Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
As Many As 25 Dead in Italian Police Bombing in Iraq
Aired November 12, 2003 - 13:07 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The bombing of the Italian military police barracks constitutes the deadliest attack to date on non- American troops in Iraq. And it's the first in the Shi'ite controlled enclave of Nasiriyah. CNN's Ben Wedeman is following event from our perch in Baghdad. Ben, what's the latest from there?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, at this point it appears that as many as 25 people were killed in this bombing, which took place midmorning, right outside the Italian police headquarters in the city of Nasiriyah. A city which, until now, had been relatively peaceful.
Now, we understand from coalition sources that a truck, followed by a car, drove up to the main entrance to one of the military police buildings there. The car exploded as it entered the compound. No explanation how it got into the compound itself. And there is some suggestions that possibly the truck exploded as well.
At this point, the death toll stands at 17 Italians dead. That includes 15 soldiers and Carabinarri (ph), those are the paramilitary police, as well as two Italian civilians.
We're hearing also from Iraqi hospitals in the area that as many as eight Iraqis were killed. As far as injured, we're told 21 Italians injured but these numbers seem to be changing by the hour.
Now rescue teams are still working at the scene of the blast. One of the buildings, we're told by Italian officials, had as many as 60 people inside when the bomb went off. They are still searching through the rubble for survivors or for bodies.
Now, these are -- this was the first time Italian troops were killed in a combat situation since they came to the country, following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. There are about 2,700 Italian soldiers and policemen in the country. And it certainly is the deadliest attack of a non-U.S. member of the coalition. And it could prove to be the deadliest attack if the death toll continues to rise.
Now, here in Baghdad, Miles, one U.S. soldier was killed overnight when he was hit by a road-side bomb and another died from wounds inflicted upon him yesterday, Tuesday. At this point, almost more than 60 coalition troops have been killed since the beginning of the month of November alone -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Ben, there's been some intelligence reports indicating that terrorists would hope to expand their reach beyond the so-called Sunni Triangle, to the north and then to the south of Baghdad, a little farther from the capital city. Is that happening?
WEDEMAN: It certainly appears to be the case.
Now, this warning came in a classified CIA assessment, in which it suggested the attacks would spread from the central area, Baghdad and the so-called Sunni Triangle, to the south and to the north. Both parts of the country, which have been relatively peaceful.
Now, the CIA assessment also suggested that there is increased cooperation between Islamic extremists and former regime loyalists. And also -- and more disturbing, possibly -- was the suggestion in that assessment that more and more Iraqis are joining the ranks of the insurgents, of the rebels, or the resistance, as some people call it here.
So, certainly, the bombing today would suggest that that intelligence assessment was fairly spot-on -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, we'll leave it on that troubling note. CNN's Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. Thanks so much.
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 12, 2003 - 13:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The bombing of the Italian military police barracks constitutes the deadliest attack to date on non- American troops in Iraq. And it's the first in the Shi'ite controlled enclave of Nasiriyah. CNN's Ben Wedeman is following event from our perch in Baghdad. Ben, what's the latest from there?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, at this point it appears that as many as 25 people were killed in this bombing, which took place midmorning, right outside the Italian police headquarters in the city of Nasiriyah. A city which, until now, had been relatively peaceful.
Now, we understand from coalition sources that a truck, followed by a car, drove up to the main entrance to one of the military police buildings there. The car exploded as it entered the compound. No explanation how it got into the compound itself. And there is some suggestions that possibly the truck exploded as well.
At this point, the death toll stands at 17 Italians dead. That includes 15 soldiers and Carabinarri (ph), those are the paramilitary police, as well as two Italian civilians.
We're hearing also from Iraqi hospitals in the area that as many as eight Iraqis were killed. As far as injured, we're told 21 Italians injured but these numbers seem to be changing by the hour.
Now rescue teams are still working at the scene of the blast. One of the buildings, we're told by Italian officials, had as many as 60 people inside when the bomb went off. They are still searching through the rubble for survivors or for bodies.
Now, these are -- this was the first time Italian troops were killed in a combat situation since they came to the country, following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. There are about 2,700 Italian soldiers and policemen in the country. And it certainly is the deadliest attack of a non-U.S. member of the coalition. And it could prove to be the deadliest attack if the death toll continues to rise.
Now, here in Baghdad, Miles, one U.S. soldier was killed overnight when he was hit by a road-side bomb and another died from wounds inflicted upon him yesterday, Tuesday. At this point, almost more than 60 coalition troops have been killed since the beginning of the month of November alone -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Ben, there's been some intelligence reports indicating that terrorists would hope to expand their reach beyond the so-called Sunni Triangle, to the north and then to the south of Baghdad, a little farther from the capital city. Is that happening?
WEDEMAN: It certainly appears to be the case.
Now, this warning came in a classified CIA assessment, in which it suggested the attacks would spread from the central area, Baghdad and the so-called Sunni Triangle, to the south and to the north. Both parts of the country, which have been relatively peaceful.
Now, the CIA assessment also suggested that there is increased cooperation between Islamic extremists and former regime loyalists. And also -- and more disturbing, possibly -- was the suggestion in that assessment that more and more Iraqis are joining the ranks of the insurgents, of the rebels, or the resistance, as some people call it here.
So, certainly, the bombing today would suggest that that intelligence assessment was fairly spot-on -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, we'll leave it on that troubling note. CNN's Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
