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Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Condemns Attacks in Riyadh
Aired May 13, 2003 - 15:03 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.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: It is just past 3:00 p.m. here in the nation's capital, just past noon on the West Coast. I'm Candy Crowley live from Washington. Judy Woodruff is off today.
An FBI team is heading to Saudi Arabia to investigate three nearly simultaneous terrorist attacks overnight, but U.S. officials already are working on the assumption that al Qaeda is behind the car bombings at a residential compound housing Westerners. Saudi officials say 29 people were killed, including seven Americans and nine people identified as the attackers.
It happened in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where Secretary of State Colin Powell toured some of the damage today. CNN's Andrea Koppel is at the State Department and CNN's Chris Burns is traveling with the president today.
Andrea, I want to go first to you, and ask you, do we know anything new? What is the latest?
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest, Candy, is actually an unusual address to the nation by the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who took to the airwaves tonight to condemn the attacks and also to send out a very blunt warning, not only to those terrorists, but also to those who support them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): If they believe that their criminality, bloody criminal acts will shake even one hair of the body of our nation and its unity, then they are deceiving themselves. If they believe that they are shaking the stability and security and safety of our country, then they are dreaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: But, in fact, many do believe that the attackers, the terrorists behind the bombings last night at three residential compounds in Riyadh were directed not only at Westerners, not only as Americans and British citizens living there, but also at the Saudi royal family. Not only trying to bring a divide, drive a wedge between the United States and Saudi Arabia, but also to shake up the ruling family.
That's something that was addressed by the Saudi Crown Prince. Secretary of State Powell had previously been in the region, was scheduled to go to Riyadh, and he went ahead with his trip, despite the bombings. He toured one of the worst hit compounds, where we're told at least several Americans died. These compounds house primarily expatriates, and as Secretary Powell made clear, the U.S. believes, although there's been no claim of responsibility, that the fingerprints of al Qaeda were behind these attacks -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Andrea Koppel at the State Department. Thanks, Andrea.
We want to move on to Chris Burns, who is in Springfield, Missouri, with the president. Chris, tell us what the president had to say and if you have any idea of what those who are looking into this have to say.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN FRANKFURT BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Candy, the president having made a speech in Indianapolis earlier today, having pushed his tax plan, but also having to deal with that bombing, saying that, yes, this war on terror goes on. That that is a reminder of that. But also promising retribution, saying that half of al Qaeda has been destroyed, but there is much more work to be done. They will catch up with those who caused that bombing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Any time anybody attacks our homeland, any time anybody attacks our fellow citizens, we'll be on the hunt and we'll find them. And they will be brought to justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now the White House is sticking by what Secretary Powell says. That this bears all the elements, all of the hallmarks of an attack by al Qaeda. However, they are stopping short there. They are saying that more information is going to have to be gathered. But they are promising retribution against those who caused that.
Meanwhile, the president is here in Missouri. He's gone on to the small town of Pierce City, that was shattered by the tornadoes. This is one of the states that's been declared a disaster area as a result of that. Seven states declared disaster areas. We'll have more on that for you later -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Thanks so much. CNN's Chris Burns. We can tell, at least, it's still raining in Springfield. Thanks, Chris.
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 May 13, 2003 - 15:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: It is just past 3:00 p.m. here in the nation's capital, just past noon on the West Coast. I'm Candy Crowley live from Washington. Judy Woodruff is off today.
An FBI team is heading to Saudi Arabia to investigate three nearly simultaneous terrorist attacks overnight, but U.S. officials already are working on the assumption that al Qaeda is behind the car bombings at a residential compound housing Westerners. Saudi officials say 29 people were killed, including seven Americans and nine people identified as the attackers.
It happened in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where Secretary of State Colin Powell toured some of the damage today. CNN's Andrea Koppel is at the State Department and CNN's Chris Burns is traveling with the president today.
Andrea, I want to go first to you, and ask you, do we know anything new? What is the latest?
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest, Candy, is actually an unusual address to the nation by the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who took to the airwaves tonight to condemn the attacks and also to send out a very blunt warning, not only to those terrorists, but also to those who support them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): If they believe that their criminality, bloody criminal acts will shake even one hair of the body of our nation and its unity, then they are deceiving themselves. If they believe that they are shaking the stability and security and safety of our country, then they are dreaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: But, in fact, many do believe that the attackers, the terrorists behind the bombings last night at three residential compounds in Riyadh were directed not only at Westerners, not only as Americans and British citizens living there, but also at the Saudi royal family. Not only trying to bring a divide, drive a wedge between the United States and Saudi Arabia, but also to shake up the ruling family.
That's something that was addressed by the Saudi Crown Prince. Secretary of State Powell had previously been in the region, was scheduled to go to Riyadh, and he went ahead with his trip, despite the bombings. He toured one of the worst hit compounds, where we're told at least several Americans died. These compounds house primarily expatriates, and as Secretary Powell made clear, the U.S. believes, although there's been no claim of responsibility, that the fingerprints of al Qaeda were behind these attacks -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Andrea Koppel at the State Department. Thanks, Andrea.
We want to move on to Chris Burns, who is in Springfield, Missouri, with the president. Chris, tell us what the president had to say and if you have any idea of what those who are looking into this have to say.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN FRANKFURT BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Candy, the president having made a speech in Indianapolis earlier today, having pushed his tax plan, but also having to deal with that bombing, saying that, yes, this war on terror goes on. That that is a reminder of that. But also promising retribution, saying that half of al Qaeda has been destroyed, but there is much more work to be done. They will catch up with those who caused that bombing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Any time anybody attacks our homeland, any time anybody attacks our fellow citizens, we'll be on the hunt and we'll find them. And they will be brought to justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now the White House is sticking by what Secretary Powell says. That this bears all the elements, all of the hallmarks of an attack by al Qaeda. However, they are stopping short there. They are saying that more information is going to have to be gathered. But they are promising retribution against those who caused that.
Meanwhile, the president is here in Missouri. He's gone on to the small town of Pierce City, that was shattered by the tornadoes. This is one of the states that's been declared a disaster area as a result of that. Seven states declared disaster areas. We'll have more on that for you later -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Thanks so much. CNN's Chris Burns. We can tell, at least, it's still raining in Springfield. Thanks, Chris.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
