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American Morning

Israeli Police: Cell Phone Used to Set Off Bomb at University

Aired August 01, 2002 - 11:36   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have new information on the bombing that took place yesterday at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. First of all, Israeli police now believe a cell phone was used to set off the bomb that killed seven people, and we now know that five of those people were Americans.

The explosion ripped through a crowded cafeteria at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and our Jerusalem bureau chief Mike Hanna is joining us with more details on the story.

Mike, hello, once again.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.

Police are putting together the sequence of events that led to the attack on Hebrew University in on Mount Scopis (ph) in Jerusalem. They know now that some bag was placed in the cafeteria with explosives inside, which was detonated when the cafeteria was at its most crowded, at lunch time, Jerusalem time.

Seven people killed in that attack. Five of them were Americans. One of the five had dual French nationality. The bodies of the dead Americans are going to be flown later in the evening for a burial there. Seventy people injured in the blast, or more than 70, some said to be in serious condition, many still receiving treatment in hospital. Police continuing to investigation that course of events, believing that the explosive device in the cafeteria may have been detonated remotely by a cell phone.

But in the course of the day, the campus was full of people paying their respects to those who are dead, remembering the injured, remembering the absolute tragedy and carnage that took place in the course of the day. At an area, at a university, that has been renowned as beacon of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. That tolerance and peaceful coexistence severely tested, if not almost destroyed, with that bomb blast that took place in the campus, at a crowded cafeteria at lunch hour -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Mike Hanna, bringing us the latest from that situation in Jerusalem. Thank you very much.

HANNA: That topic came up today as President Bush is hosting King Abdullah of Jordan. The men are at odds over what to do with Jordan's neighbor, and that would be Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Let's go to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux to look at all of these issues.

Suzanne, earlier, we had a chance to listen to some videotape of the president and the king meeting, and touching on a number of hot button issues.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, that's right.

Just sitting beside Jordan's King Abdullah, the president used the strongest words possible to condemn the latest attack if Israel, that killed five Americans and injured dozens and dozens of Arabs. He said he was furious, that he was just as angry as Israel was, but he also said that he believed that peace was still possible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today in America, we mourn the loss of American lives. My prayers and sympathies go to the loved ones of those who were killed by terrorists, who must hate the thought of peace, who must firmly believe that violence is the best hope for mankind in that part of the world, a concept I strongly reject.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now as for the U.S. response to this attack, he was asked whether or not there would be these killings avenged, these American killings. He says that we are engaged on a war on terror, that it has many fronts, but he also emphasized that Israel has the right to defend herself.

Now the president said that the focus of this meeting in Abdullah is going to be moving the Middle East peace process forward. That includes restructuring the Palestinian security force, providing humanitarian aid For Palestinian people, creating these Democratic institutions.

But there is no doubt the most contentious issue in this meeting is going to be about whether or not the United States is going to use military might to overthrow Saddam Hussein. This is something that King Abdullah, our Arab allies, and many European allies disagree with.

But President Bush, with King Abdullah by his side, still reiterated that all options are on the table.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: The policy of my government, our government, this administration, is regime change, for a reason. Saddam Hussein is a who poisons his own people, who threatens his neighbors, who develops weapons of mass destruction. I will assure his majesty, like I have in the past, we are looking at all options, the use of all tools. I'm a patient man. But I haven't changed my opinion since the last time he was in the Oval Office. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is now in the White House. He arrived about 20 minutes ago. Earlier, he met with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. As you may be aware, Israelis are also making their case to the president. They want to make it clear that until the violence stops, this in Middle East peace process cannot go forward -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux at White House, Suzanne, thank you very much.

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