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CNN Live At Daybreak
Another Bombing in Baghdad
Aired February 11, 2004 - 05:04 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: And around 11:30 last night, another bombing in Baghdad. It is the second massive explosion in as many days. The death toll has been climbing all night. Right now, at least 45 Iraqis are dead.
Our Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf joins us live now from the scene -- hello, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Well, they're just cleaning up now what was an absolutely devastating scene after the force of an incredibly powerful car bomb. This was, according to U.S. officials, a suicide bomb. A white civilian car packed with high explosives and artillery, heavy metal fragments that explode, killing dozens of people. At last count, 45 were dead, most of them young Iraqi men who were lining up here early in the morning for the chance to become soldiers in the new Iraqi Army.
One of the military officials here, Colonel Ralph Baker, told us that it did have the hallmarks of a group like al Qaeda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. RALPH BAKER, U.S. ARMY: At this moment, it's impossible for us to determine who was responsible for the attack today. We do speculate that this does fit the, you know, the operating technique of al Qaeda or Ansar al-Islam, two terrorist organizations that we are fighting here in Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: Now, it's impossible to tell for sure, especially with so little evidence exactly who was behind this bombing. But there has been recent indications that an al Qaeda suspected operative has been appealing for help here to attack just such targets as this one -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, Jane, just a question. This seems to be a new tactic, just to drive up and conduct a suicide bombing while people are waiting in line to get jobs.
Is there any change in the way that will happen to protect these people?
ARRAF: It's really, really tough. Now, the inside of the building was fairly well protected. When we were shown the blast area, there was very little damage to the building itself. All the damage was essentially to the street outside, because it would be absolutely impossible to block off all of these streets.
But you're absolutely right, this is a new technique that we have seen evolving. And the attacks have decreased on American targets because they have much better protection. They're not so readily available as targets. But here, in places like this headquarters of the Iraqi police, there are always going to be men waiting outside, waiting for jobs, until the security situation changes or until something really is done to improve security greatly at the facilities like this.
Again, we have to point out, this is the second blast in as many days. Another one at a police station south of Baghdad yesterday. This is a very worrying threat that keeps continuing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Jane Arraf 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 11, 2004 - 05:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And around 11:30 last night, another bombing in Baghdad. It is the second massive explosion in as many days. The death toll has been climbing all night. Right now, at least 45 Iraqis are dead.
Our Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf joins us live now from the scene -- hello, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Well, they're just cleaning up now what was an absolutely devastating scene after the force of an incredibly powerful car bomb. This was, according to U.S. officials, a suicide bomb. A white civilian car packed with high explosives and artillery, heavy metal fragments that explode, killing dozens of people. At last count, 45 were dead, most of them young Iraqi men who were lining up here early in the morning for the chance to become soldiers in the new Iraqi Army.
One of the military officials here, Colonel Ralph Baker, told us that it did have the hallmarks of a group like al Qaeda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. RALPH BAKER, U.S. ARMY: At this moment, it's impossible for us to determine who was responsible for the attack today. We do speculate that this does fit the, you know, the operating technique of al Qaeda or Ansar al-Islam, two terrorist organizations that we are fighting here in Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: Now, it's impossible to tell for sure, especially with so little evidence exactly who was behind this bombing. But there has been recent indications that an al Qaeda suspected operative has been appealing for help here to attack just such targets as this one -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, Jane, just a question. This seems to be a new tactic, just to drive up and conduct a suicide bombing while people are waiting in line to get jobs.
Is there any change in the way that will happen to protect these people?
ARRAF: It's really, really tough. Now, the inside of the building was fairly well protected. When we were shown the blast area, there was very little damage to the building itself. All the damage was essentially to the street outside, because it would be absolutely impossible to block off all of these streets.
But you're absolutely right, this is a new technique that we have seen evolving. And the attacks have decreased on American targets because they have much better protection. They're not so readily available as targets. But here, in places like this headquarters of the Iraqi police, there are always going to be men waiting outside, waiting for jobs, until the security situation changes or until something really is done to improve security greatly at the facilities like this.
Again, we have to point out, this is the second blast in as many days. Another one at a police station south of Baghdad yesterday. This is a very worrying threat that keeps continuing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Jane Arraf 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
