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Breaking News

Pakistani Police Say They Found Daniel Pearl's Body

Aired May 16, 2002 - 14:57   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're just getting word of a breaking development coming to us from Karachi, Pakistan. Word from there that perhaps the body of that "Wall Street Reporter," Daniel Pearl, who was executed some months ago, may have been found.

Let's check in now with Ash-har Quraishi, who is there for us. Ash-har, what have you learned so far?

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, government officials and police are telling us this evening that they may have found the body of "Wall Street Journal" reporter, Daniel Pearl. They say that they have made an arrest late this evening of three suspects that may have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, who said that they had actually buried him in a location on the outskirts of Karachi.

Police have proceeded to that location. They say that they have recovered a body. Officials we have spoken to say that they are very certain that this body is that of Daniel Pearl's. Although they said that they have not positively identified the body as of yet. They are working under the assumption that this is Daniel Pearl's body.

Right now there are very little details as to who these three men are and how the were picked up. But right now officials are still investigating it. So whether or not this is in fact the body of Daniel. Pearl, so far they're telling us -- quote -- that they are "very certain." Leon.

HARRIS: OK, Ash-har, are they giving you any more information about why they are so certain right now? We understand that you're still trying to find out exactly what is the nature of these three men who have been arrested. But are the police saying anything about why they believe these three men?

QURAISHI: That's right. They're not saying exactly why they believe the body may be Daniel Pearl's. Now, in this case there are four suspects that have been taken into custody. There are also seven other suspects that have not been taken into custody.

It's still not clear whether or not these three men are among those people that police were looking for. That may be one factor in why they believe that this is the body. Also, other factors, depending on what he's wearing or the condition of the body, is something that may be pointing towards why they believe this is in fact the body.

Now, as you recall, just after the kidnapping in early February, there was another search that had been taken place in Karachi after an e-mail was received that Daniel Pearl's body was dumped in a cemetery. That turned out not to be true.

So right now...

(AUDIO GAP)

QURAISHI: ... it is Daniel Pearl's body.

HARRIS: Understood. Ash-har Quraishi reporting live for us from Karachi, Pakistan. Word coming from there that perhaps the body of the "Wall Street Reporter" who was executed on videotape some months ago may have been found. His body may have been found.

We understand it was found somewhere in an open field in a poor neighborhood on the western edge of Karachi. Now, thank you very much, Ash-har. We'll let you go back to digging up some information on that story.

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