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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Terror in Jerusalem; American Woman Held Hostage; Missouri Under State of Emergency

Aired November 18, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight: terror in Jerusalem as two knife and ax-wielding men storm a synagogue killing four. We are live from Jerusalem this morning.

Another American hostage held by ISIS. This time a female. How the 26-year-old was captured by the militant group and why President Obama has ordered a full review of how the U.S. handled hostage negotiations, including negotiating their release.

Outrage this morning. Protesters blasting the Missouri governor for declaring a state of emergency before the grand jury has announced whether it will indict the officer for killing the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. Did the governor too far?

Good morning, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Tuesday. It's November 18th, 4:00 a.m. in the East. John Berman has the week off.

All right. There's breaking news this morning: a terror attack in a Jerusalem synagogue. Four people killed. Six others wounded as two knife and ax-wielding men break into the temple. The assailants identified as Palestinians shot and killed at the scene by Israeli troops.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Jerusalem this morning with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Israeli police say that at 7:15 in the morning, two men from Palestinian East Jerusalem entered this synagogue during morning prayers. The synagogue apparently was full of worshippers. These two men were armed with a pistol, with axes and knives, according to the police. They went in. They killed four of the worshippers, wounded six others, as they were coming out.

We are told the police arrived quickly on the scene. There was a battle that ensued. The two attackers were killed on the scene. Now, of course, this is just the latest in a series of incidents in Jerusalem.

The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, telling us that they want the people of Jerusalem to be extremely vigil about the situation. He put the blame for this attack on Hamas, and other Palestinian radical groups, as well as the Palestinian Authority led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who he says has been inciting Palestinians to launch attacks against Israelis -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: President Mahmoud Abbas condemning that attack, and attacking Jewish worshippers in their place of worship. We will following that story all morning as this news warrants.

Turning now to the battle against ISIS. The Islamic terror group's beheading of American aid worker Peter Kassig leaves just two known Western hostages. One is British photojournalist John Cantlie, who has appeared in several ISIS propaganda videos, apparently under duress. The other is a 26-year-old American woman.

CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins us live from London with more.

And, Erin, in this most recent -- this most recent murder, they didn't say who the next person in line was. That was a difference. But we know there are other Westerners still being held. Tell us about it.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Christine. We don't have an update on the condition of the other Westerners taken hostage.

As you mentioned, this latest ISIS video is markedly different from other videos showing the beheadings of other Western hostages. In the end, it does not name a next victim. Even though we do know that a 26-year-old American woman, an aid worker, is being held hostage. She has been held reportedly since August of 2013. CNN is not naming her, which is a request of her family.

We also know of a British journalist John Cantlie, who has appeared in other ISIS propaganda videos. Meanwhile, French authorities say it is possible that a second French national was featured in that ISIS video. They've already said it is highly probable that a French citizen was identified as an ISIS fighter in that video by the name of Maxime Hauchard, a 21-year-old. The French interior minister says they believe he was self radicalized.

Take a listen to what was the press conference yesterday.

Well, authorities -- it appears we do not have that, Christine. But authorities are trying to identify the other ISIS fighters that brazenly appear unmasked in that video.

Also featured in that video, Jihadi John whose known by the British press as Jihadi John. He's a masked fighter with a very thick apparent British accent. There had been reports over the weekend that he -- there had been reports over the weekend that he had been injured, but U.S. intelligence sources saying that they have no evidence to indicate that that is, in fact, the case -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Erin McLaughlin for us this morning in London -- we will talk to you again in the next half hour. Thanks, Erin. Meantime, President Obama has ordered a top-to-bottom review of the government response when Americans are taken hostage by terrorist overseas. This order was revealed in a Pentagon letter to California Congressman Duncan Hunter who has advocated for a tougher response to terrorist captors.

Three Americans have been killed by ISIS militants. It's not known if the government's strict no ransom policy will be part of this review.

The parents of ISIS' latest victim are seeking prayers and privacy this morning. Ed and Paula Kassig spoke briefly to reporters on Monday after the Islamic terror group released a video showing the brutal beheading of their son.

