Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Scrutiny of Bomb Suspect Questioned; Boston's Boylston Street Reopens

Aired April 24, 2013 - 12:00   ET

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

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Anderson Cooper. This is our special coverage of the Boston bombings. There's a lot to bring you up to date on right now as the families say good-bye to the victims.

Here's where we stand with the investigation. It is a fast moving investigation. A delegation from the U.S. embassy in Moscow has arrived in the Russian Republic of Dagestan to interview the parents of the suspected bombers. We're told the wounded suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, could soon be transferred out of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Family members of those wounded in the attacks who are still hospitalized there are angry about him being in the same hospital where their loved ones are being treated.

And the street where the bombs exploded is open for business. That's right behind me. Authorities allowed the public back on Boylston Street today for the first time since the terror attacks.

We are getting new information also on the suspect's background and the older brother's embrace of radical Islam. A man who was married to the sister of Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev says the siblings adored the older brother. That could support claims that the younger brother was coaxed into radical Islam because of the deepening extremism of his brother. Still, there's a lot we don't know at this point and I just want to acknowledge that.

Wolf Blitzer spoke by phone with Elmirza Khozhgov just a short time ago. He's the husband -- former husband of one of the sisters. He says radicals definitely influenced the older brother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELMIRZA KHOZHGOV, SUSPECT'S FORMER BROTHER-IN-LAW (voice-over): I believe that there are other people involved. Maybe it's a terror group. Maybe it's a - some movement.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: When you say other people involved, what does that mean?

KHOZHGOV: I mean some extremists, terrorists. Not terrorists, but like extreme -- extremely radical people. Not -- I don't want to point out the religion itself, because it's a peaceful religion. But there are people who preaching it the wrong way probably. So I believe, yes, there are some people involved. I don't blame the special -- the Secret Service (INAUDIBLE). I don't blame the FBI. I don't believe in framing. But I do believe that someone preached them - preached Tamerlan so much and this has come in from the mosques or religious groups in Boston. I don't believe Dagestan is involved in it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: We should also acknowledge that the former brother-in- law, he says he has not seen the brothers in two years. So his information is not current for the last two years. He did say that he met a man named Misha (ph), which is the Russian equivalent of Michael, who other relatives say influenced Tamerlan Tsarnaev. He says he doesn't know much about this Misha person. And, again, obviously, it's not clear if authorities are looking for this person to talk to. One would assume they are.

There are conflicting accounts of whether bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was on any kind of terrorist watch list or database. We know that he was under FBI scrutiny back in 2011 after Russian officials raised red flags about him. They talked to him. Now lawmakers in Washington want answers about how authorities handled that case. Jim Acosta is following that part of the story for us.

Do we know whether or not, Jim, whether Tamerlan Tsarnaev was on any kind of watch list?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, we can now report from our law enforcement and national security sources telling CNN that Tamerlan Tsarnaev was on two different databases. Let me walk you through this, Anderson, because it gets a little complicated.

The first one is the Terrorist Screening Database, also known as the TSDB. That is a database that has roughly 500,000 names in it. So a name like John Doe could be in there 10,000 times. And so Tamerlan Tsarnaev's name, according to our sources, was in that database.

He also, apparently, was in a database called TIDE (ph), that is maintained by the National Counter Terrorism Center. That is a classified database. And it is very important because these databases are used by the FBI, by law enforcement officials, to put together the terror no-fly list. And apparently Tamerlan Tsarnaev's name was not on that list, but there was a notation in one of these databases that were Tamerlan Tsarnaev to leave the United States, that the FBI was supposed to be pinged.

And apparently, according to what Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary, testified up on Capitol Hill yesterday, there was a ping in the system when Tamerlan left the country to go to Russia last year, but according to our sources, what we're being told, is that there was a one-year timeframe for that ping, that notation in the system. So when he went to Russia, the database pinged. But when he came back, the database did not ping because during that trip to Russia apparently that notation that was in the system expired.

And so all of this is very important because as we've been reporting over the past few days, Anderson, lawmakers on Capitol Hill, they're getting very frustrated about all of this. They're wondering, why is it that there are these conflicting stories about whether or not Tamerlan Tsarnaev did appear in the system when he was making this trip over to Russia. Earlier this week, Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina, said that that did in fact happen. Then Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security secretary, said that he was not on some sort of terror watch list. And so, obviously, these are going to be some big questions that will be asked at the upcoming White House briefing that will be happening in about half an hour from now, Anderson.

COOPER: Yes, and I guess had he pinged coming back, he could have been -- perhaps been interviewed, which he wasn't when he came back.

Jim, appreciate that update.

Now a significant moment to tell you about in Boston's recovery. A nice moment. It happened earlier this morning when the barriers came down finally on Boylston Street. The public was allowed back in. Stores and other businesses reopened. Customers are returning. It isn't business as usual, of course. That may take some time. The tragedy that unfolded there just nine days ago is still fresh in everyone's mind. Brooke Baldwin joins us now live from Boylston just a couple blocks from where I am on Boylston Street.

Brooke, what's the mood there like? You've been talking to people all morning.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Anderson, we're just across the street from you. I have to tell you, blue skies here in Boston. It's a beautiful day.

