Testimony of J. T. Caruso,
Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, FBI
Before the House
Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Defense
October 11, 2001
"Inaccurate Media Reports
of Potential Terrorist Attacks"
Good morning Mr. Chairman, Ms.
Harman, and Members of the Subcommittee. I appeared before
this Subcommittee last week to address inaccurate media reports
surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11th and their
aftermath. Unfortunately, the past week has brought additional
media reports of potential terrorist acts -- some of which
are inaccurate -- which I would like to briefly address.
On October 3rd, at approximately
4:00 a.m., a Greyhound Bus crashed near Manchester, Tennessee
after a passenger, Damir Igric, attempted to slash the throat
of the driver. Igric and six other passengers were killed.
Approximately 38 passengers were on board the bus at the time
of crash, most of whom were sleeping.
The driver of the bus was approached
by Igric two to three times and asked how much longer until
the next stop. The driver advised Igric that they would be
making a stop in Manchester, Tennessee and that he should
go back to his seat. When Igric approached the driver for
the last time, he did not say anything, but produced a sharp
object and attempted to slash the driver's throat. Igric then
grabbed the steering wheel causing the bus to crash.
Media attention to this event
was intense, with suggestions of terrorist activity. A temporary
nationwide shutdown of the Greyhound bus service was put into
effect. The FBI's investigation into this event is continuing
but there is nothing to suggest a connection between Igric
and any terrorist organization. This appears to be an isolated,
random act of violence, unrelated to the events of September
11th.
Days later, a passenger onboard
an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Chicago attempted
to force his way into the cockpit. The pilot sent a distress
call to the Federal Aviation Administration and two F-16 fighter
jets were dispatched to intercept the airliner and escort
it to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The passenger
did not possess any weapons and was subdued by the flight
crew and passengers. As with the Greyhound bus, this incident
appears to be an isolated act by a disturbed individual. The
FBI has not been able to confirm any connections between the
passenger who rushed the cockpit and any terrorist organization.
By far the most disturbing media
reports are reports of the potential use by terrorists of
the biological agent, Anthrax, in south Florida. At this time,
the presence of Anthrax appears to be limited to the American
Media building located in Boca Raton, Florida. The building,
which has been evacuated and sealed, consists of three floors
totaling 66,000 square feet. The building, inside and out
-- including air conditioning ducts and soil -- is being painstakingly
searched and swabbed for any microscopic presence of Anthrax
spores.
At this time, the presence of
Anthrax has been confirmed in a number of locations and testing
continues. The presence of Anthrax has been confirmed, first,
in the body of Robert Stevens, an employee of American Media
who died last week of inhaled Anthrax; second, on the computer
keyboard belonging to Mr. Stevens; in the building's mailroom;
and in two other American Media employees who have had contact
with the bacteria but have not developed the Anthrax disease.
These two individuals are being treated with antibiotics and
are expected to make a full recovery.
The FBI is working diligently
with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers
for Disease Control, and state and local authorities to determine
the source of the Anthrax in the American Media building.
Although we do not yet have the complete picture, we do know
several key elements. First, the Anthrax bacteria has not
been discovered in unlikely places or unnatural states anywhere
else in the country nor anywhere else within Palm Beach County.
Second, each of the five instances within the American Media
building appears to involve the same strain of Anthrax. It
is important to emphasize that, despite media suggestions
to the contrary, there is no evidence that the presence of
Anthrax in the American Media building is a terrorist act.
The FBI has found no connection between the Anthrax discovery
in Florida and the terrorist attacks of September 11th. As
with the crash of the Greyhound bus and the rush of the cockpit
door, the presence of Anthrax bacteria appears to be an isolated
incident.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to
thank you for the opportunity to once again address this Subcommittee
and dispel some of the misinformation currently being reported.
In short, there is no need for the American people to panic.
We are all on heightened alert and, understandably, react
to any unusual occurrence in a way we may not have reacted
prior to September 11th. All of our lives have changed in
that sense.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would
like to mention that yesterday, President Bush unveiled a
new program which will enable us to capitalize on this heightened
awareness. The newly designated "Most Wanted Terrorists"
list is shining the spotlight on the names and faces of terrorists
who may be living, working, or hiding in darkened corners
in remote locations overseas. By publicizing their names and
faces, we hinder their efforts to run and to hide.
As Director Mueller has noted,
a total of 467 dangerous criminals have been put under the
watchful eye of the public since the introduction of the FBI's
"Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program in 1950. Of
those 467 "most wanted fugitives," 438 have been
captured, a success rate of nearly 94 percent. Of that number,
nearly one in three have been apprehended through a tip from
a private citizen. With yesterday's announcement by President
Bush, we are once again combining the power and reach of the
media with the eyes and ears of millions of concerned citizens
around the world in the fight against terrorism.
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