BBC Feds: Atlanta May Have Been Target

By John Solomon and Karen Gullo Associated Press Writers Friday, Sept. 14, 2001; 6:25 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON –– Federal investigators have developed information since Tuesday's devastating attacks indicating Atlanta may have been targeted by terrorists, law enforcement officials said Friday.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that information obtained during FBI interviews of people who knew the hijackers indicated Atlanta had been chosen for an attack.

Authorities said they were still developing leads, and declined to be more specific about whether the threat continued.

The disclosure about the Georgia capital came as the government identified the dead hijackers, and investigators said they are searching for 100 people they want to question in connection with this week's terrorist attacks.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, declined to discuss what he had learned from intelligence briefings but said Atlanta was a likely target and that other cities may remain in danger.

"Atlanta is a big transportation hub, the largest in the United States, the busiest airport in the United States. It would have to be a target for any terrorist effort," Shelby said.

"You've got to assume there was probably more planned, maybe for the aftershock," Shelby added.

He praised authorities for immediately closing airports Tuesday but added, "Even if they lie low for a few weeks, that doesn't mean they won't come back, because they will; they will until we destroy them."

Officials in Georgia met with FBI officials and were prepared to take any precautions necessary. A spokeswoman for Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes said the governor has been briefed regularly since Tuesday by all law enforcement and disaster agencies in charge of protecting the state.

"As those briefings show any need to take any kind of action, he will work ... to take the proper steps," said the governor's spokeswoman, Joselyn Butler.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Answers

Not good news. My boss' flight to Atlanta on Thursday will probably be rescheduled next week.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

The Hungarian is scheduled to fly home in about 10 days and is debating what to do. The airline says she can't get a refund but can postpone the flight until some time in November. She's afraid war will break out and she'll get stuck overseas. On the other hand, she needs to be there to settle her uncle's estate and she'll lose about 800 bucks.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2001