5000 INTERVIEWS STATUS REPORT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On November 9, 2001, Attorney General John Ashcroft sent a memorandum to each of the 94 United States Attorneys Offices and all Anti-Terrorism Task Force Members asking for their assistance in interviewing an initial list of about 5,000 individuals who have entered the United States on non-immigrant visas who may be helpful in the Department's efforts to investigate the attacks of September 11th and to prevent future terrorism.

The Department has received progress reports from the Districts on the interviews which indicate the project is proceeding smoothly and appears to be on pace to be substantially completed by today. There are some Districts that will need several more days to complete the interviews, as a result of a large number of interviewees residing in their Districts.

Nearly all of the individuals located were extremely cooperative and forthcoming in answering questions. Most of the individuals expressed support for the country's fight against terrorism and a willingness to help. Some of the individuals have volunteered to assist as interpreters or in some other fashion. There were a very small group of individuals who declined to be interviewed and their wishes were respected.

Although, the Department has only partial results from the interviews because the completed interviews must be documented in reports that will be subject to further analysis, several leads were generated that appear related to the Penttbom investigation. Also, there was information gathered that will be helpful more generally in the country's anti-terrorism efforts.

"The success of this effort is attributable to the federal agents and state and local officers who conducted the interviews with unfailing professionalism," said Ashcroft. "In addition to yielding valuable information about terrorist activities, the interviews have been an excellent example of federal, state and local partnership.

"My sincerest thanks go out to all of the interviewees who cooperated voluntarily in this process. These individuals made a choice to be responsible for helping save lives instead of remaining silent against evil," said Ashcroft.Some of the individuals on the list could not be located, the majority of which had moved to another part of the country or left the United States entirely. If investigators were able to identify an address for these individuals in another part of the country, the interview assignment was referred to the United States Attorney's Office with responsibility for that area. Some of these referral interviews have not been completed, but will be in the very near future. Based on information on past al Qaeda operations and activities, this initial list comprised 5,146 males, ages 18-33, who have passports from countries which intelligence indicates al Qaeda terrorist presence or activity.

The interview list and a memorandum providing guidance about the objectives and procedures that guided the implementation of the project was distributed to the United States Attorneys who then coordinated the interviews with members of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force in each district. The U.S. Attorneys were responsible for assigning the interviews, collecting the reports of the interviews, coordinating the activities with the FBI Special Agent in Charge, and coordinating any follow-up investigation that resulted from the interviews. The Task Force members are responsible for conducting the interviews.

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