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CNN Live Event/Special
Iraqi Missile Damages Mall in Kuwait City
Aired March 29, 2003 - 06:08 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It was also a significant night right here in Kuwait City. The Iraqis have been lobbing a number of missiles. Last night, one hit at a big shopping mall and that happened early this morning. It heavily damaged that mall here in Kuwait City.
Our John Vause has more on the missile lobbed at Kuwait.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is difficult to know the exact point of impact for this missile, but it is not difficult to see the full force of the blast, the damage which it caused. We walk out onto this jetty, this pier, which goes out into the Persian Gulf. We can see where these steel girders have been buckled, the pylons have snapped, the railing over there dangling off the side.
Now when the missile impacted, it sent a shock wave. This shock wave was sent through this mall. This mall one of the biggest and best here in Kuwait City. The force of that shock wave bringing down parts of the ceiling, smashing windows.
Now inside this mall, only one person, because this missile landed in the early hours of the morning. And we're told that person was hurt, just minor injuries though, because this mall was empty. Quarter to two in the morning was when this missile struck.
We are also told that it could have been a Seersucker missile. That because of a circuitry board which was found on the scene and other markings on the outside of the missile. And that means it came in at a very low altitude, which means it was not picked up on radar, and the Patriot missile system, which is in place to try and intercept these missiles, was ineffective.
But we also know that once again this Iraqi missile, which was launched at Kuwait, did not contain chemical or biological agents.
John Vause, CNN, Kuwait City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Anderson, I can tell you at about 1:45 this morning, I was sleeping. I did wake up for the sirens going off. That's not an usual occurrence here over the last couple of weeks. Something about 1:00 a.m. there tends to be a lot of these missile alerts. The difference this time, the siren was sounding after the missile had already landed. Significance here that this missile came in, it came in low and it never was able -- Kuwait was never able to sound off those sirens to warn people to take cover.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It is very scary, Daryn. All right, thanks for that report. We'll be -- we'll check in with you in a few minutes.
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 March 29, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It was also a significant night right here in Kuwait City. The Iraqis have been lobbing a number of missiles. Last night, one hit at a big shopping mall and that happened early this morning. It heavily damaged that mall here in Kuwait City.
Our John Vause has more on the missile lobbed at Kuwait.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is difficult to know the exact point of impact for this missile, but it is not difficult to see the full force of the blast, the damage which it caused. We walk out onto this jetty, this pier, which goes out into the Persian Gulf. We can see where these steel girders have been buckled, the pylons have snapped, the railing over there dangling off the side.
Now when the missile impacted, it sent a shock wave. This shock wave was sent through this mall. This mall one of the biggest and best here in Kuwait City. The force of that shock wave bringing down parts of the ceiling, smashing windows.
Now inside this mall, only one person, because this missile landed in the early hours of the morning. And we're told that person was hurt, just minor injuries though, because this mall was empty. Quarter to two in the morning was when this missile struck.
We are also told that it could have been a Seersucker missile. That because of a circuitry board which was found on the scene and other markings on the outside of the missile. And that means it came in at a very low altitude, which means it was not picked up on radar, and the Patriot missile system, which is in place to try and intercept these missiles, was ineffective.
But we also know that once again this Iraqi missile, which was launched at Kuwait, did not contain chemical or biological agents.
John Vause, CNN, Kuwait City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Anderson, I can tell you at about 1:45 this morning, I was sleeping. I did wake up for the sirens going off. That's not an usual occurrence here over the last couple of weeks. Something about 1:00 a.m. there tends to be a lot of these missile alerts. The difference this time, the siren was sounding after the missile had already landed. Significance here that this missile came in, it came in low and it never was able -- Kuwait was never able to sound off those sirens to warn people to take cover.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It is very scary, Daryn. All right, thanks for that report. We'll be -- we'll check in with you in a few minutes.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
