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Car Bomb Targets Police Recruits in Baghdad
Aired February 10, 2004 - 14:47 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: Back in Baghdad, a coalition spokesperson says there are good days and bad days. But for Iraqi police and would-be recruits, this was definitely one of worst.
A truck bomb today killed at least 50 people outside a police station just south of Baghdad while separate attack in the capital gunned down four officers on their way to work.
CNN's Brent Sadler has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This latest attack targeted a police station 25 miles south of Baghdad.
(voice-over) A small truck packed with an estimated 500 pounds of explosives blew up close to a main entrance. Dozens of Iraqi men, hoping to join Iraq's growing police force, were reportedly lined up outside when the bomb went off.
The explosion reduced parts of the police station to rubble.
Deadly shrapnel tore through parked cars and cut through a crowd of people inflicting heavy loss of life. Iraqi officials say at least 50 people were killed, mostly civilians, and more than 150 injured.
The bombsite was initially secured by U.S. forces, while the dead and injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
Emotions surged immediately after the attack, with many Iraqis in this ethnically mixed town choosing to ignore evidence of a truck bomb attack, blaming instead the U.S. military for launching an air strike.
Such interpretation of what happened here stirs up anti-American sentiment, especially among Iraqis themselves, as the country moves towards self-rule by the end of June.
On Monday, U.S. officials said an intercepted letter written by a suspected insurgent, Abu al-Zarqawi, sought al Qaeda guidance and support for a new phase of terror attacks aimed at fomenting civil war, an attempt to undermine the coalition and future Iraqi leadership.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is clear from Zarqawi's memo that Iraqi security forces have already begun to put enormous pressure on him and his efforts in Iraq. And we intend to ramp up that pressure. And working closely with the Iraqi Governing Council and with other Iraqi leaders throughout the country will be a critical element in our overall strategy.
SADLER (on camera): As an extension of the U.S.-led authority in Iraq, the police have been the targets of a systematic campaign of terror attacks in recent months, with increasing loss of life for this newborn force.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 10, 2004 - 14:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: Back in Baghdad, a coalition spokesperson says there are good days and bad days. But for Iraqi police and would-be recruits, this was definitely one of worst.
A truck bomb today killed at least 50 people outside a police station just south of Baghdad while separate attack in the capital gunned down four officers on their way to work.
CNN's Brent Sadler has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This latest attack targeted a police station 25 miles south of Baghdad.
(voice-over) A small truck packed with an estimated 500 pounds of explosives blew up close to a main entrance. Dozens of Iraqi men, hoping to join Iraq's growing police force, were reportedly lined up outside when the bomb went off.
The explosion reduced parts of the police station to rubble.
Deadly shrapnel tore through parked cars and cut through a crowd of people inflicting heavy loss of life. Iraqi officials say at least 50 people were killed, mostly civilians, and more than 150 injured.
The bombsite was initially secured by U.S. forces, while the dead and injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
Emotions surged immediately after the attack, with many Iraqis in this ethnically mixed town choosing to ignore evidence of a truck bomb attack, blaming instead the U.S. military for launching an air strike.
Such interpretation of what happened here stirs up anti-American sentiment, especially among Iraqis themselves, as the country moves towards self-rule by the end of June.
On Monday, U.S. officials said an intercepted letter written by a suspected insurgent, Abu al-Zarqawi, sought al Qaeda guidance and support for a new phase of terror attacks aimed at fomenting civil war, an attempt to undermine the coalition and future Iraqi leadership.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is clear from Zarqawi's memo that Iraqi security forces have already begun to put enormous pressure on him and his efforts in Iraq. And we intend to ramp up that pressure. And working closely with the Iraqi Governing Council and with other Iraqi leaders throughout the country will be a critical element in our overall strategy.
SADLER (on camera): As an extension of the U.S.-led authority in Iraq, the police have been the targets of a systematic campaign of terror attacks in recent months, with increasing loss of life for this newborn force.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
