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CNN Live Sunday

Search for Clues in Turkey Car Bombings Continues

Aired November 16, 2003 - 10:01   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour, though, in Turkey. Amid the rubble, the search for clues goes on after the twin car bombings near two Istanbul synagogues. While authorities say they're looking at every possibility, they are still speculating that a terror group, possibly a group connected to al Qaeda carried out the attacks.
Andrew Finkel is on the scene now in Istanbul -- Andrew.

ANDREW FINKEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Heidi. What's become palpably present today as the investigations have gone on here is the sheer viciousness of the attack. The cars that exploded in front of these synagogues had a huge amount of explosives in them. People are saying that maybe up to 500 pounds worth of explosives. And that really is responsible for the devastation that you can see in the streets behind me.

These cars came up these streets, there was an explosion, and most of the people who died of the 20 people who died were passers-by in the streets. But this was not uniquely the case both in this synagogue, Neve Shalom, and in a synagogue in the other part of town. Six of the members of the congregation also perished, including an 8- year-old girl.

Now really what people want to know is who did such an act and why could they have done such an act. There's been a huge amount of speculation. People are looking at the materials that were used in the blast. There's some suggestion that they were not manufactured in Turkey, that they were imported from abroad, which has helped to increase speculation that this may have been an al Qaeda attack.

The other possibilities for people believing that it was al Qaeda is that these were -- it had the hallmarks. These were two simultaneous attacks, well coordinated, well planned in different parts of the city. But, of course, the Turkish government, I suppose, would really very much like to believe that this were the case, that Turkish elements, Turkish groups themselves were not responsible.

The Israeli foreign minister was here today. He was here to express his solidarity with the Jewish community here to show his presence, to show his own country's concern. The Turkish prime minister and foreign minister also visited the synagogues and the wounded and injured in the hospitals -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Andrew, you say that most people really want to know who may have been the cause or what group may have been the cause of this explosion. Also want to know, what are people feeling now in the streets as you talk to them? Is anybody starting to take extra precautions as they go about their daily business?

FINKEL: Well, of course, it's a weekend here. Business hasn't really resumed.

I think what most people -- certainly in the neighborhood around here -- they're trying to repair the glass fronts to their buildings. This is a neighborhood full of shops where they sell lamps and all sorts of things like that. The amount of broken glass that was on the streets, it is difficult to imagine. I've never seen quite so much debris in the streets behind.

Of course, I think people will be more conscious, will be more aware. But I think they'll also want to know, you know, what was the motive behind this attack? Was it an attempt to provoke the government, to provoke a government in its relations with Israel or was it an attempt to embarrass them? These are the questions that people are asking. So rather than the heightened security at this end, is there a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peace here -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Andrew Finkel live for us today in Istanbul. Thanks so much.

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 16, 2003 - 10:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour, though, in Turkey. Amid the rubble, the search for clues goes on after the twin car bombings near two Istanbul synagogues. While authorities say they're looking at every possibility, they are still speculating that a terror group, possibly a group connected to al Qaeda carried out the attacks.
Andrew Finkel is on the scene now in Istanbul -- Andrew.

ANDREW FINKEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Heidi. What's become palpably present today as the investigations have gone on here is the sheer viciousness of the attack. The cars that exploded in front of these synagogues had a huge amount of explosives in them. People are saying that maybe up to 500 pounds worth of explosives. And that really is responsible for the devastation that you can see in the streets behind me.

These cars came up these streets, there was an explosion, and most of the people who died of the 20 people who died were passers-by in the streets. But this was not uniquely the case both in this synagogue, Neve Shalom, and in a synagogue in the other part of town. Six of the members of the congregation also perished, including an 8- year-old girl.

Now really what people want to know is who did such an act and why could they have done such an act. There's been a huge amount of speculation. People are looking at the materials that were used in the blast. There's some suggestion that they were not manufactured in Turkey, that they were imported from abroad, which has helped to increase speculation that this may have been an al Qaeda attack.

The other possibilities for people believing that it was al Qaeda is that these were -- it had the hallmarks. These were two simultaneous attacks, well coordinated, well planned in different parts of the city. But, of course, the Turkish government, I suppose, would really very much like to believe that this were the case, that Turkish elements, Turkish groups themselves were not responsible.

The Israeli foreign minister was here today. He was here to express his solidarity with the Jewish community here to show his presence, to show his own country's concern. The Turkish prime minister and foreign minister also visited the synagogues and the wounded and injured in the hospitals -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Andrew, you say that most people really want to know who may have been the cause or what group may have been the cause of this explosion. Also want to know, what are people feeling now in the streets as you talk to them? Is anybody starting to take extra precautions as they go about their daily business?

FINKEL: Well, of course, it's a weekend here. Business hasn't really resumed.

I think what most people -- certainly in the neighborhood around here -- they're trying to repair the glass fronts to their buildings. This is a neighborhood full of shops where they sell lamps and all sorts of things like that. The amount of broken glass that was on the streets, it is difficult to imagine. I've never seen quite so much debris in the streets behind.

Of course, I think people will be more conscious, will be more aware. But I think they'll also want to know, you know, what was the motive behind this attack? Was it an attempt to provoke the government, to provoke a government in its relations with Israel or was it an attempt to embarrass them? These are the questions that people are asking. So rather than the heightened security at this end, is there a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peace here -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Andrew Finkel live for us today in Istanbul. Thanks so much.

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