Navy investigates carrier security breach
From Barbara Starr
CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. and British military and law enforcement officials are investigating how a man was able to sneak on board the USS Harry S. Truman last month while the aircraft carrier was making a port call in Portsmouth, England.
He apparently was able to breach British security at the dock and then board a small ferryboat that carried crew members to the Truman, which was anchored a short distance from the shore.
Navy officials believe the intruder was on board the ship for about half an hour before he was caught. The incident occurred April 9.
Security personnel searched the area where the intruder was caught and found that he had not planted any explosives or caused any damage. It was determined that he was not a terrorist.
British law enforcement officials identified the intruder as Abdoul Masmoud Yessoufou, and told CNN that he also had tried to breach security at British airports and other military facilities.
Navy officials said that the intruder was a 37-year-old man of West African descent.
U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service personnel and security officials from the Royal Navy will focus on how the intruder was able to breach the port's security and then get on the ship without showing identification papers, officials said.
The Navy tightened security around warships in port after the October 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. That attack in Yemen killed 17 crew members.
