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CNN BREAKING NEWS
Death Toll Rises in Casablanca Car Bombing Campaign's Wake; Belgian, Spanish Areas May have Been Targeted
Aired May 16, 2003 - 20:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get back now to our breaking news story, and that is taking place in Casablanca, Morocco. A series of several explosions, car bombs, going off in that economic center. And with that on the phone right now we have Mustapha Kelu, a journalist who is in Casablanca to tell us more about what took place.
Mustapha, what can you tell us?
MUSTAPHA KELU, JOURNALIST: OK, we heard that there is at least 20 people died and more injuries in different places in the biggest town in Morocco, Casablanca.
In four places, a restaurant which is close to the Belgian embassy. And another club called Casablanca D'Espagne, it's a kind of a restaurant. And one of the biggest hotels in Casablanca, Safir Hotel. And another place in the medina, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) saying that there is some kamikaze terrorist which launched the bombs (UNINTELLIGIBLE) those four different places.
KAGAN: Mustapha, for those not as familiar with Casablanca, how far apart would these explosion sites be?
KELU: They're very close. The four places are located in the downtown of Casablanca.
KAGAN: All in the downtown area. Has anybody claimed responsibility for the blasts?
KELU: No responsibility yet. But we are waiting for official communique from the ministry of interior, the Moroccan (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ministry and it will be -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in one hour.
KAGAN: And then finally, we've been hearing a number of threats all around the globe in recent weeks, especially in recent days. What about in Casablanca? Had there been word of potential terrorist threats?
KELU: Yes, there's a lot of secrecy things in Casablanca. But no one -- Casablanca, it's a commercial and economic capital of Morocco.
But now the people are saying there is at least 22 people died.
KAGAN: At least 22. We've been able to confirm at least 20, it looks like that number might rise.
KELU: Twenty-,two yes. It's going up.
KAGAN: All right, Mustapha Kelu, a journalist joining us i from Casablanca. Thank you for that. He's reporting at least 22 people have died in these four separate car bomb blasts that took place within the last two hours, all in the downtown area of Casablanca. We'll continue to track this story. Much more ahead on that.
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Wake; Belgian, Spanish Areas May have Been Targeted>
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