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CNN Live At Daybreak
Terrorists Believed to Have Struck Again in Russia
Aired December 05, 2003 - 05:30 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: Terrorists are believed to have struck again in Russia and the death toll has been rising this morning. Officials now say at least 36 people are dead in a train explosion near the volatile breakaway region of Chechnya.
We want to take you live to Moscow now and our bureau chief there, Jill Dougherty.
This is just terrible.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Carol. It was a very powerful explosion and it went off right in the height of the traffic, early morning commuter traffic on this train. So obviously aimed at creating as much carnage as possible. And it did.
As you mentioned, the death toll is very high; 36 people and 127 in the hospital, another 50 injured but sent home after receiving some treatment.
This train was traveling between two towns that are in the south of Russia, very near the Chechen border. And that is the place where, unfortunately, there has been a lot of terrorism. And at this hour, the FSB, which is the former KGB, now investigating, saying that they believe that it was, indeed, a suicide bomber who climbed aboard that train with a bag. And inside that bag, a large amount of explosive material. And they also believe that it had some shrapnel and pieces of metal to make it even more devastating.
Ironically and sadly, this is the very same train route that was hit by another bombing just three months ago. So the questions are being asked -- why wasn't security heightened, especially at this time? Because in two days, Russia is going to be holding parliamentary elections and the prosecutor's office is saying perhaps this was aimed at disrupting those elections.
In any case, Carol, the head of the interior ministry is saying that we will literally, he said, make the ground burn beneath their feet and find the people who did this -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jill Dougherty reporting live from Moscow this morning.
Click onto our Web site throughout the day for the latest on the investigation into the Russian train explosion. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.
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 December 5, 2003 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists are believed to have struck again in Russia and the death toll has been rising this morning. Officials now say at least 36 people are dead in a train explosion near the volatile breakaway region of Chechnya.
We want to take you live to Moscow now and our bureau chief there, Jill Dougherty.
This is just terrible.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Carol. It was a very powerful explosion and it went off right in the height of the traffic, early morning commuter traffic on this train. So obviously aimed at creating as much carnage as possible. And it did.
As you mentioned, the death toll is very high; 36 people and 127 in the hospital, another 50 injured but sent home after receiving some treatment.
This train was traveling between two towns that are in the south of Russia, very near the Chechen border. And that is the place where, unfortunately, there has been a lot of terrorism. And at this hour, the FSB, which is the former KGB, now investigating, saying that they believe that it was, indeed, a suicide bomber who climbed aboard that train with a bag. And inside that bag, a large amount of explosive material. And they also believe that it had some shrapnel and pieces of metal to make it even more devastating.
Ironically and sadly, this is the very same train route that was hit by another bombing just three months ago. So the questions are being asked -- why wasn't security heightened, especially at this time? Because in two days, Russia is going to be holding parliamentary elections and the prosecutor's office is saying perhaps this was aimed at disrupting those elections.
In any case, Carol, the head of the interior ministry is saying that we will literally, he said, make the ground burn beneath their feet and find the people who did this -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jill Dougherty reporting live from Moscow this morning.
Click onto our Web site throughout the day for the latest on the investigation into the Russian train explosion. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
