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Wolf

Interview with Rep. Peter King; Ottawa Police Shooter Was Acting Alone; Source Shooter Had Ties to Jihadists; Canadian Parliament Reopens After Shooting; Canadian Lawmakers Return to Work; Ottawa Shootings

Aired October 23, 2014 - 13:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. in Ottawa, 6:00 p.m. in London, 8:00 p.m. in Jerusalem and 9:00 p.m. in Moscow. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

We start with the latest on the Ottawa attacks. Police now say it was carried out by a lone shooter, and that he acted very much by himself. But the picture is a lot more complicated. This is, by the way, the picture of the shooter, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. CNN has learned that he does have, in fact, connections to other jihadists in Canada, including one to traveled to Syria to fight alongside Islamic fighters.

Right now, we're learning that law enforcement on both sides of the border are on a heightened state of alert and that includes the FBI. The FBI agents are on the watch for possible copycat attacks in the United States.

And this, in fact, was the scene at the opening of the House of Commons in Ottawa this morning.

The applause for Kevin Vickers, the Sergeant at Arms in the parliament. He's credited with stopping the government -- the gunman, I should say, in the halls of parliament. The prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, thanked Vickers but he also said that Canada would move ahead with new laws to strengthen its security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN HARPER, PRIME MINISTER, CANADA: Our laws and police powers need to be strengthened in the area of surveillance, detention and arrest. They need to be much strengthened. And I assure you, Mr. Speaker, that work, which is already under way, will be expedited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's get the latest now on Michael Zehaf-Bibeau's connections to jihadists in Canada and maybe elsewhere, including in the United States. Our Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto is joining us. Jim, what is the latest?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, and this information just in, CNN has learned Zehaf-Bibeau had known ties to known Islamic extremists in Canada. And these include Hazi Bulla Yusuf. He is a Vancouver man who is charged in July with traveling to Syria to fight with the terrorist group. This information, of course, important because it buttresses the suspicion and that the shooting yesterday was motivated by Islamic extremism. Investigators have not determined that conclusively but they have told us that they know that Bibeau had these ties with known extremists in Canada.

BLITZER: Are Canadian and U.S. officials, Jim, I assume they're sharing intelligence not only about this suspected terrorist who's now dead but others as well? This cooperation is intense.

SCIUTTO: It is, no question. What they're doing now is frantically searching his communications. His Internet communications, his phone calls, as well as his travel, and this would be both Canadian intelligence and U.S. intelligence in cooperation. Of course, the focus of U.S. intelligence here is to see that was he in contact with extremists here in the U.S., either known or unknown extremists, and during his travel to the U.S.? They know he took a number of trips to the U.S. Did he meet with any of them? That's the focus of the investigation now.

The cooperation between the U.S. and Canada very tight on intelligence issues. They are both part of the so-called five eyes program which includes the U.S., Canada, the U.K., as well as Australia and New Zealand which means that they share signals intelligence. So, cell phone calls, Internet communications, et cetera. There really would be no closer intelligence relationship than what you have between the U.S. and Canada.

BLITZER: And, very quickly, Jim. We know yesterday, the U.S. strengthened security at the Tomb of the Unknowns after the shooting that occurred at the Canada's National War Memorial in Ottawa yesterday. What other increased signs, shall we say, of security precautions are being taken in Washington based on what you're hearing?

SCIUTTO: A few things. Some that you see and some that you don't see. One that notification has gone out to all U.S. military men and women, and it's going to be at the base level as to whether they decide what extra precautions they take at the base and the unit level. We knew that New York police took extra precautions yesterday as they do because they're often -- they're always at a very high level of alert.

But I'll tell you this, Wolf, that even before these attacks in Canada, I was told by U.S. counterterror intelligence officials that they were already very vigilant about this kind of lone wolf attacks. And, in fact, they saw them as, in many ways, the most likely attack to take place on U.S. soil. So, their alert level was already very high before these attacks and these attacks in Canada just so close, right across the border, would only make that alert all the more severe.

BLITZER: Yes, and U.S. law enforcement, Canadian law enforcement, intelligence, they're going through this guy's background as thoroughly as they can, all of his e-mail and everything else, to see if it was, in fact, just an inspired operation or a coordinated terrorist operation. Jim Sciutto, thanks very much.

