Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Explosion Heard in Baghdad
Aired January 12, 2004 - 14:41 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: Reports coming out of Baghdad of one fairly significant explosion, perhaps linked to a rocket-propelled grenade, in the vicinity of the Palestine Hotel, which is in central Baghdad, and not far from where CNN's Karl Penhaul stands right now. He gives us further details.
Hello, Karl.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles.
Yes, just a few moments ago, the area where we were standing was shaken as a rocket, apparently a rocket, exploded about 200 yards north of our hotel. Now members of our team are obviously checking out exactly what did happen.
But initially, what we believe, and what we can see from the roof of the hotel, is that about 150 yards away from where we are now, a car was parked and that was used to launch some kind of rocket. We're not yet sure whether it was a rocket-propelled grenade or whether it was some other kind of rocket. That then -- we heard it actually when it left the launcher, whatever kind of launcher was used. We heard the initial boom when that went off.
And we heard that then impact about 200 yards away. Really quite a large explosion. Shook the ground. And even some of our colleagues say that they did hear the whistle of that as it went through the air near us. We understand that it impacted near another hotel called the Baghdad Hotel.
At this stage, though, we don't know what the extent of any damage or any casualties that may have been caused by that. That said, Miles, just to put it in perspective, there have been from time to time rocket attacks on both the Sheridan and Palestine hotels where a lot of foreign reporters stay and other buildings in this area. What the coalition forces have said is that insurgents do like to target these hotels because so many media are staying here. That ensures them an immediate media boom, if you like.
O'BRIEN: All right, on that sobering note, we'll leave you. Karl Penhaul, please stay safe. That goes to you and all the crew there in Baghdad.
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 January 12, 2004 - 14:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Reports coming out of Baghdad of one fairly significant explosion, perhaps linked to a rocket-propelled grenade, in the vicinity of the Palestine Hotel, which is in central Baghdad, and not far from where CNN's Karl Penhaul stands right now. He gives us further details.
Hello, Karl.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles.
Yes, just a few moments ago, the area where we were standing was shaken as a rocket, apparently a rocket, exploded about 200 yards north of our hotel. Now members of our team are obviously checking out exactly what did happen.
But initially, what we believe, and what we can see from the roof of the hotel, is that about 150 yards away from where we are now, a car was parked and that was used to launch some kind of rocket. We're not yet sure whether it was a rocket-propelled grenade or whether it was some other kind of rocket. That then -- we heard it actually when it left the launcher, whatever kind of launcher was used. We heard the initial boom when that went off.
And we heard that then impact about 200 yards away. Really quite a large explosion. Shook the ground. And even some of our colleagues say that they did hear the whistle of that as it went through the air near us. We understand that it impacted near another hotel called the Baghdad Hotel.
At this stage, though, we don't know what the extent of any damage or any casualties that may have been caused by that. That said, Miles, just to put it in perspective, there have been from time to time rocket attacks on both the Sheridan and Palestine hotels where a lot of foreign reporters stay and other buildings in this area. What the coalition forces have said is that insurgents do like to target these hotels because so many media are staying here. That ensures them an immediate media boom, if you like.
O'BRIEN: All right, on that sobering note, we'll leave you. Karl Penhaul, please stay safe. That goes to you and all the crew there in Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
