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American Morning

Karachi Blast Similar to Blast Outside Sheraton Hotel in May

Aired June 14, 2002 - 07:12   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As we reported a few moments ago, at least eight people have been killed in a suicide car bombing outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.

Joining us now on the phone from Karachi is journalist, Azhar Abbas. What's the latest from there, Azhar?

AZHAR ABBAS, JOURNALIST: Well, the latest is that police have held at least a couple of people, and they are questioning them. They have traced actually the number plates of the car, which were -- cars actually, which were used in the blast, and they are questioning them. I have talked to one of my sources in the intelligence, and he told me that these people had stolen their -- they had stole the cars, so they have traced a car showroom. From there, the car was probably bought, but they are still investigating.

It seems like the same modus operandi was used as was used in the May 8 blast outside the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi in which French nationals were killed. But apparently, the police is also -- officials are also saying that it seems like the same group is behind this blast also, and that they are suspecting that they have links with al Qaeda.

ZAHN: You talk about that it seems like it's the same group. That previous group you were talking to, did they have strong ties to al Qaeda?

ABBAS: Yes. The previous group which was involved in the May 8 blast, they had links to al Qaeda. And police are also suspecting that this group -- it's kind of the same group. The people are the same group is what the police are saying.

ZAHN: Have they claimed responsibility yet for this attack?

ABBAS: No. Nobody has claimed responsibility. The police are saying that actually there is as such no al Qaeda network in Karachi, but there are some groups who have sympathies with the al Qaeda. So they probably are responsible, but they are not taking any names. No one has claimed responsibility as such. They are saying -- still saying that that they are investigating, and unless they have some solid proof, they are not going to name names.

ZAHN: And what is the level of fear after an attack like this? ABBAS: Well, the fear is like -- I was out on the streets. I talked to a couple of major shopping -- I went to a couple of major shopping areas where generally the foreign nationals shop. There is absolutely no one there. The shop people that I talked to, even the Pakistanis are really scared, because they know that this is the second such attack in the span of one and a half months, a suicide attack.

It's a new trend, and people are really scared. And the foreigners who were staying in the hotel, I have talked to them. Some of them are even packing bags as we speak, and they are trying to book flights. They want to go out of this country right now.

ZAHN: Azhar Abbas, thank you very much for your report. Once again, the very latest is that it's believed that eight people, besides the bomber, were killed. At least 40 others wounded in this explosion outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. As soon as more details become available, we'll bring them to you.

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