Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Gunfire Continues in Kenyan Mall; Interview with Ray Kelly; President to Speak to U.N. General Assembly; Senate Reviews Spending Bill; Analyzing the Government Shutdown Crisis

Aired September 24, 2013 - 07:00   ET

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

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back to NEW DAY. It's Tuesday, September 24th, seven o'clock in the east. This morning, President Obama just hours away from a big address to the U.N. Can he rally support for his crackdown on Syria? Will he make history and meet with Iran's new president? We have a live preview of the president's day and the stakes just ahead.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And as flu season approaches, could you soon have access to a universal vaccine to fight the dreaded virus? We have new details about groundbreaking research that may make for a healthy season for you and your family. We'll have that ahead.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: And he is a triple threat, singer, dancer, actor. Justin Timberlake joins us on NEW DAY, talking about his new film, "Runner, Runner." It's all about the risk people take for wealth. Is it art imitating life? Our Nischelle Turner, lucky girl, sits down with the superstar ahead.

CUOMO: First, we have to tell you gunfire is still being heard outside that Nairobi mall that's been under siege since Saturday. Kenyan officials told us they were in control of the situation. Now they're saying the siege is "very near the end." That's their quote. Meanwhile, bomb squads clearing out explosives from inside the Westgate mall. CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon is in Nairobi with the latest. Good morning, Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris. The mall is just down the road here, slightly over to the right. We've been hearing in the last hour or so, a small explosion or two. We've been hearing intermittent gunfire as Kenyan defense forces that we've also been seeing moving in and out of from that road to leads to the mall are trying to bring the situation fully under control.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON: The Kenyan government now says it has regained control of the Westgate mall. But it's still unclear if all of the hostages have been freed, after a three-day standoff with Islamist militants. This morning, we're learning more about the attackers who launched the deadly siege. Three have been killed, the exact number of gunmen that remain inside, still unknown. Kenya's foreign minister told PBS's "News Hour" that two or three of the militants are young Americans who appear to be of Somali or Arab origin. The state department is looking into these reports.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where's the helmet?

DAMON: Sporadic bursts of gunfire rang out behind our crew on Monday. Plumes of dark smoke rose above the upscale mall after Kenyan authorities say Al Shabaab militants set a fire inside the building. This as survivors share their harrowing survival stories. Nick was at the mall taking care of his almost two year old daughter as his pregnant wife shopped on another floor when --