The ovation that opened the House of Commons session in Ottawa was followed by a moment of silence for the Canadian soldier who was killed, Nathan Cirillo. He was the lone victim in the attack. He was murdered while standing guard at the nearby Canadian National War Memorial. This is a picture of him standing guard there shortly before the shooting. Many of the members of the Canadian parliament stopped at Ottawa's war memorial to pay tribute to Cirillo.

Joining us now is our own Deborah Feyerick. She's in Ottawa for us. What's the latest on the investigation there, Deb?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I want to talk to you about the investigation but first, Wolf, I want to show you what's going on behind me. And it is very difficult to make out because you see a huge crowd there. Beyond that crowd, there is a row of Nathan Cirillo's colleagues. Those members of the army reserve unit that he was a part of. They have been standing in attention for some 15 minutes, very quietly there.

It's very difficult to make out because they are past the crowd. But they have come to pay their respects (INAUDIBLE) if you look (INAUDIBLE) it's the primary war fighters. They're in charge of, essentially, terminating the enemy. So, all of his troops, his colleagues are here, paying their respects to this fallen comrade.

What we can tell you about the investigation is that U.S. authorities are looking and trying to track down any information about the gunman. They have his passport. It was confiscated. All that information was dispersed both the U.S. authorities as well as Canadian authorities and they're trying to get a more complete picture of exactly what he was doing.

Now, we did speak to one of our CBC colleagues and, apparently, he may have been staying at a mission not far from this location and that he had been there anywhere between two to four weeks. And we have somebody on their way to that mission right now to determine, in fact, whether he was staying there. According to our CBC colleague, he said that his behavior was erratic, that he made certain statements about the devil, about demons. And so, as I said, we're tracking that down now.

But, clearly, authorities trying to get a much fuller picture of who this man is and how, as Jim mentioned, he became radicalized or whether this was sort of -- sort of sudden jihadi syndrome where he decided, once he couldn't get out of Canada in order to fight jihad and join up with the terrorists, whether, in fact, he just staged something here in Canada as a way to sort of do his -- you know, what was required of him under extremist ideology.

So, all of that right now under investigation. But you can see it is -- it's really solemn. It is really somber here as the members of the Nathan Cirillo's -- of his army reserve unit are here paying their respects -- Wolf. BLITZER: You know, Deb, there's increased security in various locations in Washington and elsewhere in the United States. I assume there's much more increased security in Ottawa as a precaution for a possible copycat attack or other deliberate terror attack?

FEYERICK: Yes, there's no question about that. And, you know, right today, inside parliament, it is anything but business as usual. We spoke to a number of lawmakers earlier today and they said they are reviewing everything. They are reviewing the kind of security that is here in Ottawa. They're reviewing security at government buildings on public transportation. Things definitely have changed. Everybody is on higher alert.

And, you know, they understand that this could have been so much worse had it not been for the valiant efforts of that man, of the sergeant at arms, who was able to stop the gunman as he entered that very public building. And he did, earlier, give a statement that I want to read to you, Wolf. He said, quote, "I'm very touched by the attention directed at me following yesterday's events. Yesterday, during extraordinary circumstances, security personnel demonstrated professionalism and courage. I'm grateful and proud to be a part of this team." And that is really the feeling that you're getting here in Canada. There is a sense of unification, of solidarity that this was the act of one crazy individual who somehow took it upon himself to carry out this atrocity in the name of jihad, in the name of extremist Islam.

So, -- but here, we've seen Imams who have come. They are paying their respects as well. I spoke to a Imam here, and he said that police chiefs have reached out to him because there, too, law enforcement understand that it is important to engage the Imams in this community because the Imams are the ones who are the eyes and the ears of the community. And, in fact, it was the call from the Imam that actually stopped what could have been a very serious plot within the last year.

So, again, it's -- Ottawa is coming to terms with what has happened here. But that investigation, right now, in full swing as they try to determine who this man was and how he was, in fact, even able to get that rifle that he was holding -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Lots of questions that need to be answered that are lessons learned. Deb Feyerick in Ottawa. Thanks very much.

While Canadian lawmakers returned to work today, many of those lawmakers say their work will never be the same. We're going to talk to one member of the Canadian parliament about the impact of the Ottawa attack.

