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CNN Live Sunday
Death Toll Rises To 17 In Riyadh Bombing
Aired November 09, 2003 - 16:0 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Tension and terror in Saudi Arabia today, the Saudi government says al Qaeda is behind a deadly car bombing that killed 17 people and wounded more than 100 others. Four Americans were slightly injured. Americans working nearby at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh are being warned to stay close. CNN.com's Caroline Faraj is in Dubai and joins us by phone with more -- Caroline.
CAROLINE FARAF, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, we just received right now confirmation from the interior ministry that the number of those who died in this blast was -- actually, had risen from 11 to 17. And these 17 basically, five of them were children.
And at the same time they also said that seven of those who were killed were Lebanese, four Egyptians, one Saudi, and one Sudanese and four -- up to now unknown nationalities. They are still trying to find out about the nationalities.
However, they also mentioned in the statement that they sent to us that they're still looking in the compound, trying to find out if they can find some more bodies under the wreckage -- Kelli.
ARENA: Caroline, obviously, we had previous intelligence that this could, may be coming unfortunately, it did. Is there any fear at this point, concern about a second wave?
FARAF: Well, they are taking into consideration all kind of threats. We've just heard right now on the Saudi TV the interior minister basically calling these terrorists as tools in the hands of terrorism. And he was saying that we will be continuing our efforts in order to put an end to this terrorism as well as there was a telephone call between President Bush as well, calling -- he called the conference of Prince Abdullah.
They both basically confirmed that they would be working hand in hand in order to put an end to this terrorism, and they all condemned terrorism.
Basically, there's a high alert in Saudi Arabia, not recently, only because of yesterday. It had been since May 12, when the Riyadh bombs took place. But apparently, they need to do more and they need to increase the number of security and tighten to security in all compounds, not only in the compounds where the western citizens are -- Kelli.
ARENA: All right. That's CNN.com's Caroline Faraj in Dubai. Thanks so much for 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 November 9, 2003 - 16:0 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Tension and terror in Saudi Arabia today, the Saudi government says al Qaeda is behind a deadly car bombing that killed 17 people and wounded more than 100 others. Four Americans were slightly injured. Americans working nearby at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh are being warned to stay close. CNN.com's Caroline Faraj is in Dubai and joins us by phone with more -- Caroline.
CAROLINE FARAF, CNN.COM CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, we just received right now confirmation from the interior ministry that the number of those who died in this blast was -- actually, had risen from 11 to 17. And these 17 basically, five of them were children.
And at the same time they also said that seven of those who were killed were Lebanese, four Egyptians, one Saudi, and one Sudanese and four -- up to now unknown nationalities. They are still trying to find out about the nationalities.
However, they also mentioned in the statement that they sent to us that they're still looking in the compound, trying to find out if they can find some more bodies under the wreckage -- Kelli.
ARENA: Caroline, obviously, we had previous intelligence that this could, may be coming unfortunately, it did. Is there any fear at this point, concern about a second wave?
FARAF: Well, they are taking into consideration all kind of threats. We've just heard right now on the Saudi TV the interior minister basically calling these terrorists as tools in the hands of terrorism. And he was saying that we will be continuing our efforts in order to put an end to this terrorism as well as there was a telephone call between President Bush as well, calling -- he called the conference of Prince Abdullah.
They both basically confirmed that they would be working hand in hand in order to put an end to this terrorism, and they all condemned terrorism.
Basically, there's a high alert in Saudi Arabia, not recently, only because of yesterday. It had been since May 12, when the Riyadh bombs took place. But apparently, they need to do more and they need to increase the number of security and tighten to security in all compounds, not only in the compounds where the western citizens are -- Kelli.
ARENA: All right. That's CNN.com's Caroline Faraj in Dubai. Thanks so much for 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
