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CNN Live At Daybreak

Overseas, Another Suicide Bombing in Israel

Aired May 23, 2002 - 06:33   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: Overseas, there has been another suicide bombing in Israel, this one in Rishon Letzion, a city not unfamiliar with suicide bombings. Our Martin Savidge is in the town, which is about 15 miles southeast of Tel Aviv -- hello again, Martin.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you again, Carol. And as you say, this town has now been struck in the past two weeks by two suicide bombing attacks.

We continue to watch the transformation that has taken place here in this park area where, as you look it now, you would find it very hard to believe that this was the site of the latest suicide bombing attack here in Israel. It was. They put down fresh paint. They put up a new fence. They have even put in new flowers. That's the Israeli way to carry on after such attacks.

We want to show you something else over here, and that is a makeshift, spontaneous memorial that has sprung up. There are flowers, and there are candles and it is the way by people -- four people to express with their actions perhaps something they cannot necessarily find the words.

Now, the crowd here has begun to get stirred up somewhat. It is mostly young people, and they have been shouting much like they shouted last night. The common phrase: "Death to the Arabs."

The transformation here is so remarkable. We want to show you again the scenes from last night shortly after we arrived here. It was about a little after 9:00, when the blast tore through this open park area. There were two people that were killed, dozens of others that were injured; among the dead, a 57-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy.

Witnesses say that the suicide bomber had blonde hair. Police say it is actually dyed hair, they believe an attempt on the part of the suicide bomber to try to fit in and not look so suspicious.

People gathered again in this park today. It's a popular spot. That's one of the reasons why it may have been targeted, but the conversation vastly different. It runs the whole gamut from people who are angry, frightened to soul-searching. Here is some of what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like they hurt us in the heart, not in the head, really in the heart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Gaza, and to let the people feel the same that we are feeling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The government reaction will be another military option (ph) and another military option (ph), and we will react and they will react. We will kill them and they will kill us, and maybe after 5,000 people will be dead on both sides, they will sit to the table.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: This is the fourth bombing attack in Israel in the month of May. There is hardly anyone here that you talk to that believes this is going to be the last suicide bombing attack -- Carol.

COSTELLO: This suicide bomber, Martin, he was disguised in a certain way to fit in with the crowd. Can you tell us about that?

SAVIDGE: Well, the disguise that was talked about last night most as striking is the blonde hair, and a forensic test by police did show that in fact he had lightened his hair, bleached his hair in some way trying to perhaps look more European, trying to blend in.

The thing that's notable about this is that disguises had been used recently in the past. In Netanya on Sunday, three people killed in a suicide bombing there. There, the suicide bomber was said to be dressed in an Israeli Defense Force uniform, again, trying to blend in.

And that is what is frightening so many people here, not only that the strikes are coming at the heart of the city, coming in this case in a very innocent area, but also that the bombers themselves are trying to blend in and apparently succeeding -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes. All right. Martin Savidge reporting live for us -- thank you very much.

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