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Clerk: Suspect Bought Fireworks in February; Suspects' Former Brother-in-Law Speaks; Veterans Give Hope to Boston Amputees

Aired April 24, 2013 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But the third letter that was laced with ricin did reach 80-year-old Sadie Holland, a judge here in Tupelo. We spoke with her son last night who's a state representative here in Mississippi. He says his mother opened the letter, saw this cloud of dust, took a sniff, she said something ain't right here, call the sheriff. But when she was checked out, we know that she is in perfect health and had no side effects from that sniff of the powder inside the letter -- Wolf.

BLITZER: That's good news on that front.

All right, Victor, I know you'll continue reporting on this mystery that is now unfolding. Thanks very much for that.

Up next, they've learned to live without legs and arms. Now a special group of amputees is helping Boston bombing survivors find some hope amid all the horror.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Good morning. I'm Wolf Blitzer, welcome to a special edition of NEWSROOM. We're reporting live from Boston.

There are lots of new developments in the marathon bombings, let's get all of you caught up to speed.

Nine days after the attacks Boylston Street has reopened. Workers spent the night scrubbing blood stains and replacing bricks to remove those painful reminders of the violence.

Also, we're hearing new outrage from the families of those wounded in the attacks. They're demanding that the terror suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, be transferred from the same hospital where the alleged victims are recovering.

And this morning, U.S. officials are in southern Russia. They're there to interview the parents of the teenage suspect, the 19-year- old, and his older brother who is killed during a police shoot-out. U.S. embassy officials were the first to arrive this morning in the Russian Republic of Dagestan.

We want to pause right now and bring you a story of hope as this city slowly tries to return to normal. Several of the bombing victims are still in local hospitals this morning, but they are getting a visit from some -- from some very special people. The story from our chief Washington correspondent and the anchor of CNN's "THE LEAD," Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GAVE RAMIREZ, WOUNDED VETERAN: Obviously, she got her pretty lips -- pretty lips from you.

JAKE TAPPER, ANCHOR, "THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER" (voice-over): Veterans who lost their limbs fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are back home offering hope to victims of the Boston marathon terrorist attack.

RAMIREZ: This doesn't matter. This is just a change of scenery.

TAPPER: Celeste Corcoran and her 18-year-old daughter Sidney were at the Boston marathon to cheer on Celeste's sister who was running the race for the first time. They were waiting by the finish line when the bombs that would change their lives forever exploded. Celeste lost both of her legs. Her daughter was wounded by shrapnel.

CELESTE CORCORAN, BOSTON MARATHON ATTACK VICTIM: I can't do anything right now.

RAMIREZ: Right now, yes. But I'm telling you, you know, with all my heart, you are going to be more independent, you know, than you ever were.

TAPPER: This veteran, Marine Sergeant Gabe Ramirez, is also double amputee. Doctors echo his optimism.

DR. JEFFREY KALISH, DIRECTOR OF ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY: Nearly all of the patients that have lost legs are already walking the halls with physical therapists. We're all gearing up for a mass exodus to rehab hopefully in -- during this upcoming week.

TAPPER: Almost 1600 U.S. troops have lost one or more of their limbs since the beginnings of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Limb loss injuries that would have once been fatal are now not only survivable but some wounded service members are even returning back to the combat zone.

Military medicine has fueled this advancement in prosthetics, but it's civilians in Boston who will benefit this time.

RAMIREZ: This is basically the start, you know, this is the new beginning for both of you.

TAPPER: Celeste is keeping up her spirits. She's even talking about running the Boston marathon next year.

CORCORAN: I always joked around, like, I'm not super athletic. I like to work out and stuff, but running has never been my thing because I always get the most horrible shin splits.

RAMIREZ: Right. CORCORAN: So I was like, hey, I don't have shins anymore, I can do this.

(LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: Jake Tapper, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: In about 2 1/2 hours, the Vice President Joe Biden will join the MIT campus in honoring the police officer, Sean Collier, at a memorial service.

Our White House correspondent Dan Lothian continues our team coverage right now. He's joining us with more on what's going on.

So the vice president will be here, there will be several thousand people honoring this police officer -- Dan.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. You remember the president went to Boston last week, Thursday, for that interfaith meeting to honor all of those who had lost their lives in the Boston bombing, and it was later that day, in fact, that evening, when Officer Collier was shot and killed, and so today the vice president and Dr. Biden will be going to this very public service that will be held there at MIT along with some 10,000 other people who are expected to be there. The governor of the state, Governor Deval Patrick, also Senator Elizabeth Warren.

There was a private funeral service that was held yesterday, Massachusetts, but again this is a chance for the wider public, law enforcement officials from all across the country to pay tribute to this young officer. Senior administration official here at the White House telling me the vice president will be speaking, that he will be paying tribute to a young man who they say really lived his life to help other people.

