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CNN Live At Daybreak

Suicide Bombing in Israel Claims at Least Eight Lives

Aired April 10, 2002 - 06:01   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: That brings us back to today's apparent suicide bombing in Israel. For the latest there, we go live to CNN's Chris Burns, who is in Haifa -- good morning, Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We are about five or six miles south of Haifa. This is along this highway right here, where the bus exploded. It was packed with about 50 commuters going on their way to Jerusalem. The bomb went off shortly after 7:00 a.m.

According to local police, they believe a male suicide bomber packed with explosives got on about one stop before here. The bomb went off minutes later. The explosion was so violent that they believe that there could be more than eight people killed.

Now, in the last few hours, there have been bomb retrieval people, teams going around here, including out in the fields of this kibbutz nearby, trying to find body parts. So up until now, they have found eight people dead, but there is anyone's guess as to how many more could be found dead. Also, 14 people hospitalized, but at least three are in serious condition.

The security at the bus station here, the central bus station in Haifa has been increased. And also, of course, the Sharon government is blaming Yasser Arafat for this bombing. They also think that Arafat somehow had been commanding those who did this.

This is the first bombing since last Sunday, and the feeling among a lot of people in Israel had been that they believed that the Israeli government was having some kind of an effect in its offensive in the occupied territories with their offensive, trying to control these suicide bombings. However, this latest one might chip away at that public confidence that had been increasing in the Sharon government -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns reporting live in Haifa. We are going to leave you now.

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