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Breaking News

Blast is First Suicide Bombing Since June

Aired July 30, 2002 - 06:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are returning now to Israel, to central Jerusalem, where as we reported a few minutes ago, an explosion has occurred, believed to be a suicide bombing. There have been no reports of casualties yet, but we are getting the first pictures in. We are going to go now to some that -- we're going to be showing you those pictures.
Again, this is -- what we know is that a suicide bombing has occurred in central Jerusalem near one of the main thoroughfares. It occurred around lunchtime in central Jerusalem. Police said there were a number of people wounded and that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber. We do not have exact reports of how many people were wounded or the extent of those injuries.

As I said, the blast occurred in downtown Jerusalem on Hanevi'im Street apparently near or in a fast food stand. We are, we're just receiving some of the pictures. As I said, this is a breaking story, so we're getting the pictures and showing them to you as we are getting them.

This was, of course, the first suicide bombing in Jerusalem since a pair of back to back attacks killed 26 Israelis in June that prompted the army to occupy seven major Palestinian towns.

Mike Hanna reported earlier that -- a few moments ago that the Israelis are reporting that this occurred at a falafel stand. And, again, we really do not have much information at this point. These are, these pictures are very early on. Police have obviously moved into the area, are cordoning off the area. Emergency vehicles have been called in, have been on the scene.

It is, we hope to have a live report coming up either from Mike Hanna or someone else in Jerusalem who is actually on the scene. We will bring that to you as soon as we get it.

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