Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Israeli Apache Helicopter Kills Boy, Wounds 10 in Attack on Islamic Jihad Bodyguards

Aired February 07, 2004 - 07:31   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.


FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Violence in Gaza this morning. According to hospital sources, a young boy is dead and 10 people are wounded after an Israeli Apache helicopter attacks a vehicle carrying two Islamic Jihad bodyguards.
Our John Vause is standing by in Jerusalem and he joins us live with the latest -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Frank, Israeli officials say the target, their target was a senior member of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. Now, Palestinian witnesses say around 10:30 this morning local time they saw an Israeli helicopter gunship in the skies over Gaza. They say that helicopter gunship fired at least one missile at a vehicle as it was driving through the streets of Gaza. It hit the front of that car.

Now, according to Palestinian medical sources, an 11-year-old boy was killed in that attack. He was apparently on his way to school. Ten other people were wounded.

Now, according to Palestinian medical sources, again, most of the wounded are, in fact, civilians. Three of them in a critical condition. But among those who are, in fact, in a critical condition, Aziz Mahmoud al-Shami. He is a bodyguard with Islamic Jihad. He is also the cousin of a senior Islamic Jihad leader, Abdullah Shami, the man who was believed to be the target of this helicopter gunship attack.

Now, four months ago, the IDF tried to assassinate Abdul al-Shami with a missile attack on his home. He survived that attack. It appears he has survived this latest attack. He appears to have not have been in the area at the time. A short time ago he told the Associated Press that Islamic Jihad will respond to this aggression with all its might and all its force. The Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, speaking in the West Bank town of Ramallah, condemned the attack, calling it "a cowardly aggression designed to escalate the situation."

Israel, though, has described men like Shami as ticking time bombs responsible not only for attacks on Israelis in the past, but also planning attacks on Israelis in the future -- Frank.

BUCKLEY: John Vause reporting from Jerusalem.

Thanks very much, John.

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




on Islamic Jihad Bodyguards>


Aired February 7, 2004 - 07:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Violence in Gaza this morning. According to hospital sources, a young boy is dead and 10 people are wounded after an Israeli Apache helicopter attacks a vehicle carrying two Islamic Jihad bodyguards.
Our John Vause is standing by in Jerusalem and he joins us live with the latest -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Frank, Israeli officials say the target, their target was a senior member of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. Now, Palestinian witnesses say around 10:30 this morning local time they saw an Israeli helicopter gunship in the skies over Gaza. They say that helicopter gunship fired at least one missile at a vehicle as it was driving through the streets of Gaza. It hit the front of that car.

Now, according to Palestinian medical sources, an 11-year-old boy was killed in that attack. He was apparently on his way to school. Ten other people were wounded.

Now, according to Palestinian medical sources, again, most of the wounded are, in fact, civilians. Three of them in a critical condition. But among those who are, in fact, in a critical condition, Aziz Mahmoud al-Shami. He is a bodyguard with Islamic Jihad. He is also the cousin of a senior Islamic Jihad leader, Abdullah Shami, the man who was believed to be the target of this helicopter gunship attack.

Now, four months ago, the IDF tried to assassinate Abdul al-Shami with a missile attack on his home. He survived that attack. It appears he has survived this latest attack. He appears to have not have been in the area at the time. A short time ago he told the Associated Press that Islamic Jihad will respond to this aggression with all its might and all its force. The Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, speaking in the West Bank town of Ramallah, condemned the attack, calling it "a cowardly aggression designed to escalate the situation."

Israel, though, has described men like Shami as ticking time bombs responsible not only for attacks on Israelis in the past, but also planning attacks on Israelis in the future -- Frank.

BUCKLEY: John Vause reporting from Jerusalem.

Thanks very much, John.

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




on Islamic Jihad Bodyguards>