ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES 10:00 PM
CNN
May 20, 2009
COOPER: More now on our breaking news, the arrest of four men after a long undercover investigation. They're accused of plotting to bomb a New York City synagogue and use Stinger missiles to shoot down Air National Guard aircraft in the area.
Joining us now on the phone, New York Congressman Peter King, who has got more information for us.
Congressman, what is the latest? What have you learned?
REP. PETER KING (R-NY), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER: The arrests were made tonight.
This was a one-year investigation, as you said. This would have been a tragic loss of life, if the FBI and the NYPD had not been monitoring it. The explosives were C-4. As you said, it was a Stinger missile. It was -- explosives were going to be in cars parked outside a temple in Riverdale and a community center.
And then they actually had, I believe, a Stinger missile in the -- another car. They were going to take down Air National Guard planes at the Stewart Air Force Base. There were four people were involved, all Muslims. One is of Afghan descent. The others converted in prison.
And my understanding is, originally, this emanated from some involved with a mosque in Newburgh, New York. But the FBI has been on this. And, as I'm sure you know, the C-4 and the Stinger were both inoperative, because the -- these were captured -- these were actually purchased from the FBI, because the FBI was monitoring it.
But they were actually in the act tonight when they were captured. This went far beyond the talking stage.
COOPER: So -- so, they actually tried to purchase this material; they just happening to be purchasing it from the FBI?
P. KING: And they -- they had purchased it. They had it tonight. And they had it in the automobiles outside the -- the temple. And they had the Stinger missile. But it was the FBI working, obviously, undercover, sold them the C-4, provided them with the Stinger missile, sold it to them.
But -- and the FBI actually had them begin to carry out the operation tonight. This was beyond the talking stage. They waited until they were there actually with the explosives at the temple with the Stinger missile, and to go on to Stewart Air Force Base. So, tonight was the night the attacks were being carried out.
COOPER: Do we know if they were American citizens?
P. KING: My understanding is, they were all born in the United States. One of them is of Afghan descent, but I believe he was born here as well. So, all four of them were born here in the United States. That's my understanding.
COOPER: And, in terms of -- of the scale of this, why Stewart Air Base? That was another part of this plan, correct?
P. KING: Yes, to attack, my understanding, is Air National Guard planes coming out of Stewart Air Force Base.
All I know is that this, originally, part of the investigation stemmed from a mosque in Newburgh. So, Stewart Air Force Base is near Newburgh. Riverdale is relatively close to Newburgh. So, it was apparently, you know, a -- a regionally planned plot. I don't know the reason why they picked this temple or why they picked Stewart Air Force Base.
COOPER: And do we know if someone came to that temple to -- to recruit, or is this just something that grew out of that -- that particular facility? P. KING: You know, the FBI would have to give you all the details. I just know there was a mosque in -- in Newburgh had some involvement with this -- or at least the investigation had an involvement with the mosque in Newburgh. And these four were all Muslims themselves.
COOPER: When you heard of this, what did you think?
P. KING: Thank God for the FBI. Thank God for the NYPD.
And it shows what a real threat we face from homegrown terrorists. And it shows especially those of us living in New York. We live with this every day. We can rest secure tonight because this plot was stopped. But we don't know how many others are -- are out there. And it's why we can never let our guard down, and we have to be extremely vigilant and realize the true diabolic nature of this enemy.
COOPER: Congressman Peter King, particular you joining us tonight with the information. Thank you.
P. KING: You're very welcome.
COOPER: All right.