And later, U.S. Congressman Peter King, he's a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, the Intelligence Committee. I'm going to ask him what the FBI, the Obama administration, what should they be doing right now? What lessons should the U.S. learn from what happened in Canada?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: (Singing Canada's national anthem).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Canadian national anthem. As the House of Commons reopened this morning, lawmakers sang the national anthem. Just yesterday, a gunman shot and killed a soldier, sent the parliament into lockdown for hours. Legislatures, they are now back at work. They are determined to conduct business as usual as much as they possibly can.

We're joined now by one of those lawmakers. Mylene Freeman is a Quebec member of parliament. She's joining us right now. Mylene, thanks very much for joining us. Tell us your story because yesterday, at this time, what, you were waiting for your weekly caucus meeting. All of a sudden, you heard shots. Pick up the story of what happened after that.

MYLENE FREEMAN, QUEBEC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Yes, as soon as we heard shots, my colleagues and I really dove for the tables, for the sides of the room. There were colleagues who had my -- my colleagues had the reaction to make sure the doors were blockaded, that there was barricades, that we were safe. And we waited out there until the gunshots were over and a security guard came and got us out of the room.

BLITZER: How scared were you?

FREEMAN: It was definitely scary. It was a very, very emotional moment for everyone that was there. We didn't know what was happening. It was right outside the door from our caucus room, in that hallway there. So the shots were getting louder and we didn't know where they were coming from. So a lot of confusion, but we were definitely just making sure to be safe, to keep the room safe, to keep the room secure at that time.

BLITZER: We know there was an incident Monday when a guy, a jihadist we're told, went ahead and used his car and ran over two soldiers, killing one of them. On Wednesday, we know what happened yesterday. Are people there in Ottawa where you are, Mylene, are they bracing for more of this?

FREEMAN: Our thoughts are definitely with those soldiers' families and their loved ones. For us to lose two soldiers this week is definitely a huge tragedy and I think that's where Canadians' minds are today and this week. And we are definitely thanking every single member of our security service as we walk the streets today for their service and just grateful that we have them with us.

BLITZER: Have you seen a major change in security in Ottawa today?

FREEMAN: Not at all. I'm so proud to live in such a free country where I, you know, go about my day feeling completely safe and secure. I said yesterday, you know, after this happened, while we were still in lockdown, I've always felt so safe and secure as a parliamentarian, as a politician in Canada, and I wasn't sure whether that was going to change today. But when I woke up this morning, I felt completely safe walking out of my apartment, walking up to Parliament Hill, seeing people out on the streets and really standing in solidarity and standing together today. I'm really proud to be Canadian today.

BLITZER: And one final question, Mylene, and I hope everybody is getting along over there with these new circumstances. Did you vote with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to support the U.S. led air campaign against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria? Because, as you know, ISIS says that decision by Canada prompted these recent attacks.

FREEMAN: I did not. I believe that we need to be bringing humanitarian aid and we need to work towards peace. And so I did vote against no motion. I don't want to speculate as to what may have driven people to act as they did this week. I, you know, I really want to make sure that we can take measures to keep Canadians secure and to keep this country really an open place, a tolerant, diverse place. And I think that's what we're going to be doing for the next days, weeks, months, years to come is making sure that we can strike that balance in a way that's really uniquely Canadian and positive for the future as well.

BLITZER: Well, good luck, Mylene, to you. Good luck to all the people in Ottawa, in Canada. The United States, of course, strongly with you every step of the way. Appreciate you joining us. As I say, good luck.

Up next, is the United States prepared for copycats? U.S. intelligence, U.S. law enforcement officials say - they say they're concerned about that. U.S. Congressman Peter King is standing by live. We'll discuss.

And three Colorado teenage girls are now back home after flying overseas allegedly to try to join the ISIS terror group in Syria. Their reported plans cut short in Germany. We have new information coming in on what happened. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN HARPER, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: It will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts to work with our allies around the world and fight against the terrorist organizations who brutalizes those in other countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, speaking out about Canada's resolve in following yesterday's shocking attack.

Joining us now from Long Island, New York, is Republican Congressman Peter King. He's a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, as well as the Intelligence Committee.

