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CNN Live At Daybreak
Eight Coalition Troops Hurt in Suicide Bombings
Aired February 18, 2004 - 06:07 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: This time, two suicide bombers working together -- supposedly one was to detonate his explosives at the entrance to a coalition base south of Baghdad; the other was to drive into the compound. It didn't work out the way the bombers planned, though.
Live to Baghdad now and Brent Sadler. He has more details for us.
Hello -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Good morning, Carol.
Yes, this seems to be a new tactic, two suicide bombers trying to penetrate a hardened compound containing members of the -- multinational members of the coalition presence here in Iraq. It seems to be that they were trucks rather than cars, but certainly vehicle-borne explosives, a massive explosion, but it did not get inside the compound itself, although there were casualties among coalition troops, including one American soldier, six Polish troops and a Hungarian. But we understand that none of those injuries for those coalition forces are of a life-threatening nature.
What has happened, though, heavy casualties and particularly deaths reported, as many as 11, though conflicting reports are still coming out of Hilla, where this blast happened about 60 miles south of Baghdad -- 11 injuries and casualties among Iraqis.
And it does seem to be a pattern of recent events here that suicide bombings are creating casualties and deaths outside the center of the target area, where these compounds used by coalition forces are now very well-protected indeed by concrete blast-proof walls. But certainly suicide bombings have been increasing of late, but this is the first time, we understand, that there has been a coordinated attempt by two suicide bombers with very heavy explosive devices, packed it seems in trucks, getting close to coalition forces and detonating them.
In this case, the first vehicle seemed to have exploded, possibly gunfire involved, and then the second vehicle detonated. So, certainly a new tactic here, it seems -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Brent Sadler reporting live from Baghdad this morning.
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 February 18, 2004 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: This time, two suicide bombers working together -- supposedly one was to detonate his explosives at the entrance to a coalition base south of Baghdad; the other was to drive into the compound. It didn't work out the way the bombers planned, though.
Live to Baghdad now and Brent Sadler. He has more details for us.
Hello -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Good morning, Carol.
Yes, this seems to be a new tactic, two suicide bombers trying to penetrate a hardened compound containing members of the -- multinational members of the coalition presence here in Iraq. It seems to be that they were trucks rather than cars, but certainly vehicle-borne explosives, a massive explosion, but it did not get inside the compound itself, although there were casualties among coalition troops, including one American soldier, six Polish troops and a Hungarian. But we understand that none of those injuries for those coalition forces are of a life-threatening nature.
What has happened, though, heavy casualties and particularly deaths reported, as many as 11, though conflicting reports are still coming out of Hilla, where this blast happened about 60 miles south of Baghdad -- 11 injuries and casualties among Iraqis.
And it does seem to be a pattern of recent events here that suicide bombings are creating casualties and deaths outside the center of the target area, where these compounds used by coalition forces are now very well-protected indeed by concrete blast-proof walls. But certainly suicide bombings have been increasing of late, but this is the first time, we understand, that there has been a coordinated attempt by two suicide bombers with very heavy explosive devices, packed it seems in trucks, getting close to coalition forces and detonating them.
In this case, the first vehicle seemed to have exploded, possibly gunfire involved, and then the second vehicle detonated. So, certainly a new tactic here, it seems -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Brent Sadler reporting live from Baghdad this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
