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Breaking News

Conflict in the Middle East: Suicide Bomber Strikes Tel Aviv Mall

Aired May 27, 2002 - 12:25   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Just a few minutes ago we had reported some breaking news out of Israel. Another bombing taking place outside of Tel Aviv in a town called Petah Tikvah. We have an update now on the injuries.

Up to 50 people now were injured in this explosion, which took place in a supermarket in a mall in this town that's east of Tel Aviv. Now so far, sources at the scene say the explosion appear to be the work of a suicide bomber, but Israeli police have not yet confirmed that.

You are looking right now at live pictures from Israeli TV. A very empty scene there, as I'm sure the scene was evacuated. Much of the concern after these kinds of explosions are secondary explosions, which are meant to trap people responding to some of the wounded.

Now about 20 people were taken to hospitals in the Tel Aviv area. And according to hospital officials there, at least three of the wounded were in serious condition. And a baby was listed in very serious condition.

Israeli authorities are saying they have been able to, what they say, stop at least one attempted suicide bombing a day. However, there have been a series of bombings in the last two weeks. The West Bank is under a military closure, and the Gaza strip as well has extra security and has been divided up in order to increase security in the state of Israel.

There you go, breaking news out of Tel Aviv. We are going to make sure that we stay on top of this situation and give you updates. But so far, 50 people injured in that attack.

We're going to take a quick break, and then we are going to have more live news. Still waiting to hear from Lynn Chapman at a memorial service for her son out of Georgetown, Texas. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: All right, this is the nature of breaking news. As we get the information, we try to update you. Just a couple of minutes ago I gave you the latest injury toll at that blast outside of Tel Aviv at 50. We are going to adjust that number down, fortunately, to 28. Twenty-eight people injured in what appears to be a bomb blast. Sources at the scene say it was a suicide bomber, but police have not confirmed that yet in Israel. But we do know that about -- at about a half-hour ago we got this report in that this explosion took place at a supermarket east of Tel Aviv. As soon as we get more information we will bring it to you, but 28 injured, not 50.

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