What's interesting about this young man is that he was involved, according to those who knew him, in more than just law enforcement efforts on the campus of MIT. In fact he was also involved with the EMT service there. It's the on-campus ambulance service, also off- campus, involved with an organization that worked to fight cancer. So the effort here today will be to talk about the life of this young man, but also shine the spotlight on things that he did well beyond law enforcement -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Clearly a wonderful, wonderful young man. Only 26 years old, Sean Collier, and he had only been a police officer at MIT for only about 15 of 16 months, but he was really, really beloved. And he also, as you point out, he helped the hopeless in his community, did wonderful, wonderful things. And I understand he is going to be receiving a medal at this moving ceremony in a couple of hours, is that right?

LOTHIAN: That's right. Well, the university has set up this fund and there is a fund to essentially create the Collier Medal and this is a medal that will be handed out, we're told, to individuals who really demonstrate his values, what he stood for, the organizations that he got involved with.

This is clearly a very tragic and difficult time for the whole city of Boston, but in particular for the campus of MIT, and they're looking for a way to create essentially a legacy, so that when people look back on this moment, they won't only focus on some of the tragic things that happened there, but will look at the life of young men and will be able to do this through this medal that they will be handing out to other individuals -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dan Lothian, at the White House, thanks very much. We'll of course have coverage once the vice president is here in Boston for this memorial service honoring Sean Collier.

A fund to help people most affected by last week's events in Boston has just passed the $21 million mark. The Boston Mayor Tom Menino, who came up for the idea for the One Fund Boston, spoke after the fund topped $20 million yesterday. Menino introduced the Washington Attorney Kent Feinberg, himself a native of Boston, who will oversee the distribution of the funds. Feinberg previously administered a fund for the 9/11 victims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH FEINBERG, ONE FUND BOSTON ADMINISTRATOR: I am amazed. I am amazed in my experience to see this type of outpouring so quickly in such large amounts. After this horrific tragedy. One thing I've learned in all of these funds and this is the latest example, never underestimate the charitable impulse of the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Feinberg plans to hold two town hall meetings in Boston next month so people can give their opinions on how the money should be distributed. Feinberg also says the money should go to those who have suffered serious injuries or horrible losses, probably not to those who have had property damage, but we'll see what happens, at those two town hall meetings.

Coming up, we're going to check some of the other stories making news right now.

Floodwaters are still rising in the Midwest, where thousands of people in Illinois have already evacuated.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We'll have much more from here in here in Boston in just a moment.

But first a quick check on some of the other stories making news this morning; we're expecting a section terror plot suspect to appear in a Canadian court in about 15 minutes. His alleged accomplice went before a judge on Tuesday. The men are accused of planning an al Qaeda-backed attack on a New York to Toronto passenger's train. Authorities say the plot was not imminent and was not linked to the Boston Marathon bombings.

More rain is heading today to parts of the Midwest and south, areas already dealing with major flooding. Illinois is one of the hardest hit states with thousands of people forced out of their homes. The flooding is blamed for four deaths in the region.

The Justice Department is suing Lance Armstrong and is seeking more than $100 million in damages. The lawsuit says the use of banned drugs was a breach of contract between Armstrong's team and its sponsor, the U.S. Postal Service.

We're now learning more than two months before the Boston bombings, one of the suspects bought hundreds of dollars of fireworks. Reports say Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older suspect, he's dead, traveled to New Hampshire in early February. He stopped at Phantom Fireworks and paid $200 in cash for mortar-style fireworks. Store workers say he asked for the biggest and the loudest. But they also say they are pretty common -- that's pretty common behavior at their store.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGAN KEARNS, ASSISTANT MANAGER: Pretty much the only thing that was remarkable about him was that he had a Russian accent, which we don't have too many people in here who have Russian accent. He just wanted the biggest, loudest stuff that we have in the store, pretty much run of the mill questions that we get asked by every customer who walks through the store.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd say at least 75 percent of our customers ask what's your loudest and most powerful because they obviously want the best bang for their buck. They want -- they want height and they want color and they want noise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Authorities say the amount of fireworks bought there, the amount was nowhere near enough to make the bombs at the Boston marathon and that Tsarnaev probably used the fireworks to experiment.

Just ahead here in the NEWSROOM, a witness to two American tragedies -- we're going to introduce you to a man who survived the Boston terror attack, only to then watch the massive explosion in West, Texas. We're going to tell you how it happened.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

There's new information coming in this morning. We're hearing now more about the dynamics of the suspects' family. A man who was married to the sister of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Andi Dzahar Tsarnaev (ph) says the siblings all adored the older brother. That could support claims that the younger brother was coaxed into radical Islam because of the deepening extremism of the older brother.

