Paris-based Radio Monte Carlo, said, "I confirm that we are looking for someone, but I can't say more. What's important when someone doesn't take a plane is to know why he didn't take it."
French intelligence sources told CNN that French intelligence officials flew to Washington for a meeting with CIA and FBI officials on January 3. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice took part in the meeting as well, the French intelligence sources said.
French and U.S. officials looked at the passenger lists from all six canceled Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles and determined that there were between two and four names that they were concerned about. All have been eliminated as concerns except for Abdul Hay, according to French intelligence sources.
French officials said a second man, a pilot from Tunisia who was listed as a passenger, also did not show up for Air France Flight 68. But French intelligence officials said he is no longer a concern.
Flight 68 was canceled after the United States received intelligence saying it was a possible terrorist target.
On Tuesday, Delta Airlines Flight 43, from Paris to the airport that serves Cincinnati, Ohio, landed without incident after a suspicious passenger wasn't allowed to board the aircraft in France.
The passenger was a woman wearing a heated jacket containing wiring that triggered security concerns, U.S. government sources said.
Sources said the woman was a 22-year-old Saudi electrical engineer carrying a Jordanian passport. Her nationality, passport and occupation, along with the wires in her jacket, all were factors that raised concerns.
"Nothing suspicious was found," the spokesman said. "She took the next flight to Cincinnati." (Full story)
Meanwhile, the level of threat information and intelligence from so-called "chatter" has fallen off a bit, but remains at high levels, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The officials said the difference in the information is that it is less specific. For example, there was specific intelligence regarding certain flight numbers and intelligence regarding a possible attack on New Years Eve. Now, the intelligence is more general in nature, according to officials.
Officials also said that the Code Orange threat level could be lowered to Code Yellow, or elevated, soon, although no decision has been made. Certain sectors, such as aviation, could be kept on a higher alert while the national threat level is lowered, the officials said.
[/quote]
...glad they aren't asleep behind the proverbial wheel on this one. I am quite impressed that they are working with us and not against us.
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