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CNN Live At Daybreak

Gunmen Fire on U.S. Cultural Center in India, Four Killed

Aired January 22, 2002 - 06:01   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: Let's go back to India now. Four government policemen are dead following an attack by the American Center in Calcutta.

CNN's Satinder Bindra reports a manhunt is now underway for two gunmen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Police have sealed off all exits leading out of one of India's largest cities: Calcutta. They're looking for four armed gunmen who, at the time of the attack, were swathed in shawls under which they had concealed AK-47s. The gunmen were on motorcycles and fired on police officers who were guarding the U.S. Cultural office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Out of twenty hit constables (ph), four have already expired. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) under treatment (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

BINDRA: The U.S. Embassy says another 20 people were injured. None of the injured were American Center staff or U.S. citizens.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We still believe that the level of security measures at the American embassies is prudent, and we have made sure that they are reinforced, as you can see.

BINDRA: Even as security at U.S. installations across India is being strengthened, forensic teams started searching for clues outside the blood-spattered Cultural Center. The center houses the U.S. Continent's press office and a library, which is visited by hundreds of students every day.

At the time of the attack, police say no one was inside the complex. Police say the gunmen planned their attack to coincide with a change in a shift of police officers. The attack was so sudden it caught all the policemen off guard. None managed to return fire.

This latest attack comes just five weeks after armed gunmen attacked India's Parliament. It also comes at a time with FBI Chief Robert Mueller is visiting India to discuss counter terrorism measures with senior Indian officials.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: That was Satinder Bindra reporting live -- reporting from New Delhi this morning. We'll get back to him in our next half- hour.

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