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CNN Live Sunday
U.S. Condemns Attack On Baghdad Hotel
Aired October 12, 2003 - 18:03 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Here in the United States, U.S. officials condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. Let's get more, now, from CNN's Chris Plante at the Pentagon -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: Hi, Carol.
Well, what we know at this point is that there were two explosive-laden vehicles involved in the attack. It was apparently a coordinated attack. The cars came in from two different directions.
One of the vehicles heading toward the entrance to the hotel, heading the wrong way down a one-way street, according to CNN Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, hit a strip of spikes across the road designed to puncture the tires. The tires were punctured.
There was an outer perimeter of Iraqi security that opened fire on the two approaching vehicles with small arms, and an inner perimeter of U.S. security personnel then also opening fire on the two vehicles as they were coming through the security check point.
They did not, as Harris Whitbeck said, make it to their intended target. That was the hotel. We are told that at least one of the suicide bombers had built into the car what they called a "dead-man switch."
This is a switch that requires that constant pressure be applied to it. And as soon as pressure is released, the explosives aboard the vehicle will detonate. It is probable, but not certain at this point, that the second vehicle also had this.
It's apparent right now that the small-arms fire directed at the vehicles killed the suicide bombers. Both vehicles detonated short of their intended target.
And at this point, the body count stands at six. We are told that six Iraqis were killed in the attack. At least two of those were the security personnel involved in guarding the entrance.
A total of 32 people injured. Of those 32, three are Americans -- American security personnel there outside the hotel. We're told that the injuries to the Americans, however, are relatively slight. We were told that they were only slightly injured.
Now, Pentagon officials contacted by CNN today see a lot of silver lining associated with this. First, that the security measures were effective enough to keep the suicide bombers from completing their intended mission. They believe that the casualties would have been much greater. And the success of the terrorist mission would have been much more significant, had they been able to reach the two -- the hotels with the two vehicles. Very massive explosions.
But it's not all silver lining because, again, as Harris was saying, this is not helpful to the administration at a time where they're trying to recruit troops from third nations to come in and participate in the security operation there, and also in the economic recovery -- Carol.
LIN: All right, Chris Plante, live at the Pentagon. Thank you very 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
Aired October 12, 2003 - 18:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Here in the United States, U.S. officials condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. Let's get more, now, from CNN's Chris Plante at the Pentagon -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: Hi, Carol.
Well, what we know at this point is that there were two explosive-laden vehicles involved in the attack. It was apparently a coordinated attack. The cars came in from two different directions.
One of the vehicles heading toward the entrance to the hotel, heading the wrong way down a one-way street, according to CNN Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, hit a strip of spikes across the road designed to puncture the tires. The tires were punctured.
There was an outer perimeter of Iraqi security that opened fire on the two approaching vehicles with small arms, and an inner perimeter of U.S. security personnel then also opening fire on the two vehicles as they were coming through the security check point.
They did not, as Harris Whitbeck said, make it to their intended target. That was the hotel. We are told that at least one of the suicide bombers had built into the car what they called a "dead-man switch."
This is a switch that requires that constant pressure be applied to it. And as soon as pressure is released, the explosives aboard the vehicle will detonate. It is probable, but not certain at this point, that the second vehicle also had this.
It's apparent right now that the small-arms fire directed at the vehicles killed the suicide bombers. Both vehicles detonated short of their intended target.
And at this point, the body count stands at six. We are told that six Iraqis were killed in the attack. At least two of those were the security personnel involved in guarding the entrance.
A total of 32 people injured. Of those 32, three are Americans -- American security personnel there outside the hotel. We're told that the injuries to the Americans, however, are relatively slight. We were told that they were only slightly injured.
Now, Pentagon officials contacted by CNN today see a lot of silver lining associated with this. First, that the security measures were effective enough to keep the suicide bombers from completing their intended mission. They believe that the casualties would have been much greater. And the success of the terrorist mission would have been much more significant, had they been able to reach the two -- the hotels with the two vehicles. Very massive explosions.
But it's not all silver lining because, again, as Harris was saying, this is not helpful to the administration at a time where they're trying to recruit troops from third nations to come in and participate in the security operation there, and also in the economic recovery -- Carol.
LIN: All right, Chris Plante, live at the Pentagon. Thank you very 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
