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CNN Live Today

Pakistani Church Bombers Sought

Aired March 18, 2002 - 10:14   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Momentum and a manhunt in Pakistan. Both police and military are on high alert after two men lobbed hand grenades into a church service, killing five people, including two Americans. Another ten Americans are among the wounded. Both President Bush and President Musharraf quickly condemned the attack and vow they will not derail the War on Terrorism.

CNN's Islamabad bureau chief, Ash Har Quraishi, joins us more on the manhunt.

Ash Har, do they have any clue as to who these men are?

ASH HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF: Well, the investigation is continuing right now, Carol. As we understand, authorities are telling us that they have no suspects at this that point. They also have nobody that's claimed responsibility for the attack. But the investigation is continuing.

Today, we had a chance to speak to some of the people that were inside the church at the time of that attack and got a sense of what they saw and what they felt, and what they see as the future of what is going to happen here in Pakistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QURAISHI (voice-over): Six-month-old Johann (ph) is lucky to be alive. He was in his mother's lap at the front of the church when the attackers entered.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard what sounded like a firecracker. It was like who would throw a firecracker? Then I turned a little bit my head, and I just saw how people were kind of ducking down, and like, you know, there was, like, shock in the voices of the people -- not loud screams; I didn't hear that, but I realized, man, there is something serious going on.

QURAISHI: Moments later, the first explosion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right after I heard the first one, I put them on the floor. I laid out on top of them. And then there was another explosion.

QURAISHI: The bones in Gabriella's arm exploded when a grenade exploded near here. She believes her arm is the reason Johann (ph) escaped with only minor scratches. John, who is originally from California, says despite what happened, his feelings about living in Pakistan haven't changed.

J. BARSTAU: That was quite a lot of anti-American or anti- foreign -- what should I say -- responses, but that's not by the majority; that is only the minority here. We have so many neighbors and friends that are out to protect us.

QURAISHI: While most of the children were in other rooms, some, like 3-year-old Ian, saw the attacks as they took place. His mother was injured just before his eyes. His father, now tries to comfort him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On our way to the hospital, he was saying, They did it on purpose, Daddy, they did it on purpose. He had some awareness of what had happened and couldn't believe anyone would do that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QURAISHI: The fact that this attack occurred in what is considered to be one of the safest areas here in Islamabad, the diplomatic enclave, has many people worried here. President Musharraf has ordered tightened security at all diplomatic missions and churches around the country. But still, a lot of healing that we are looking to see in the future here as people are starting to put together back what they have seen, the horrors that they have seen, the gruesome attack on their church here in Islamabad.

LIN: Ash Har, continue on that point. Help us appreciate the area in which this attack took place and the kind of message that, clearly, the attackers wanted to send to the international community.

QURAISHI: This church was located very close to the U.S. Embassy. Security is expected to be very, very tight here. There are road checks. However, there is a strip of land in front of the church from which a single person, or maybe two people, can sneak by and get into the church.

What we understand was that there were three entrances to this church at the time of the attack. Only one of those was guarded.

So it is something people are going to have to look into right now, what security precautions they are actually taking and how careful they actually need to be at this point -- Carol.

LIN: Thank you very much, Ash Har Quraishi, our bureau chief in Islamabad. Just 400 yards from way from the U.S. Embassy is where this attack took place.

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