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American Morning

Suicide Bomber Strikes on Crowded Bus

Aired June 18, 2002 - 09:03   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, up front this morning from overseas, rush hour terror earlier today in Jerusalem. A suicide bomber struck today on a crowded bus. Nineteen are dead at least; more than 50 wounded. Many of those wounded thought to be schoolchildren on their way to class today.

Sheila MacVicar live from Jerusalem now with the very latest on the scene there.

Sheila, hello again.

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, again, Bill.

Right over there, the other side of the street, you could perhaps see there are still a few people lingering there. That was where the bus was when the suicide bomber detonated his device, this deadly effect this morning. As you have said, at least 19 dead; 50 more are wounded. We know that some of them are in a very serious condition.

Now this bomb blast comes at a time when both Israelis and Palestinians have been waiting with great anticipation for President Bush's speech or statement on his vision of how to move forward towards a resumption of political dialogue here. Israel has already said that it will not accept the creation of any kind of Palestinian state under the current conditions. That was a message that we heard again from Israel's Prime Minister Sharon as he came to this site. A very unusual visit by Israel's prime minister. He came to this site to see the devastation here for himself.

Bill, this blast has been claimed by the Islamic militant organization Hamas. Never part of the peace process. It has been condemned by the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Sharon left the scene here, went into security consultations, and we believe that a meeting of Israel's cabinet has just begun in the last few minutes. They're going to be talking about what to do next -- Bill.

HEMMER: Sheila, thank you. Sheila MacVicar again on the scene there in Jerusalem.

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