Twenty-six-year-old Peter Kassig converted to Islam in captivity, taking the name Abdul-Rahman Kassig. His parents asked that he'd be remembered as someone who risked his life to help others.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA KASSIG, MURDERED HOSTAGE'S MOTHER: Peter's life is evidence that he has been right all along. One person makes a difference. Our hearts are battered, but they will mend. The world is broken, but it will be healed in the end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Protesters in Ferguson, Missouri are angry this morning at Missouri Governor Jay Nixon for declaring a state of emergency before the grand jury has announced whether it will indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting an unarmed black teenager. In fact, before anything has happened at all. The governor is saying he's doing this as a precaution.

CNN's Sara Sidner is in Ferguson with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are certainly a lot of folks talking about what has happened over the past 24 hours. Governor Nixon declaring a state of emergency and then saying that he has activated the National Guard in preparation for the grand jury deciding whether or not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

The protesters are pretty upset about what he has done, saying that basically it is painting them as violent, and they have been protesting for more than 100 days. Many of them showing up and are not violent at all, though they are very, very loud, and they do a lot of chants and they come at police with very strong words. But they say for the most part, they have been peaceful. And this paints them all as violent.

However, the governor has said before that he wants to make sure that the community is prepared, that businesses and residents are protected, and that he will do whatever it is in his power to make sure that happens. So, he has gone ahead and put forward the state of emergency.

We do know that there are folks who appreciate that, including the mayor of St. Louis who supported the governor's decision, saying that preparations are necessary and it is not that easy to simply call up the National Guard and have them be ready. So, he has done that in advance, also saying that the National Guard will be in the background, that it will be the police departments who are front and center, namely the St. Louis county police department and the Missouri Highway Patrol.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Sara Sidner, thank you for that, from Ferguson, Missouri, this morning.

Convicted 9/11 terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui claiming Saudi embassy officials were involved in the plot to assassinate Bill and Hillary Clinton by shooting down Air Force One. Moussaoui makes the claims in letters filed with the federal court from his prison cell. He also claims Saudi royals personally gave him money to fund the World Trade Center attacks.

Saudi officials have long denied any connection. A claim supported by the U.S. government's 9/11 Commission. Moussaoui was diagnosed with schizophrenia during his trial.

The Senate expected to vote tonight on the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Louisiana's Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu telling reporters she is comfortable she has the 60 votes needed to authorize the construction of the project, even though only 59 senators are publicly supporting it. If the bill does pass, it will set up a showdown with the president. He wants the State Department to determine the pipeline fate.

Top Senate Democrats are urging President Obama to use executive powers to overhaul the nation's immigration system, a decision could be imminent. The president has been calling on Republicans to pass comprehensive immigration legislation. He has threatened to bypass Congress by the end of the year if they don't.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie warning fellow Republicans not to shutdown the government even if the president does take action on immigration. In the close door meeting, Christie told House GOP leaders that without a clear end game, they would find themselves in a rerun of 2013. That government shutdown lasted more than two weeks and damaged the GOP politically.

Republican contender for the 2016 race taking a jab at Hillary Clinton. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says he feels no pressure at the age of 47 to make a bid for the White House. That's because he says a certain political rival of his is still toying with the idea well into her 60s.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: Whether it is two years, six years or 20 years from now, because at 47, I think about Hillary Clinton, I could run 20 years from now for president and still be about the same age as the former secretary of state is right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: New details about the aggressive search for a suspect who pushed the man in front of a New York subway train, as the man's wife look down in horror. Police are looking for this heavy set balding man last seen Sunday wearing dark jeans, white sneakers, black leather jacket. There he is. People who were at the station were stunned.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The conductor told me it was a tragedy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody is mad because the MTA workers, the people that are supposed to be trained for this, they were panicking. You know what I mean? We heard little whispering, you know what I mean? The conductors were trying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The train operator told "The New York Daily News" he could only see his eyes -- only close his eyes as the D-train hit 61-year- old Wai Kuen Kwok and he says he broke down and cried.

