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CNN Live Today
Hostages at School in Southwestern Germany
Aired October 18, 2002 - 11:30 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: Back to the breaking story we talked about moments ago. This one coming from Germany. Word they were getting about a hostage situation in a town called Weibliken (ph). We understand that some children and teachers are being held by gunmen at a school there, and our bureau chief, Stephanie Halasz is on her way there, and I believe she's on the phone right now.
Stephanie, are you there?
STEPHANIE HALASZ, CNN CORRESPNDENT: I'm here, Leon.
HARRIS: What have you been able to learn so far?
HALASZ: Well, the police are saying that a hostage taker has gone into a school in Weibliken. This is 15 miles norht of Stuttgart, in the southwestern state of Guttenbag (ph). He has taken four students hostage. This is a secondary school that has pupils aged 10 to 16. Now, he has taken four pupils hostage.
He seems to have weapons, the police are saying, but they cannot confirm that. The police are in communication with him. There are about 50 policemen at the scene. The police is also saying that he is calm. The way they found out about this is that they got a call from a student from within, from his mobile. The student was then able to leave, and then the police moved in to the area. The school has been evacuated, and police also say that the hostage taker seems to be younger rather than older, from what they can tell from his voice -- Leon.
HARRIS: Have they said anything at all about a motive here? Stephanie, as I recall, the last time you and I spoke on the air was because of a situation similar to this, at the Iraqi embassy. And we know there was a lot of political activity kicking up at the time. Was that in any way related to this?
HALASZ: Well, the police are trying to find out about a possible motive. They say they are in contact with him, or initial contact, as they call it. And they have not been able to get anything from him in terms of demands. They're not quite sure what he wants so far -- Leon.
HARRIS: Do you know how long they've been in there?
HALASZ: Yes, they've been in there for about three hours, since 2:30 p.m. local time, about 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
HARRIS: Stephanie, thank you very much. Appreciate that report. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 18, 2002 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the breaking story we talked about moments ago. This one coming from Germany. Word they were getting about a hostage situation in a town called Weibliken (ph). We understand that some children and teachers are being held by gunmen at a school there, and our bureau chief, Stephanie Halasz is on her way there, and I believe she's on the phone right now.
Stephanie, are you there?
STEPHANIE HALASZ, CNN CORRESPNDENT: I'm here, Leon.
HARRIS: What have you been able to learn so far?
HALASZ: Well, the police are saying that a hostage taker has gone into a school in Weibliken. This is 15 miles norht of Stuttgart, in the southwestern state of Guttenbag (ph). He has taken four students hostage. This is a secondary school that has pupils aged 10 to 16. Now, he has taken four pupils hostage.
He seems to have weapons, the police are saying, but they cannot confirm that. The police are in communication with him. There are about 50 policemen at the scene. The police is also saying that he is calm. The way they found out about this is that they got a call from a student from within, from his mobile. The student was then able to leave, and then the police moved in to the area. The school has been evacuated, and police also say that the hostage taker seems to be younger rather than older, from what they can tell from his voice -- Leon.
HARRIS: Have they said anything at all about a motive here? Stephanie, as I recall, the last time you and I spoke on the air was because of a situation similar to this, at the Iraqi embassy. And we know there was a lot of political activity kicking up at the time. Was that in any way related to this?
HALASZ: Well, the police are trying to find out about a possible motive. They say they are in contact with him, or initial contact, as they call it. And they have not been able to get anything from him in terms of demands. They're not quite sure what he wants so far -- Leon.
HARRIS: Do you know how long they've been in there?
HALASZ: Yes, they've been in there for about three hours, since 2:30 p.m. local time, about 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
HARRIS: Stephanie, thank you very much. Appreciate that report. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
