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CNN Live Today
Hotel Attack
Aired August 05, 2003 - 11:32 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists targeted a Marriott Hotel in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta today. At least 10 people were killed. More than 100 were wounded.
Let's get the latest details on this car bomb from our Jakarta bureau chief Maria Ressa who's on the scene, and she's joining us by phone -- Maria.
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's nearly midnight in Jakarta, and it's -- basically the site has been cleared of many spectators who were there earlier today. The explosion happened during the lunch time hour. Very crowded, busy area in the middle of Jakarta's central business district. As you said, at least 10 people are dead, about 100 injured, some critically so.
The hotel itself, the J.W. Marriott is a particular favorite of ex-patriots, international travelers and diplomats. It's the newest hotel in Jakarta. Many perceived it to have the best security here, part of the reason it's been the sight of the last two Fourth of July celebrations at the U.S. embassy here.
At the point when it exploded, there were -- the hotel was at about 77 percent capacity, according to one of the officials there.
Now it's been completely evacuated. All hotel staff are out. And forensics experts are there just trying to determine just exactly what caused the explosion.
What they know do know right now is the bomb was hidden in a vehicle that seemed to be moving toward the front of the building, toward the lobby, when it exploded. The explosion so large, it shattered most of the windows in the building, going up the 30th floor.
KAGAN: And, so, Maria, as I understand it, this was a hotel that was known for its good security in Jakarta? It took a number of precautions, checking out guests, having metal detectors, but it did allow cars to drive up to the front of the hotel.
RESSA: It did. And that was the weakness, the vulnerability that the terrorists -- again, at this point authorities have not named who they believe is behind it. There has been -- no one has claimed responsibility, but the police chief, Dahi Baksha (ph), did say that he believed the bomb had similar qualities to the bomb which exploded in Bali in October of 2002. Some of the elements that they believe were used is potassium chlorate, something that the Bali bombers had gotten in huge quantities. In fact, a little less than a month ago, Indonesian police were able to recover a substantial amount, hundreds of kilograms, of potassium chlorate. That was just about the time when they warned that JI, Jemaah Islamiyah (ph), Al Qaeda's arm many Southeast Asia, was basically capable and gearing up for another attack, perhaps on the scale of Bali or larger.
KAGAN: All right. Maria Ressa in Jakarta, thank you for the latest on that. More ahead as the day goes on.
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 August 5, 2003 - 11:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists targeted a Marriott Hotel in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta today. At least 10 people were killed. More than 100 were wounded.
Let's get the latest details on this car bomb from our Jakarta bureau chief Maria Ressa who's on the scene, and she's joining us by phone -- Maria.
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's nearly midnight in Jakarta, and it's -- basically the site has been cleared of many spectators who were there earlier today. The explosion happened during the lunch time hour. Very crowded, busy area in the middle of Jakarta's central business district. As you said, at least 10 people are dead, about 100 injured, some critically so.
The hotel itself, the J.W. Marriott is a particular favorite of ex-patriots, international travelers and diplomats. It's the newest hotel in Jakarta. Many perceived it to have the best security here, part of the reason it's been the sight of the last two Fourth of July celebrations at the U.S. embassy here.
At the point when it exploded, there were -- the hotel was at about 77 percent capacity, according to one of the officials there.
Now it's been completely evacuated. All hotel staff are out. And forensics experts are there just trying to determine just exactly what caused the explosion.
What they know do know right now is the bomb was hidden in a vehicle that seemed to be moving toward the front of the building, toward the lobby, when it exploded. The explosion so large, it shattered most of the windows in the building, going up the 30th floor.
KAGAN: And, so, Maria, as I understand it, this was a hotel that was known for its good security in Jakarta? It took a number of precautions, checking out guests, having metal detectors, but it did allow cars to drive up to the front of the hotel.
RESSA: It did. And that was the weakness, the vulnerability that the terrorists -- again, at this point authorities have not named who they believe is behind it. There has been -- no one has claimed responsibility, but the police chief, Dahi Baksha (ph), did say that he believed the bomb had similar qualities to the bomb which exploded in Bali in October of 2002. Some of the elements that they believe were used is potassium chlorate, something that the Bali bombers had gotten in huge quantities. In fact, a little less than a month ago, Indonesian police were able to recover a substantial amount, hundreds of kilograms, of potassium chlorate. That was just about the time when they warned that JI, Jemaah Islamiyah (ph), Al Qaeda's arm many Southeast Asia, was basically capable and gearing up for another attack, perhaps on the scale of Bali or larger.
KAGAN: All right. Maria Ressa in Jakarta, thank you for the latest on that. More ahead as the day goes on.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
