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CNN Sunday Morning

American Mother and Daughter Killed in Pakistan

Aired March 17, 2002 - 11:04   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: As we told you just a few minutes ago, an American mother and a daughter were killed in a church attack in Islamabad, Pakistan. CNN Islamabad Bureau Chief Ash-har Quraishi, joins us live via videophone now from Islamabad with the very latest on this. Ash-har, what can you tell us.

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Catherine, the attack occurred this morning local time just before 11:00 a.m. in the International Protestant Church here in Islamabad. It occurred at a time when services were begin observed there. Many diplomats have been mentioned. Diplomats and foreigners attend this church, which is located in the diplomatic enclave, very close to the U.S. Embassy.

Apparently, according to authorities, two men entered the church while parishioners were observing Sunday services, and lobbed several grenades into the crowds, two of which detonated, causing at least 40 injuries and five deaths, as you said, among those deaths, two Americans.

U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Wendy Chamberlain, gave a statement just a short time ago. She described those two, one Barbara Green (ph), and her daughter 17-year-old Christian Wormsley (ph). She described the two then as members of the American Embassy family. She also went on to talk about what the leaders of the countries of the United States and Pakistan, their commitments to the War on Terrorism, and this is what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WENDY CHAMBERLAIN, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN: We will not give into those driven by hate, to those so cowardly that they throw explosives at innocent people in a house of worship. These terrorists will not win in the United States and they will not win in Pakistan, and we will not let them win anywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QURAISHI: Wendy Chamberlain also going on to say that this attack was something, as well as officials here in Islamabad, saying this is an attack that they wouldn't expect in Islamabad, something that they have not seen before in the capitol city here.

Also, the President of Pakistan issuing condolences to the families of those killed and those injured in the attack here in Islamabad. Again, those two Americans both killed in church, in what authorities here are calling a sheer act of terror. Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Ash-har, do we know anything about the two men who threw the grenades in? Have they been apprehended? Any idea who they are?

QURAISHI: At this point, nobody has claimed responsibility for this act. Authorities say they are investigating, local authorities in conjunction with federal authorities here. The president has issued an order for coordination by all agencies, including the embassies. The embassies are participating in this investigation, obviously, but at this point they say that they can't say who might be behind this, but they are investigating. Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Ash-har Quraishi, thank you very much for joining us and that report. Thank you.

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