Congressman, the prime minister of Canada says this was an act of terror. Do you have any reason to doubt that? REP. PETER KING, R-NEW YORK: No, Wolf. The more evidence that comes in

made it, to me, more and more clear that this was an act of Islamic terrorism. The question would be, was he acting on his own, was he acting in concert with others or do we have a loose confederation with other Islamists. There's no doubt to me that right now this is an act of Islamist terrorism.

BLITZER: So -- but did he -- was he simply inspired by what he was reading on the Internet or was he actively being coordinated, getting information from various sources out there, whether ISIS or some other terrorist group?

KING: Wolf, right now we don't know yet. It's very seldom that someone is an absolute lone wolf. I know we use that term a lot, but I would say, in many of these cases, you find that the so-called lone wolf actually knows other who are involved in the movement. Some may take direction. They just may have a loose alliance. So it's a combination of being inspired, of meeting with others.

And now I understand, you know, just from your own reporting, CNN's own reporting, that he has had contact, over the last several months, with other pro-Islamists and that's one of the reason why his passport was taken away. So I wouldn't say that -- right now, again, you know, we don't know, but I would doubt, that he has been acting entirely on his own. He may have carried out these particular actions on his own, but I would say that he's been in contact with other jihadists over the last several months and they inspire one another, they probably share ideas with one another. So I would, right now, if I had to bet, I'd say that's what it's going to turn out to be. But again, you know, there could be more to it, there could be less. But at the very least, he is some sort of Islamic jihadist.

BLITZER: Well, your committee oversees the Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community, the intelligence committee that you serve under.

KING: Right.

BLITZER: What lessons do you think the U.S. should be learning about what happened in Ottawa yesterday?

KING: It should be a wakeup to the American people, to the media. I think the people in the intelligence and law enforcement communities already have known how dangerous the threat from ISIS is. And the threat not just from ISIS itself, but for those it may inspire or those who may ally themselves with ISIS. I mean, to me, I don't think it's just a coincidence that after Canada agreed to join with us in the air strikes and after ISIS was putting out statements that in the last three days we've seen, you know, the two attacks on the Canadian military.

So we are very concerned about both Canada and the United States, who could be a so-called lone wolf in this country. He was either acting alone or inspired. What actual attacks would be planned against the U.S. Remember, there's 2,500 Europeans who are in ISIS who can travel to the U.S. without getting a visa. There's a number of Americans who have gone over who can come back and fight without -- come back here on their own American passports and so we have got to be concerned about -- and those who just could be supporters here that we don't know about.

And that's why it's so important, Wolf, I know the Canadian prime minister was saying that, you know, they may have to change their laws. I don't think we have to change our laws in this country. I just think we have to put aside a lot of the political correctness because we can have all the technology in the world and that's important and that's been hurt, by the way, by the Snowden disclosures, it's made it harder for us to intercept what's happening overseas and when terrorist overseas could be making contacts here in this country that's harder to follow because they changed their methods.

But also I think we have to see increased surveillance similar to what the NYPD was doing in the Muslim community. So we'll have a head start as to who might be a so-called lone wolf, or what small groups could be working together. Because, again, you know, you can look on the Internet to see what they're saying, but they've learned not always to go on the Internet. And that's why it's important, like in the Boston massacre, if the Boston Police had been told what the FBI knew, they may well have been able to stop the Boston Marathon bombing because they would have known what was going on in the mosque where the older Tsarnaev brother was preaching jihad.

BLITZER: All right. And we only have a few seconds, so very quickly.

KING: Sure.

BLITZER: Do you have confidence that President Obama and his administration are doing the right things right now on this specific counterterror issue?

KING: Yes, I would have confidence in the CIA, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, that they, left to their own device, will get this job done. We can't let political correctness interfere. But, yes, they will do all that they can do.

BLITZER: Peter King, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, thanks very much for joining us.

KING: Wolf, thank you.

BLITZER: Ottawa, the day after. Lawmakers, they are now back at work, but the shooting rampage certainly has shaken the country to its core as Canada lost some of its innocence. We're going to speak to a Canadian reporter who's on the scene.

And the attack in Canada's capital certainly rattling nerves on both sides of the border. We're going to find out what U.S. border patrol agents are now doing to tighten security on the American side of the border with Canada.

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