responsibility yet and run in the face of terrorism. Secretary of State Warren
Christopher met with some of the dozens of American troops who were seriously
injured when their housing complex was blown open by a terrorist bomb. Along
with Saudi officials Christopher toured the rubble-strewn wreckage. These acts of
terror only strengthen our resolve to stay the course and to defend peace and
those who take risks for peace. The 2,900 US troops stationed in Dahran are there
to protect the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. Despite beefed-up security the
commander of US forces overseas called it a new level of terrorism. This was an
act of exorbitant degree of capability in terms of a blast that you don't
normally see in the normal kinds of terrorism kinds of cases. Before heading
to an economic summit in France President Clinton pledged to track down
those responsible. We will not rest in our efforts to find who is responsible
for this outrage. To pursue them and to punish them. Anyone who attacks one
American attacks every American and we protect and defend our own. At Kelly Air
Force Base in Texas the military set up a phone bank for family members of those
stationed in Dahran. The bodies of all 19 Americans who were killed in Saudi
Arabia are being returned home tomorrow night, tomorrow morning
sorry at Dover Air Force Base. It's a poignant end to what the State
Department called their mission of peace. Reporting live from Washington I'm Juju
Chang. Now back to you. Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane reports it has 11
people assigned to Dahran. Officials say all are alive and accounted for
tonight although two did suffer minor injuries. News Force Kerry Tomlinson is
at Fairchild Air Force Base now with the latest. Very officials say those two
Fairchild personnel who are in Dahran received cuts and bruises in the bombing
and they have been treated. Now we're also told that the rest of the people
who are not injured who are from Fairchild are helping up in the cleaning
up of the aftermath of the bombing. Here at Fairchild you can see that the flag
is at half-staff as it has been ordered for Air Force Bases around the country
even around the world and here at Fairchild people are still feeling both
worry and relief tonight.
At noon the sign at Fairchild began to broadcast the news all 11 Fairchild
members in Dahran Saudi Arabia are okay. This after a long night of waiting
information coming in slowly. Fairchild officials say even they had to wait for
the information to flow through official channels. It's hard for us to sit back
and answer the calls from the loved ones are back here wanting to know because we
want to be able to tell them that their loved ones are safe and that we know
what the accountability is. We just have to have patience. The bombing touches
many on base. Teresina Johnson knows the Fairchild flight nurse in Dahran. I was
pretty much shocked. I was at work yesterday and I just heard that there was
a bombing. I mean we didn't know what had happened or anything who had done it or
anything but it's pretty scary I guess. I just wish that I knew for sure that you
know definitely that my friends are all right.
Don Alexander's best friend is in Saudi Arabia. When they get back or they give
me a call then I'll be relieved. But until then I'm still kind of you know
concerned. Sondra Marston could head over there at any time. It's kind of
hard to hearing about people like that over there getting blown up that way but
I was shocked. And even if they don't know someone there now there's that
feeling that family has been attacked. Hopefully they'll find out who did it and
take care of it and hopefully it won't happen again. Now the Fairchild flight
nurse who is assigned to Dahran is helping out with a medical situation
right now. We're also told that a flight surgeon from Fairchild who is assigned
to Riyadh has been sent over to Dahran to help out. Now most of the Fairchild
personnel who are stationed or assigned to Saudi Arabia are in Riyadh. Back to
you. Carrie the 11 personnel from Fairchild were they all on the same
mission in Dahran? Well they were not all from the same unit and they were not all
assigned to the same unit. They were individuals who were sent over to
Dahran to help out with their individual specialties for example transport or
supply or medical or even security police. Barry? All right thanks Carrie
Tomlinson live at Fairchild Air Force Base. Tonight Fairchild is not yet
releasing the names of the personnel stationed in Dahran. Concern for the
safety of airmen serving in the Middle East also stretches into Western
Washington. Team 4 coverage continues with Margo Myers at McCord Air Force
Base near Tacoma. There is a sense of relief here at McCord Air Force Base
tonight yet the mood is somber because of the American fatalities in Saudi
Arabia. Now McCord officials have been working around the clock since the
bombing to confirm firsthand how their people were doing and tonight there is
good news. All 22 of the McCord personnel in Saudi Arabia are safe and accounted
for. Now it's still unknown whether those people will be brought home right away
or whether more troops from McCord will be sent to Saudi Arabia to help in that
joint operation and there is one other bit of good news I might add a soldier
from Fort Lewis who was also in Saudi Arabia is reported to be doing fine
tonight as well. At McCord Air Force Base I'm Margo Myers reporting for News 4.
Thank You Margo there's also welcome news tonight for relatives awaiting news in
southern Idaho. 29 personnel from Mountain Home Air Force Base are
stationed at the Saudi base. All reportedly are okay. Three people did
however suffer minor injuries. If you have a relative in the Air Force who is
serving in Saudi Arabia you probably want more information. The Air Force has
now set up a toll-free hotline that you may call to get your questions answered.
This information center is at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas. If you
would like information on who was hurt in the Saudi bombing call this hotline
number 1-800-253-9276. This number is for Air Force family members only. An
American FBI team on its way to Saudi Arabia now to investigate that bombing
yesterday. News 4's exclusive news in motion shows what the agents will find.
The building hit the hardest is at the northern corner of the military housing
complex. The bomb exploded in front of the eight-story structure tearing off
its facade and creating a massive crater measuring 35 feet deep 85 feet wide.
Experts say the tiniest clues found at the scene could lead to the bombers. Most
terrorist groups when they carry out bombings will use more or less the same
modus operandi over and over again. They will use the same sort of bomb so they
will examine the nature of the explosive, the detonator, the booster charge, how the
bomb was sort of shaped and pointed and then compare that with other bombs in the
region. The Saudi government is offering a 2.7 million dollar reward tonight for
information leading to an arrest. The Saudi government says it is strongly
committed to punishing those responsible. In other news tonight a going away party
at the Deja Vu nightclub in the Spokane Valley turned deadly early this morning.
A guest was shot and killed after leaving the business and another man was
wounded. Sheriff's investigators say that they already have their suspect 20 year
old Eric Swanson of Spokane. News 4's Rebecca Maitland reports the shootings
happened in front of several close friends. Oh man, next thing you know, boom!
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom! Bob is getting shot, drops to the ground, I'm hiding behind the car.
He's hiding behind the car, everybody out here is hiding. A friend of the victims
describes what happened shortly after midnight in the Deja Vu parking lot. One
man was shot four times and died en route to the hospital. Another man was
shot in the leg. I was on the phone with 911 the whole time, they were listening
to everything I had to say. I got back, my friends laying on the ground in a
puddle of blood. My other best friend for life laying on the ground with a hole in
his leg. Sheriff's officials say the shootings stemmed from an argument
between two groups of men in this parking lot. Three men in a Ford Bronco
allegedly shot at the other group. Two of the suspects fled by foot and
later turned themselves in. The other sped away with a security guard on his
tail. Between 45 and 50 miles an hour and the other guy was still accelerating.
The chase came to a crashing halt a mile and a half away from the scene at the
intersection of Vista and Broadway. The state patrol says the suspect ran a red
light, collided into two cars and flipped upside down. He was later taken
to a local hospital. Back at Deja Vu, friends of the shooting victim were left
shaken in disbelief. It was friends going away party. We kept getting out of the car
and my buddy got shot. They've been tied. They've been tied. Now the man who was shot is 26
year old Rob.