We're in the heart of the back bay and there is finally hustle and bustle here on Boylston Street. They opened up this street way early this morning. And so you can see the traffic. The green line back open here at Copley Square. The busses are running. It's just a stone's throw from where I am, which was where those explosions went off.

I walked around personally, saw people relaying concrete, fixing the shattered glass. But just out of respect to the victims, we're not down there. We're here at the memorial. And this is Lauren.

LAUREN TOURGEE, RAN MARATHON BUT DIDN'T FINISH: Hi.

BALDWIN: And, Lauren, I grabbed you because, first of all, I saw the medal.

TOURGEE: Right.

BALDWIN: You ran the marathon.

TOURGEE: I did.

BALDWIN: How far did you get?

TOURGEE: When I was turned around, I was in the Com Ave tunnel, so I believe - underpass. I believe about a third, maybe a little more than that away. BALDWIN: You ran as much of the marathon as possible. You went away. You just came back home to Boston. You wanted to be down here. I saw you -- tears streaming down your eyes minutes ago. Why is this so personal for you?

TOURGEE: I came in today to pick up my medal for myself and my friend that I run all the marathons with, Kristin Mathao (ph). And I just wanted to get our medals because we did the best we could and we just wanted to pay our respects.

BALDWIN: What -- help people understand who are not Bostonians, who are not from Massachusetts, I keep saying, this is a tough crowd and this is a tough city, as we see the heart of back bay sort of reopening. How do you see all of this as you move forward?

TOURGEE: This is a place that's usually full of happiness, especially on Marathon Monday. And I hope it continues. I came today to pay my respects after picking up my medal.

BALDWIN: And one more question. This is -- was your third Boston Marathon. You running again?

TOURGEE: Definitely.

BALDWIN: OK. Lauren, thank you so much.

TOURGEE: You're welcome. Have a nice day.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

And, Anderson, so, here we are. You know, it's been a steady stream of people, younger, older, wanting to pay their respects. People here from Boston. People from all around the world.

You can see the three crosses here just to my right of the three young lives lost last Monday in the blasts. People here talking about healing. A lot of "Boston strong" signs. Maybe not moving on, but moving forward.

Anderson.

COOPER: Brooke, appreciate that update.

When the bombs went off, hundreds of people who live and work on Boylston Street witnessed the carnage. It was obviously a life changing experience none of them could ever imagine happening. Many who went into action immediately to help the victims are back there at work today. One of them is here with me here now, Shane O'Hara. He's the manager of Marathon Sports, a store that was just a few feet from where the first bomb went off.

What's it like to be there today to see the place back open?

SHANE O'HARA, MANAGER, MARATHON SPORTS: I haven't really been there today. I was there yesterday. And it was still a very surreal atmosphere. That's really all I can say. It's just strange. COOPER: Is it -- are you happy to see it opening? I mean are you - are you happy to see the businesses opening again?

O'HARA: Yes. I mean, we need to go on. It's just, I don't know how - I don't know how that will - I don't know what's going to happen. I mean you -- we - we do need to move on and just -- I think a part of me has a - I have my own little things that I've got to still go through, but I don't know how the people that were really affected by this, the actual victims and then their families and the injured, that's what I -- my prayers are still going out to them.

COOPER: Sure.

O'HARA: And that's the part that I don't know what that reaction is.

COOPER: Yet you were there that day. I mean you - the store actually kind of became a triage area.

O'HARA: In some ways, yes, we had -- I believe we had three injured in the store at the time. And then just that whole entire area.

COOPER: How do you deal with that? I mean how are you - I mean your --

O'HARA: I don't know. It's just like I just -- you just keep keeping one foot forward. You -- I guess you try to block it out, which is -- in some ways it's hard to do and yet sometimes it's easy to do. I haven't been able to get into a normal routine since that day.

COOPER: You keep thinking about that day?

O'HARA: Yes. And, unfortunately, and maybe fortunate, everything that keeps coming up now, it just keeps bringing that all back. So as a person that was there, or as a victim that was there, that isn't ever going to go away, where I think a lot of people will eventually, time will heal for them. But I think anyone that was there will feel a part of that and it will never go away.

COOPER: There is this extraordinary, I don't know if spirit is the right word, that I think everybody who lives here has witnessed over the last nine days. I mean this sense of togetherness that - and I've seen it in other conflicts around the world in the wake of tragedies like this, but it is -- do you feel that?

O'HARA: I have felt it definitely from my friends and family that have given me the responses back. I've definitely seen it from being a running specialty store, we have vendors that are outreaching towards us. We have had a ton of support for that. As a runner, we are a very kind person and a very close-knit person. And we always, whether we're training for a marathon or you're training for your first time around the block, once you start running, you know what everyone else is going through. Running is the only event that you can actually compete against world class people. Not that we're in the same corral, but you're racing the same race that they're racing in.

COOPER: I've heard so many people who aren't even runners who say they want to be in that marathon next year. That they want to start training for the marathon. I talked to this woman, Adrian (ph), whose lost part of her lower left leg. She's never run before. She's a dance instructor. Not only does she want to dance again, she wants to run in the marathon.

