Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Pakistani Officials: Bombing Unprecedented

Aired March 17, 2002 - 10:07   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, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get details now on that deadly church attack in Pakistan that killed two Americans. CNN's Islamabad bureau chief Ash-Har Quraishi joins us now live via videophone from Islamabad -- Ash-Har.

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Kyra, government officials again today this evening talking about this attack and saying it's unprecedented here in Islamabad for something like this to happen. It occurred in the diplomatic enclave here near the U.S. embassy, also near the Chinese embassy at a Protestant church. Most of the people that go to this church on Sunday is to observe services are those diplomats, family members of diplomats, foreigners. The government here says that they're investigating the incident. At this point, they're coordinating with embassy officials as well.

Just a short time ago, we heard from U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Wendy Chamberlain, and she expressed her thoughts on the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WENDY CHAMBERLAIN, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN: The attack this morning on worshipers at the Protestant International Church in Islamabad was a cowardly act that took the lives of five innocent people and injured many more while they were worshipping a House of God. Among those killed were Barbara Greene (ph) and her daughter Kristin Wormsley (ph), two members of the American embassy family in Islamabad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QURAISHI: Now Ambassador Chamberlain went on to say that she had faith in President Musharraf as well as President Bush and their fight against terrorism and terrorists that are still maybe here in Pakistan. Also we understand that there have been several other Americans that were injured in that attack. No word on their conditions at this point. But right now government officials say that they're investigating this incident and so far nobody has claimed responsibility.

PHILLIPS: Ash-Har Quraishi, thank you so much.

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