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ATF Agents on Way to Florida

Aired September 13, 2002 - 07:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Normally, we find you in Miami, and there's a story right near your bureau right now unfolding. I know you've been working the phones this morning. What are you finding out about these cars that were stopped about 1:00 a.m.?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Since the early-morning hours. Much of what you have heard, too, that it followed this very bizarre story that we've been hearing so much about.

Someone in a restaurant overhearing a conversation with an alleged threat being made in the Miami area. This, apparently, prompted this woman to contact authorities, the woman who overheard the conversation. She puts in a phone call to authorities. They put out a "be on the lookout" alert for the two vehicles that she described.

These two vehicles were found by a sheriff's deputy in Collier County, Florida. They are right there in Alligator Alley. And as you have heard now, they have stopped these two vehicles. Evidently, according to the authorities, those two people remain on site, as we heard.

And we also understand that the ATF, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, several agents are on their way there from the Tampa and Fort Myers area.

HEMMER: Based on the people you talk to, is this suspicious, or is this paranoia? Can you gauge that?

CANDIOTTI: My sense, from talking to the sources that I regularly speak with, is that they're being cautious. And you know, you just don't want to take any chances...

HEMMER: Yes.

CANDIOTTI: ... with these things. I'm not prepared to say for sure what it is or isn't. But this is one of these things that you want to check out, quite obviously, and that's what they're doing.

HEMMER: All right, thank you, Susan. Thanks for being so versatile, too. We got you on two topics today.

CANDIOTTI: My pleasure.

HEMMER: All right, good to see you.

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