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American Morning

Terror in Riyadh

Aired May 13, 2003 - 07:00   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: We start today with some serious news from Saudi Arabia and the latest on what's happening there.
The secretary of state, Colin Powell, is in Riyadh. He says 10 Americans were killed in a terrorist attack there, and it appears to have been carried out by al Qaeda.

The attacks happened late last night Saudi time. Terrorists shot their way into three housing complexes, where Western business executives live, and set off massive car bombs. A fourth complex also targeted, but it still remains unclear what happened there.

Secretary Powell says many people of other nationalities also paid for this attack with their lives, but we do not have firm numbers of those casualties.

Americans living and working in Saudi Arabia are being advised now to stay at home until authorities can determine if more attacks are likely.

More straightaway at the State Department. Andrea Koppel up early this morning tracking the latest for us from there.

Andrea -- good morning. What more are we finding out?

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, Secretary of State Powell just arrived in the Saudi capital a short time ago. When the attacks happened he was just across the border in Jordan, where he was finishing up a tour through the region.

Secretary of State Powell arriving in Riyadh, meeting with the Saudi foreign minister. His trip went ahead as scheduled despite the bombing.

Secretary Powell saying that while we still have no idea as to who exactly was behind the attacks -- there was no claim of responsibility -- he said the attacks nevertheless had all of the earmarks of al Qaeda.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Terrorism strikes anywhere and everyone. It is a threat to the entire civilized world. And even in this moment of sadness, we will commit ourselves again to redouble our efforts, work closely with our Saudi friends, and friends all around the world to go after al Qaeda, to go after terrorists, to go after those who would kill innocent people, and to make sure that the scourge is lifted from the earth.

The president has made it clear that terrorism is the No. 1 priority for all of us, and we will not rest until we have dealt with this threat to all of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: U.S. and Saudi officials say dozens were injured, more than 40 Americans injured; 11 killed, 10 of them Americans.

Now, the reason that Secretary Powell and others believe that this has the earmarks of al Qaeda are that the coordinated timing of the explosions is an al Qaeda hallmark. There's also recent intelligence suggesting that al Qaeda was in the final phases of planning attacks against U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia. And then there was the proximity of these attacks to a house where Saudi authorities found 800 pounds of powerful explosives and other weapons just last week.

Saudi officials claim that they had foiled the attack that happened -- that would have happened last week, and they are still looking for at least 19 suspects, Bill, 17 of whom they say are Saudis.

In the meantime, they are telling all Americans living in Saudi Arabia, an estimated 35,000 of them, to stay at home until the U.S. gets more information about future potential attack. And they're also saying, Bill, that the school in Riyadh, the American school, is closed. And that if any Americans have any questions, they're to contact the U.S. Consulate -- Bill.

HEMMER: Well, we have many questions here today. Andrea Koppel, thanks -- live at the State Department. We will speak later with you throughout the morning here.

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 May 13, 2003 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We start today with some serious news from Saudi Arabia and the latest on what's happening there.
The secretary of state, Colin Powell, is in Riyadh. He says 10 Americans were killed in a terrorist attack there, and it appears to have been carried out by al Qaeda.

The attacks happened late last night Saudi time. Terrorists shot their way into three housing complexes, where Western business executives live, and set off massive car bombs. A fourth complex also targeted, but it still remains unclear what happened there.

Secretary Powell says many people of other nationalities also paid for this attack with their lives, but we do not have firm numbers of those casualties.

Americans living and working in Saudi Arabia are being advised now to stay at home until authorities can determine if more attacks are likely.

More straightaway at the State Department. Andrea Koppel up early this morning tracking the latest for us from there.

Andrea -- good morning. What more are we finding out?

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, Secretary of State Powell just arrived in the Saudi capital a short time ago. When the attacks happened he was just across the border in Jordan, where he was finishing up a tour through the region.

Secretary of State Powell arriving in Riyadh, meeting with the Saudi foreign minister. His trip went ahead as scheduled despite the bombing.

Secretary Powell saying that while we still have no idea as to who exactly was behind the attacks -- there was no claim of responsibility -- he said the attacks nevertheless had all of the earmarks of al Qaeda.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Terrorism strikes anywhere and everyone. It is a threat to the entire civilized world. And even in this moment of sadness, we will commit ourselves again to redouble our efforts, work closely with our Saudi friends, and friends all around the world to go after al Qaeda, to go after terrorists, to go after those who would kill innocent people, and to make sure that the scourge is lifted from the earth.

The president has made it clear that terrorism is the No. 1 priority for all of us, and we will not rest until we have dealt with this threat to all of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: U.S. and Saudi officials say dozens were injured, more than 40 Americans injured; 11 killed, 10 of them Americans.

Now, the reason that Secretary Powell and others believe that this has the earmarks of al Qaeda are that the coordinated timing of the explosions is an al Qaeda hallmark. There's also recent intelligence suggesting that al Qaeda was in the final phases of planning attacks against U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia. And then there was the proximity of these attacks to a house where Saudi authorities found 800 pounds of powerful explosives and other weapons just last week.

Saudi officials claim that they had foiled the attack that happened -- that would have happened last week, and they are still looking for at least 19 suspects, Bill, 17 of whom they say are Saudis.

In the meantime, they are telling all Americans living in Saudi Arabia, an estimated 35,000 of them, to stay at home until the U.S. gets more information about future potential attack. And they're also saying, Bill, that the school in Riyadh, the American school, is closed. And that if any Americans have any questions, they're to contact the U.S. Consulate -- Bill.

HEMMER: Well, we have many questions here today. Andrea Koppel, thanks -- live at the State Department. We will speak later with you throughout the morning here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.