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CNN Live At Daybreak

Suicide Bus Bomb Kills 10 in Jerusalem

Aired January 29, 2004 - 06:01   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On a day Israel and the terrorist group, Hezbollah, exchange prisoners, a massive explosion. At least 10 are dead. Authorities are still on the site of that blast.
We want to take you live to Jerusalem now to this scene and Matthew Chance.

Give us an update -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, thanks.

And it says a great deal about how accustomed the Israeli authorities have become to dealing with the grisly aftermath of these kinds of devastating suicide attacks that in just a few hours the scene of utter devastation has been cleared. The wreckage has been taken away. The dead and the injured have been taken to the hospital and the morgues the closest to this scene. And the area, as you can see, is running again free with traffic.

But make no mistake. This was an extremely powerful explosion that literally tore the bus to pieces, ripping the roof clean off and hurling debris and human remains onto the roofs of these two-story buildings around the area, and, of course, leaving, as we know now, 10 Israelis dead plus the suicide bomber, as well as many people injured, as many as 40, some of them severely injured -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Matthew, a question, too. This happened just 100 yards from Ariel Sharon's residence, but he was not there at the time, right?

CHANCE: That's absolutely right. This is an area which is quite up-market in West Jerusalem. It's just a short distance from Ariel Sharon's, the Israeli prime minister, official residence. Officials from his office are telling us that he was not inside his office at the time of the explosion, but was elsewhere in the country and wasn't in any danger at any time.


Aired January 29, 2004 - 06:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On a day Israel and the terrorist group, Hezbollah, exchange prisoners, a massive explosion. At least 10 are dead. Authorities are still on the site of that blast.
We want to take you live to Jerusalem now to this scene and Matthew Chance.

Give us an update -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, thanks.

And it says a great deal about how accustomed the Israeli authorities have become to dealing with the grisly aftermath of these kinds of devastating suicide attacks that in just a few hours the scene of utter devastation has been cleared. The wreckage has been taken away. The dead and the injured have been taken to the hospital and the morgues the closest to this scene. And the area, as you can see, is running again free with traffic.

But make no mistake. This was an extremely powerful explosion that literally tore the bus to pieces, ripping the roof clean off and hurling debris and human remains onto the roofs of these two-story buildings around the area, and, of course, leaving, as we know now, 10 Israelis dead plus the suicide bomber, as well as many people injured, as many as 40, some of them severely injured -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Matthew, a question, too. This happened just 100 yards from Ariel Sharon's residence, but he was not there at the time, right?

CHANCE: That's absolutely right. This is an area which is quite up-market in West Jerusalem. It's just a short distance from Ariel Sharon's, the Israeli prime minister, official residence. Officials from his office are telling us that he was not inside his office at the time of the explosion, but was elsewhere in the country and wasn't in any danger at any time.