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CNN Live Today

19 Killed in Jerusalem Bus Bombing

Aired June 18, 2002 - 11:06   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In news from overseas, Jerusalem suffers its deadliest suicide attack in six years. A bomber set off a blast on a bus crowded with morning commuters and high school students. And at least 19 people were killed.

Our Jerrold Kessel has been following this story for us today. Let's check in with him now live from Jerusalem.

Hello, Jerrold.

JERROLD KESSEL, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Leon, a good deal of commotion here on the spot behind me. That bus stop from where the bus had just pulled out when the explosion took place and the suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 19 people onboard that bus, wounding more than 50.

If we can just pan across there, you can see a little bit of commotion going on. The European Union envoy, the gentleman with the slightly balding palate there, you can see probably in the middle in front of the bus stop, Miguel Martinez (ph), came here to show his solidarity with the people who were killed. To lay a wreath, we were told.

There is a small crowd, perhaps about 70 to 80 people, who have been shouting and chanting and saying, "Death to Arabs," "Arabs out." It's not a big crowd, as you can see. It's just about 70 or 80 people. But there is a good deal of commotion and anguish, which is, of course, something of the emotion in the country as a whole after this morning's devastating attack.

The attack took place just before 8:00 this morning, as you say, on a commuter bus from one of the outlying neighborhoods of Gilo, outlying neighborhoods of Jerusalem. That's one of the areas Israel annexed after 1967.

And the bus was headed into the center of the city, many high school students aboard it. Nineteen people were killed, 50 were wounded. The bomber apparently -- the bus had just stopped at this stop behind me here -- pulled out into the traffic, and then the explosion took place.

The bomber, the police believe, however, they had been looking for someone very energetically for the previous 24 hours. And it seems as if he eluded their grasp, coming in possibly from Bethlehem, which lies just about four or five miles to the south of here across in the West Bank. This is on the very edge of Jerusalem.

And coming and boarding that bus, probably either on one of the earlier stops or at this very stop here behind us here. Ariel Sharon, Israel's Prime Minister, was quickly on the scene himself. Now that's something of a rare occurrence. Mr. Sharon does not usually go to sites where the suicide bombers or other Palestinian attackers wreak their actions.

But he was here this morning and he had some very strong words to say. Visibly moved and visibly angry. Here was Mr. Sharon, Israel's Prime Minister, on the site this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIEL SHARON, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): These terrible images of this murderous act, these terrible images that we are seeing now are stronger than any words can say. What Palestinian state are they intending? What Palestinian state are they talking about? This terrible act, the continuation of the Palestinian terrorism, it is this terrorism that we have to fight and that is what we shall do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KESSEL: Mr. Sharon has since convened his security chiefs. They've recommended various forms of action. We don't know exactly what the prime minister will decide on. He's convening various political figures this evening to brief them on Israel's position. Also on Israel's political position in advance of that anticipated speech by President Bush on the Middle East situation -- Leon.

HARRIS: Jerrold Kessel, reporting live for us from Jerusalem, thank you very much, Jerrold.

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