O'HARA: Usually every time after the marathon you have - you have all that inspiration that, hey, I want to do that now. And i think even more so now people want to do it. And whether they want to run Boston again or they just want to start running, but I think now people want to have that connection to a runner.

COOPER: Listen, I wish you the best.

O'HARA: Thank you very much.

COOPER: Thanks for being with us.

O'HARA: Thank you.

COOPER: Shane O'Hara.

This hour we're going to bring you live coverage of the memorial for the MIT officer, Sean Collier, killed during the manhunt for the Tsarnaev brothers. Coming up, saying good-bye to the victims killed and trying to heal. This is our special coverage of the Boston bombings.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Looking at live pictures of the memorial service that's begun for much-loved MIT police officer, Sean Collier.

His brother is expected to speak. We're going to bring his comments to you live, also Vice President Biden. James Taylor expected to perform. We'll bring that to you as well.

Police say he was gunned down by the bombing suspects while sitting in his patrol car on campus.

Yesterday, a private memorial was held. Police lined the streets in his hometown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Saluting one of their own gunned down in the midst of Boston's nightmare.

Here, the hearse carries the body of 26-year-old Sean Collier, an MIT police officer.

As it makes its way to his hometown of Wilmington, Massachusetts, crowds gather as a mark of respect. ANDREW COLLIER, SEAN COLLIER'S BROTHER: Sean is not in that casket. Sean will continue to live on and his legacy will continue to live on.

BALDWIN: Fellow officers remember Collier as a good man who dreamed of becoming a peace officer.

CHIEF JOHN DIFAVA, MIT POLICE: It wasn't about the pay or the benefits or retirement. It was about what folks are supposed to be about and that's to help people.

BALDWIN: In Wilmington thousands of police officers, friends, neighbors and students from the campus he defended joined in prayer.

DYLAN SOUKUP, ATTENDED PRAYER VIGIL: And I think Sean, you know, that's what he would want. He would want us to all continue to carry on as a strong community.

BALDWIN: His mother, said to be too crushed, was not there, but Collier's stepfather was. He asked for prayers not only for his son, but for those officers who today protect our communities.

JOE ROGERS, SEAN COLLIER'S STEPFATHER: Every day they go out and try to keep us safe from the people that are determined to do evil in the world. And, you know, we should appreciate all that they do for us.

BALDWIN: Brooke Baldwin, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: An outpouring, a love for Officer Sean Collier.

If you want to help those affected by the Boston bombings, visit "Impact Your World" on CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Fellow police officers have brought officer Sean Collier to the memorial service on the campus of MIT. Vice President Joe Biden is there.

Authorities say that Collier was shot by the marathon bombers while he sat in his patrol car on campus late Thursday night.

All week, students and faculty have been leaving notes and flowers at a makeshift memorial for the 27-year-old officer, so much grief since the bombings nine days ago, helping all these families and loved ones cope.

We're going to be bringing you more of the memorial service throughout this hour. And Sean Collier's brother is expected to speak, Vice president Biden as well. James Taylor is expected to perform.

I want to bring in, though, Reverend Liz Walker and former local news anchor, much beloved here in Boston. Reverend walker, appreciate you being with us.

As we see this memorial service underway, how do you council people dealing with grief probably often? What do you say to them?

REVEREND LIZ WALKER, ROXBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: You tell them that it's normal to grieve. We really have to grieve. Grieving is necessary.

There are people walking around thinking you have to be strong and keep going and get over it, but, no, you can't. You really do need this time to cry and to mourn because that lifts up that person that we lose or that situation that has changed for you.

So we try to let people know that it's normal and that it takes time. It's not going to end when your cameras shut down. It's going to go on into different stages.

COOPER: I often found, actually, for family members the hardest part is often once the funeral is over and once the family and the loved ones and other people start to, friends, kind of return to their lives and your left still holding onto the pain and it's very difficult to suddenly find yourself alone in that.

WALKER: That's the worst part of it. I think that's going to be very difficult here because this has been a community that come together so people don't feel alone. They feel very much covered by everybody else.

But when the cameras go and the police, you know, the lines go, these people are left to deal with it themselves.

And I know they'll have support. I think they'll always support them, but I think to realize that and to know that and just move through it and be gentle.

COOPER: My mom often said you've just got to keep breathing in and out, one breath at a time and one step at a time. And sometimes it takes -- there is no timetable for grief.

WALKER: No timetable, no rules. They say there are five stages, anger and denial and that kind of thing, but there really are no rules. We all go through it our own way.

COOPER: I always hate that word, closure. It's such a TV word. For anyone who has lost somebody, there really is no such thing, I think, as closure.

WALKER: I don't think there is at all, Anderson.

I remember when my father died. My mother never stopped grieving for the rest of her life.

So people have different ways of doing it and I don't think we have the right to tell people how. But I think that what we can as a community is to continue to around these people. COOPER: Let's listen in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: You're looking at live pictures for the memorial service for MIT officer Sean Collier, 27-years-old. Friends, family, loved ones gather on the campus of MIT.