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CNN Live At Daybreak
Israeli, Kenyan Investigators Attempt to Balance Control of Bombing Investigation
Aired December 02, 2002 - 05:04 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: Turning now to the latest on the attack in Kenya, investigators are arguing over who controls the evidence in the case.
CNN's Ben Wedeman is live in Mombasa with the latest -- Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, I don't know if we can say they're arguing, but they certainly are discussing, and the people who are discussing are Kenyan and Israeli investigators. Kenya is considering a request put forth by Israel to take back some critical bits of evidence to Israel for forensic examination. And at this point, as I said, that request is being considered. There was some talk that maybe the Kenyans wouldn't allow it, but at this point I think it may go ahead.
Now, the pieces they're talking about are basically three. They're parts of some gas welding cylinders that may have been packed with as much as 200 kilograms of high explosives, which were driven on Thursday morning inside the lobby of the Paradise Hotel, which caused this massive explosion resulting in the death of 10 Kenyans and three Israelis. And we're also told that some of these cylinders may have numbers on them which could help the investigators trace where those gas cylinders came from.
Also in the possession of Kenyan authorities and something the Israelis would like to get a look at are the two launchers used to fire the missiles at the Israeli passenger jet, a 757, at almost the same time as the blast went off here at the Paradise Hotel. Now, a third bit of evidence is the charred remains of an AK-47 assault rifle, which was also found on the grounds of the hotel.
Now, one further bit of information, my colleague, Catherine Bond, spoke to a farmer earlier this morning who's just down the road from here who apparently may have been the last person to speak with the people, the two bombers who drove into the Paradise Hotel. He described them as people who looked like they were of Arab origin. Apparently they spoke Swahili with an Arabic accent. He also noted that there were a variety of cell phones on the dashboard of the car, which raised his suspicions, and, in fact, he wrote down the number, the license plate of that car. And his testimony, of course, may be of great assistance to the investigators -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's some good thinking.
Ben Wedeman, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
of Bombing Investigation>
Aired December 2, 2002 - 05:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the latest on the attack in Kenya, investigators are arguing over who controls the evidence in the case.
CNN's Ben Wedeman is live in Mombasa with the latest -- Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, I don't know if we can say they're arguing, but they certainly are discussing, and the people who are discussing are Kenyan and Israeli investigators. Kenya is considering a request put forth by Israel to take back some critical bits of evidence to Israel for forensic examination. And at this point, as I said, that request is being considered. There was some talk that maybe the Kenyans wouldn't allow it, but at this point I think it may go ahead.
Now, the pieces they're talking about are basically three. They're parts of some gas welding cylinders that may have been packed with as much as 200 kilograms of high explosives, which were driven on Thursday morning inside the lobby of the Paradise Hotel, which caused this massive explosion resulting in the death of 10 Kenyans and three Israelis. And we're also told that some of these cylinders may have numbers on them which could help the investigators trace where those gas cylinders came from.
Also in the possession of Kenyan authorities and something the Israelis would like to get a look at are the two launchers used to fire the missiles at the Israeli passenger jet, a 757, at almost the same time as the blast went off here at the Paradise Hotel. Now, a third bit of evidence is the charred remains of an AK-47 assault rifle, which was also found on the grounds of the hotel.
Now, one further bit of information, my colleague, Catherine Bond, spoke to a farmer earlier this morning who's just down the road from here who apparently may have been the last person to speak with the people, the two bombers who drove into the Paradise Hotel. He described them as people who looked like they were of Arab origin. Apparently they spoke Swahili with an Arabic accent. He also noted that there were a variety of cell phones on the dashboard of the car, which raised his suspicions, and, in fact, he wrote down the number, the license plate of that car. And his testimony, of course, may be of great assistance to the investigators -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's some good thinking.
Ben Wedeman, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
of Bombing Investigation>
