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CNN Live At Daybreak

Commuter Buses Hit by Explosive Device

Aired September 24, 2003 - 05:07   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And speaking of how dangerous Iraq is, about two hours ago, commuter buses carrying Iraqi civilians were hit by an explosive device. It happened in Baghdad.
Our Michael Holmes joins us now live from the Iraqi capital with details -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

Yes, I just returned from the scene of that incident, which took place just a few hours ago. Certainly a dramatic incident. It was something that has been happening a lot here and around Iraq. What the military calls improvised explosive devices, basically homemade explosives, but, in this case, very effective, although not effective on the target.

What happened was in the al-Anamia (ph) area of Baghdad, a U.S. Humvee was driving down what is normally a very busy street. One explosive device went off. Only slight damage to the Humvee. It was an armored vehicle. And what then happened is what the military calls a daisy chain effect, several other explosions over a distance of perhaps 100 meters.

What was caught up in it was two passenger buses, small buses that ferry Iraqis around the capital and, indeed, are familiar all over Iraq. One of the buses in particular severely damaged by shrapnel and the blast itself, or one of the blasts. We're told that at the moment from our hospital sources at one hospital 12 people were wounded, five of them were admitted and one person was killed, a 17- year-old boy. No U.S. casualties.

They were the target, as I said, in this case. However, the victims all Iraqi -- Carol.

LIN: Well, in the same area, Michael, something else happened last night. What was it?

HOLMES: That's right, Carol. Al-Anamia is a Baathist stronghold, it certainly was under Saddam Hussein. And it's been an area that the military, the U.S. military considers very much a hot zone. And less than 12 hours before today's blast there was another incident less than a kilometer from the site of today's incident.

What happened was there was a joint foot patrol of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police. They, too, fell victim to an improvised explosive device. Three U.S. soldiers were wounded and taken away to a military hospital for treatment and three Iraqi policemen wounded. So certainly an area where, of great concern to coalition forces in terms of hostile activity -- Carol.

LIN: All right, stay safe out there.

Michael Holmes reporting live.

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Aired September 24, 2003 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And speaking of how dangerous Iraq is, about two hours ago, commuter buses carrying Iraqi civilians were hit by an explosive device. It happened in Baghdad.
Our Michael Holmes joins us now live from the Iraqi capital with details -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

Yes, I just returned from the scene of that incident, which took place just a few hours ago. Certainly a dramatic incident. It was something that has been happening a lot here and around Iraq. What the military calls improvised explosive devices, basically homemade explosives, but, in this case, very effective, although not effective on the target.

What happened was in the al-Anamia (ph) area of Baghdad, a U.S. Humvee was driving down what is normally a very busy street. One explosive device went off. Only slight damage to the Humvee. It was an armored vehicle. And what then happened is what the military calls a daisy chain effect, several other explosions over a distance of perhaps 100 meters.

What was caught up in it was two passenger buses, small buses that ferry Iraqis around the capital and, indeed, are familiar all over Iraq. One of the buses in particular severely damaged by shrapnel and the blast itself, or one of the blasts. We're told that at the moment from our hospital sources at one hospital 12 people were wounded, five of them were admitted and one person was killed, a 17- year-old boy. No U.S. casualties.

They were the target, as I said, in this case. However, the victims all Iraqi -- Carol.

LIN: Well, in the same area, Michael, something else happened last night. What was it?

HOLMES: That's right, Carol. Al-Anamia is a Baathist stronghold, it certainly was under Saddam Hussein. And it's been an area that the military, the U.S. military considers very much a hot zone. And less than 12 hours before today's blast there was another incident less than a kilometer from the site of today's incident.

What happened was there was a joint foot patrol of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police. They, too, fell victim to an improvised explosive device. Three U.S. soldiers were wounded and taken away to a military hospital for treatment and three Iraqi policemen wounded. So certainly an area where, of great concern to coalition forces in terms of hostile activity -- Carol.

LIN: All right, stay safe out there.

Michael Holmes reporting live.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com