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At Least One American Among 115 Hostages Who Died in Russia

Aired October 29, 2002 - 13:09   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: We now have confirmed that at least one American was among the 115 hostages who died in the rescue operation that ended the siege.
CNN's Mike Hanna now joins us from Moscow with more on the growing anger, apparently, there in that nation over what was the rescue -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed, Martin.

Well, in the course of the day, the first of many funerals taking place of the more than 100 people who died during that operation to free hostages in a Moscow theater in the early hours of Saturday morning, 115 of those dead. All but two died as results of complications arising from the inhalation of gas used in that rescue effort by Russian special forces. The burials taking place amidst a wave of mounting anger about the fact that so little information was given by the Russian authorities as to what substance they used, and indeed, as to how the results of that substance should be treated.

In hospitals, there are still hundreds of people receiving treatment. A number did emerge today, hostages coming out, having received treatment and now able to go home.

But at least 40 people are still said to be in a critical condition as a result of inhaling this gas -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Now, do we know any more about the American that supposedly died here, and whether or not there could be other Americans unaccounted for?

HANNA: Well, yes, indeed, we have received full details from the U.S. embassy here. The American who died has been identified as Sandy Booker. He was a 39-year-old from Oklahoma City who had come out to Moscow, we are told, to meet his fiancee, and to take her back home in the U.S.

We understand from the U.S. embassy here that an autopsy is being performed on the body, but the cause of death at this stage has not been ascertained.

Now in addition, there was a second American citizen who is in hospital, receiving treatment we are told. She is said to be in a good condition. She's declined to be identified. In addition to that, there were two American permanent residents holders, holders of a green card. One of them was also killed during that hostage siege, or after it as a result of the gas inhalation, and the second person is also said to be in a good condition, recovering, and, in fact, staying at the U.S. embassy here in Moscow we are told, Marty.

SAVIDGE: Mike Hanna, reporting to us live from Moscow, where it is evening. It should be pointed out in addition to those that were killed, over 650 people were rescued by that mission.

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Aired October 29, 2002 - 13:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: We now have confirmed that at least one American was among the 115 hostages who died in the rescue operation that ended the siege.
CNN's Mike Hanna now joins us from Moscow with more on the growing anger, apparently, there in that nation over what was the rescue -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed, Martin.

Well, in the course of the day, the first of many funerals taking place of the more than 100 people who died during that operation to free hostages in a Moscow theater in the early hours of Saturday morning, 115 of those dead. All but two died as results of complications arising from the inhalation of gas used in that rescue effort by Russian special forces. The burials taking place amidst a wave of mounting anger about the fact that so little information was given by the Russian authorities as to what substance they used, and indeed, as to how the results of that substance should be treated.

In hospitals, there are still hundreds of people receiving treatment. A number did emerge today, hostages coming out, having received treatment and now able to go home.

But at least 40 people are still said to be in a critical condition as a result of inhaling this gas -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Now, do we know any more about the American that supposedly died here, and whether or not there could be other Americans unaccounted for?

HANNA: Well, yes, indeed, we have received full details from the U.S. embassy here. The American who died has been identified as Sandy Booker. He was a 39-year-old from Oklahoma City who had come out to Moscow, we are told, to meet his fiancee, and to take her back home in the U.S.

We understand from the U.S. embassy here that an autopsy is being performed on the body, but the cause of death at this stage has not been ascertained.

Now in addition, there was a second American citizen who is in hospital, receiving treatment we are told. She is said to be in a good condition. She's declined to be identified. In addition to that, there were two American permanent residents holders, holders of a green card. One of them was also killed during that hostage siege, or after it as a result of the gas inhalation, and the second person is also said to be in a good condition, recovering, and, in fact, staying at the U.S. embassy here in Moscow we are told, Marty.

SAVIDGE: Mike Hanna, reporting to us live from Moscow, where it is evening. It should be pointed out in addition to those that were killed, over 650 people were rescued by that mission.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




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