Elmirza Khozhugov is joining us now by phone from Al Madi in Kazakhstan he's the brother-in-law of these two suspects. And he was married to one of their sisters. Elmirza, thank you very much for joining us.

ELMIRZA KHOZHUGOV, FORMER BROTHER-IN-LAW OF TAMERLAN TSARNAEV (via telephone): Yes.

BLITZER: There's a lot of interest now in this man identified as only by the name of Misha, supposedly an Armenian, who became a radical Muslim. What can you tell us about Misha and supposedly his influence over the older brother?

KHOZHUGOV: Well, first of all, I want to express my condolences to all of those who lost their loved ones when this happened. And yes I met Misha, Tamerlan introduced me to him. And well it seems to me that Misha has influence on Tamerlan because when I ask -- for the reasons why Tamerlan quit boxing said that Misha (inaudible) told me that boxing is violent (inaudible).

BLITZER: Do you believe -- do you believe he inspired -- he inspired the older brother to become a radical Muslim? Is that what I hear you saying?

KHOZHUGOV: I'm not sure if he inspired or taught him to be radical Islam but he surely did have influence and did teach him things that would make Tamerlan go away from the people and go more into the religion. And maybe -- maybe that's possible that he suggested to him some radical ideas.

But I wouldn't say that -- I mean I didn't witness him making him radical or you know I didn't witness him (inaudible) I just know Tamerlan told me that he quit boxing and music because Misha was teaching him that it is not good in Islam to do those things.

BLITZER: What was Misha's last name -- what was Misha's last name? Do you know his full name Misha?

KHOZHUGOV: No I don't know his full name. I only met him twice. And you know we just shook hands and Tamerlan told me this is Misha, my friend. He is -- an Armenian who converted to Islam and he lives in the U.S. for a while now. That's pretty much it.

I heard them speak to each other but I didn't listen to Misha's words too much because I -- you know I don't really like to talk to him about religion so much.

BLITZER: Did you ever suspect that Misha was connected directly to any terror groups?

KHOZHUGOV: I didn't suspect even him or Tamerlan being connected to terror groups or terror -- having terrorist ideas, but I know that they had a lot of conversations about just -- you know, Islam and how Islam is being attacked from the outside -- you know from the Western countries and how Islam is under pressure, but I never heard them speak of you know doing -- doing -- having terrorist attack ideas.

BLITZER: When did you notice a change in Tamerlan? When did he -- when did you see him becoming more -- more religious, more devout, if you will?

KHOZHUGOV: That was when he was 22. When he was 22, he just graduated from high school and he didn't get into college right away. So he was having, I guess, difficulties finding himself. And at some point, he started being interested in not just religion and not just Islam, but he also read other philosophers and he read some teachers. He read Gandhi. But eventually of course he came out to closer to Islam because that's his background. That's where -- what his family believes in. I guess that is why Islam was his choice at first.

But then yes he started changing -- he's started changing towards being somewhat radical. Yes he would always support ideas of, you know, being a good Muslim -- pray five times a day. And you know he was going to mosque regularly. He started doing it when he was about 22, 23, maybe.

And you know, he would always try to protect many conversations. He would try to protect his ideas and defend Islam and maybe even sometimes defend, you know, people in other countries like I guess Afghanistan that yes they were invaded for no reason or something like that.

BLITZER: Elmirza, tell us about the younger brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-years-old who is now in a hospital here in Boston. What was he like?

KHOZHUGOV: He was really calm guy. And you know to me, he was the little brother of my friend. And he was -- there was never a suspicion that he would be doing something wrong. He seemed really smart. He was getting good grades at school. And he would always listen to his parents, not like Tamerlan who would you know occasionally stand up and speak his own ideas.

But Dzhokhar would be more humble, would more patient. And he was -- he was nice. He was smiling. And he didn't seem like he had been depressed ever or unhappy with anything. And honestly to me it seems that maybe he got under the influence of his older brother.

BLITZER: Do you believe he was brainwashed by his older brother?

KOZHUGOV: I believe he was just may be obeying him because he is the older brother and yes, I know that they all love Tamerlan. They all admired -- the sisters and the brother Dzhokhar really thought of Tamerlan as their role model. I believe that he didn't question much. I believe that he didn't put any suspicion -- he didn't put any questions at all on what Tamerlan was doing. He just did what Tamerlan said. He respected him -- (inaudible) he respected him as one would respect his father.

BLITZER: What did you think when you first heard these two brothers were the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing attacks?

KHOZHUGOV: Well, I opened up the news online and I saw the pictures suspect number one and the picture of Tamerlan and I recognized him right away. I jumped up and said, "Oh, my God. This is not happening." I was hoping it was a mistake, but then I read the names and I realized that it's happening and it's true.