Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/three-arrested-in-plot-to-bomb-new-york-city-tunnels Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly discusses the arrest of three al-Qaida followers suspected of plotting to set off explosives in the Holland Tunnel and PATH railway tunnels under the Hudson River this fall. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: The announcement today that federal authorities had foiled an explosives attack on the rail tunnels linking Manhattan and New Jersey followed a nearly year-long investigation.A central member of the team that uncovered the plot joins us now, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.Commissioner, can we start with the planned attack itself? What did these people plan to do, and how did they plan to do it? RAYMOND KELLY, New York City Police Commissioner: Well, I can't be too specific on the means and methods they were talking about.This investigation is still going on. This is classified information here. And if you get too specific, it may be giving up sources as far as this investigation is concerned.But I think, suffice to say that they looked to, in some, way, shape or form, open up the water — walls holding water back, that would then go into the PATH tunnels that go under the Hudson River, actually in two locations, both in Lower Manhattan and up on 34th Street. And this water would also, by penetrating those tunnels, go into the New York subway system as well. RAY SUAREZ: The man said to be the ringleader, Assem Hammoud, is in custody in Lebanon. Is he cooperating with the investigation? RAYMOND KELLY: Well, he is talking to the Lebanese authorities. They have been very cooperative with the FBI, and receiving information from him.Now, the Lebanese are putting out another statement, possibly tomorrow. And we will see more specific information as to what he's come forward with. But, in essence, information is being provided by this individual, yes. RAY SUAREZ: As far as you have been able to determine, how many people had he drawn into the plan? RAYMOND KELLY: Well, as was mentioned today, there are eight identified people in this plot. Three of them are in custody. There may be others. The investigation, as I say, is still going forward. Others who are in contact with these eight primary individuals — but, right now, eight clearly identified. RAY SUAREZ: Are the people who are in custody, the three you mentioned, are they in the United States? RAYMOND KELLY: They are not in the United States, no. RAY SUAREZ: And the others, to round out the eight, are they actively being tracked? Do you know where they are? RAYMOND KELLY: Well, the others are in countries overseas. And they are — their whereabouts are known. And they're being observed. RAY SUAREZ: As far as you're able to determine, did any of the eight, at any time, enter the United States? RAYMOND KELLY: No. At this time, it appears that none of them, to the best of our knowledge, have been in the United States.