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Breaking News
Cleveland Airport Evacuated After Possible Explosive Detected
Aired May 03, 2002 - 13:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to go back to Cleveland, Ohio quickly and let you know the latest that we are learning right now. Hopkins International Airport, quite a scene outside. A number of passengers and travelers that had anticipated -- anticipated to go throughout the day traveling in and out of Cleveland. Apparently those travel plans have been stopped right now. On the phone with us -- give me the name again, Eric (ph).
Yolanda Bevill from the city of Cleveland. Can you hear me OK?
YOLANDA BEVILL, CITY OF CLEVELAND SPOKESWOMAN: Yes, I can.
HEMMER: Yes, hi. You're on live with us here at CNN. Tell us the latest on what is happening at your airport.
BEVILL: Well, the information that I have is rather sketchy, but I can give you an overview. What has happened is there has been a breech of security in Concourse C at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Basically the machines that are in the airport that are being used to detect explosives, explosive materials, explosive devices, tested positive for an explosive substance.
HEMMER: And so that bag right now, I understand, has not been located. Is that right?
BEVILL: Right.
HEMMER: And do you know how or how you can explain something like this that could happen, where a baggage is screened, it turns a positive result, but then it gets lost within the airport system?
BEVILL: What happened was when the alarm first appeared -- basically, what happens when there is a positive testing for explosive materials, there is a blinking light. The federal screeners that are there did not notice it right away, and when they did notice, as is proper protocol, everyone was evacuated and all flights were delayed.
HEMMER: And I am not sure -- are you at the airport, Yolanda?
BEVILL: No, I am not. I'm with the City of Cleveland, but I am over airport communications.
HEMMER: OK. Can you offer a fair explanation then. This test doesn't take but a few seconds. How could they not see the indicator and then stop the bag immediately?
BEVILL: That is something that would have to be answered during the investigation that's currently being conducted. I do not know that.
HEMMER: I don't know if you can see the live picture from WOIO, the Cleveland affiliate helping us out with our coverage, we just saw a person on a gurney being put into the back of that ambulance. Do you know about any injuries at the airport at this point?
BEVILL: No, I do not. That has not been reported to me. I'm looking at just as you are. Nothing has been reported to me about any injuries, and especially not related to this.
HEMMER: Time of day, Miss Bevill, what time was this bag detected?
BEVILL: It was detected at approximately 11:00.
HEMMER: 11:00 AM?
BEVILL: That's the time that I have.
HEMMER: Eastern time, just about two hours ago, then.
BEVILL: Yes.
HEMMER: How has airport security been at Cleveland since September 11?
BEVILL: Airport security has been very good at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Again, the procedures were changed because federal -- federal authorities have taken over security, so our office is basically just trying to help the federal investigators determine what the nature of the explosive device, if there is an explosive device. Apparently, this is something that happens routinely. There are false positives all the time, and we just have to get to the bottom of it.
HEMMER: OK, Yolanda Bevill, thank you. And please come back when you get more information because a lot of folks in and out of your city right now want to get a little bit of travel relief, OK? Thank you.
11:00 AM, that bag detected, again at Hopkins International in Cleveland. Told that two concourses there at the airport are evacuated, and you can see the evidence out there, just outside the airport with a number of people there now stranded. Concourse C serves both Continental and Northwest Airlines, but as we mentioned a short time ago, Continental uses this airport quite extensively for moving passengers throughout that part of the country. Our coverage will continue from Cleveland as soon as we get more information from there.
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