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Breaking News
Two Attacks on Israelis Occur in Kenya
Aired November 28, 2002 - 06:26 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We continue our breaking news coverage this morning of two attacks on Israel that occurred in Kenya.
And our Catherine Bond is in Mombasa, where a car bomb exploded at a hotel there near Mombasa. Also, at the same time, we had two missiles fired at a jet as it was taking off from Mombasa -- Catherine Bond, what can you tell on what the latest is from where you are?
CATHERINE BOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the owner of the hotel that was targeted has just told us that about 8:30 local time it seems a garrow (ph) came to the gates of the hotel. The hotel security refused it entrance. They fought their way through. Two members of, people inside the car came into the reception and blew themselves up. The other two went to the vehicle and blew that up.
It has caused an enormous amount of damage. The whole hotel reception area has crumbled. You can see a large crater where it appears that the car was and appears to have parked some 30, 40 feet away and it's completely destroyed.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) the hotel's roof caught fire because it's no longer standing. It appears to have burnt away completely. The hotel owner also told us that at about the same time a light (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was in the area and it appeared to drop two or three bombs towards the hotel, in the direction of the hotel and onto the beach.
We can see a number of people who've been covered with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because they're victims of this attack. They're both Kenyan and Israeli. And a number of others have been taken to hotels in Mombasa -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: Catherine, could you tell me what the latest number is of fatalities and how many people have been injured there?
BOND: Well, I've been told 13, 14 fatalities and about 36 injured, 22 Kenyan, 13 or 14 Israelis. I've been told that two Israeli children were killed in this attack who were about eight years old and that two elderly Israelis were also victims of it. But some of the Kenyans were entertainers who were working at the hotel. A number of the Kenyan staff here have, of course, been injured and are amongst those who are badly injured and have been admitted to hospitals in Mombasa.
The hotel is, you know, it's been completely gutted. It's quite extraordinary that a bomb right to the reception area could tear right through it. And wreckage, pieces of metal have been thrown some distance from where the car appears to have been parked.
CALLAWAY: Catherine, Kenya's ambassador to Israel is already blaming these incidents on al Qaeda. What are you hearing from there? What are authorities telling you?
BOND: Well, the hotel owner is blaming it on terrorists. But as yet it's very difficult to establish exactly who the attackers were -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: But no one has claimed responsibility yet as far as you know?
BOND: As far as we know, there's been no claim of responsibility for these attacks.
CALLAWAY: All right, Catherine Bond joining us from Mombasa.
Thank you, Catherine.
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 November 28, 2002 - 06:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We continue our breaking news coverage this morning of two attacks on Israel that occurred in Kenya.
And our Catherine Bond is in Mombasa, where a car bomb exploded at a hotel there near Mombasa. Also, at the same time, we had two missiles fired at a jet as it was taking off from Mombasa -- Catherine Bond, what can you tell on what the latest is from where you are?
CATHERINE BOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the owner of the hotel that was targeted has just told us that about 8:30 local time it seems a garrow (ph) came to the gates of the hotel. The hotel security refused it entrance. They fought their way through. Two members of, people inside the car came into the reception and blew themselves up. The other two went to the vehicle and blew that up.
It has caused an enormous amount of damage. The whole hotel reception area has crumbled. You can see a large crater where it appears that the car was and appears to have parked some 30, 40 feet away and it's completely destroyed.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) the hotel's roof caught fire because it's no longer standing. It appears to have burnt away completely. The hotel owner also told us that at about the same time a light (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was in the area and it appeared to drop two or three bombs towards the hotel, in the direction of the hotel and onto the beach.
We can see a number of people who've been covered with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because they're victims of this attack. They're both Kenyan and Israeli. And a number of others have been taken to hotels in Mombasa -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: Catherine, could you tell me what the latest number is of fatalities and how many people have been injured there?
BOND: Well, I've been told 13, 14 fatalities and about 36 injured, 22 Kenyan, 13 or 14 Israelis. I've been told that two Israeli children were killed in this attack who were about eight years old and that two elderly Israelis were also victims of it. But some of the Kenyans were entertainers who were working at the hotel. A number of the Kenyan staff here have, of course, been injured and are amongst those who are badly injured and have been admitted to hospitals in Mombasa.
The hotel is, you know, it's been completely gutted. It's quite extraordinary that a bomb right to the reception area could tear right through it. And wreckage, pieces of metal have been thrown some distance from where the car appears to have been parked.
CALLAWAY: Catherine, Kenya's ambassador to Israel is already blaming these incidents on al Qaeda. What are you hearing from there? What are authorities telling you?
BOND: Well, the hotel owner is blaming it on terrorists. But as yet it's very difficult to establish exactly who the attackers were -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: But no one has claimed responsibility yet as far as you know?
BOND: As far as we know, there's been no claim of responsibility for these attacks.
CALLAWAY: All right, Catherine Bond joining us from Mombasa.
Thank you, Catherine.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
