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CNN Live Saturday
Bombings Claim 20 in Istanbul
Aired November 15, 2003 - 14:10 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, ANCHOR: Terror today in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey.
More than a dozen people died and dozens more injured when car bombs exploded near two synagogue. And right now authorities are trying to track down the attackers.
We get the latest now from Andrew Finkel in Islamabad. In Istanbul, rather.
Andrew, I'm reading now on the wires. You've got Foreign Minister Gul, who's saying that now Turkish authorities believe that the attackers came from outside the country and had links to international organizations.
ANDREW FINKEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the fact that there were two attacks that were coordinated, people are attributing this as one of the hallmarks of al Qaeda, the fact that they can strike in two different targets in two different parts of the city against very well protected targets, as well.
This has led them to believe that it was an al Qaeda attack, although I have to say, there is no real proof of who was responsible yet.
It's been a day of considerable carnage here. We believe that 20 people died in these attacks. Six people were actually inside the synagogue. Most of those who suffered were actually outside, ordinary passersby.
But an 8-year-old daughter and her 85-year-old grandmother who had come to the synagogue to pray were among the victims -- Andrea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God that there was a bar mitzvah going on at that time, and people were evacuated immediately upon the incident, from the part of the synagogue. Unfortunately, we have lost some good people from our community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINKEL: There has to be a process of healing now. You've been listening to one of the leaders of the Jewish community here. He's also said that, come Tuesday when the funerals of the six people, the six Jews who died in the attacks, take place, that they will take place in these same synagogues. There's a great determination here to heal, to -- to show that Turkey is the country where Jew and Muslim can get along together and live together. And one of the proofs of this will be the fact that these synagogue will not be closed -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: All right. Another tragic story. Andrew Finkel for us in Istanbul Turkey. Thank you.
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 15, 2003 - 14:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, ANCHOR: Terror today in the streets of Istanbul, Turkey.
More than a dozen people died and dozens more injured when car bombs exploded near two synagogue. And right now authorities are trying to track down the attackers.
We get the latest now from Andrew Finkel in Islamabad. In Istanbul, rather.
Andrew, I'm reading now on the wires. You've got Foreign Minister Gul, who's saying that now Turkish authorities believe that the attackers came from outside the country and had links to international organizations.
ANDREW FINKEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the fact that there were two attacks that were coordinated, people are attributing this as one of the hallmarks of al Qaeda, the fact that they can strike in two different targets in two different parts of the city against very well protected targets, as well.
This has led them to believe that it was an al Qaeda attack, although I have to say, there is no real proof of who was responsible yet.
It's been a day of considerable carnage here. We believe that 20 people died in these attacks. Six people were actually inside the synagogue. Most of those who suffered were actually outside, ordinary passersby.
But an 8-year-old daughter and her 85-year-old grandmother who had come to the synagogue to pray were among the victims -- Andrea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God that there was a bar mitzvah going on at that time, and people were evacuated immediately upon the incident, from the part of the synagogue. Unfortunately, we have lost some good people from our community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINKEL: There has to be a process of healing now. You've been listening to one of the leaders of the Jewish community here. He's also said that, come Tuesday when the funerals of the six people, the six Jews who died in the attacks, take place, that they will take place in these same synagogues. There's a great determination here to heal, to -- to show that Turkey is the country where Jew and Muslim can get along together and live together. And one of the proofs of this will be the fact that these synagogue will not be closed -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: All right. Another tragic story. Andrew Finkel for us in Istanbul Turkey. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