Word this morning the Maryland doctor who died of Ebola had a two-week delay in treatment. Officials say Dr. Martin Salia had waited three days in Sierra Leone to be formally diagnosed after an initial test came back negative. He then waited five more days to be flown to the Nebraska Medical Center. The 44-year-old succumbed to the illness on Monday.

People at risk for heart attacks and strokes may have another weapon in their arsenal. A large-scale study compared people who took statin alone with those who took a combination of a statin with another drug Ezetimibe. Both say their bad cholesterol or LDL levels go down considerable. Statins lower LDL by preventing it from being produced. Ezetimibe lowers LDL by preventing cholesterol from being absorbed.

All right. Eleven minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money this morning.

Another day, another record on Wall Street. Stock futures barely moving so far this morning. But the S&P barely inched to a record yesterday. That's number 42 this year. It has closed at a high in seven of the last nine trading sessions.

Remember, it's up more than 10 percent so far this year, the S&P 500.

So, the big question is where do we go from here? Do stocks keep climbing?

Many analysts have adjusted their year end predictions and think the market will keep climbing as long as there are no major surprises. Around the world, European stocks are higher. Asian stocks are mixed. Japan's benchmark index is gaining back some of those big losses yesterday. Japan's economy is in recession. Now speculation the prime minister will postpone the planned sales tax hike in Japan.

All right. Coming up, the Ukrainian president is preparing for a total war as Russia denies having any forces, even in Eastern Ukraine. We'll take you live from the region.

And a critical vote at the U.N. could lead to critical prosecutions against the leaders of North Korea. We'll have details on that.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Ukraine this morning preparing for, quote, "total war", the words of the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. He tells a German newspaper his country is fighting for European values that he says Russia does not respect any agreement. Russia denies it has any forces in Eastern Ukraine. And meanwhile, the shelling goes on from both sides.

Live for us now near Ukraine's border with Russia is CNN's Phil Black -- Phil.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, this is the area where four months ago MH17 crashed to the Earth, this remote field in Eastern Ukraine. Only now Dutch investigators and Ukrainian emergency services work is beginning to gather that material.

I want to show some of the activity that's going on behind me. They are making a lot of progress here, moving very quickly. But just behind me is a twisted piece of the fuselage that has fallen among the buildings of a chicken farm in this rural area. It is one of the pieces they are getting ready to load on to trucks and transport, and they're driving to a nearby train station and eventually flown to the Netherlands.

So, four months ago, the plane hit the Earth here. It is now being collected. It could still be weeks, certainly days, possibly weeks before experts begin to sift through this wreckage and begin to examine it very closely.

This is all obviously an eternity in terms of an aircraft investigation. But it's important that this is happening now because this region has a good dusting of snow last night. It's going to get a lot colder and snow is going to fall much heavier in the weeks ahead. That will put off an operation like this for many more months.

So, it is significant it is happening now, something of a race against time. They are getting in there just before winter really sets in.

The other important thing here -- we have been speaking to the Dutch investigators that have been overseeing this. They say every day they have been here moving pieces around, they are still finding human remains. That is also tremendously significant as well.

But this is the final chapter, I think, for this field, this remote site in this corner of Ukraine. It was the state, some horrible scenes that really shocked the world back in summer. As international attention will move away from this particular site, it is, of course, worth noting that the conflict that is widely believed to have been the cause of this accident is taking place and continues only a relatively short distance from here and because of these concerns that Russian forces have been flooding across the border into the separatist held territory over the last week or so, claims Russia denies, concerns that this conflict could get a lot worse in the near future -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Phil Black for us this morning in Ukraine -- the final chapter, but long time coming with no decorum for those victims and their families along the way -- thank you.

Eighteen minutes past the hour.

A critical vote at the U.N. this morning could lead to criminal prosecutions against the leaders of North Korea. If a U.N. committee approves the resolution on Pyongyang's allegedly human rights abuses, the entire general assembly will decide in December whether to send the case to the International Criminal Court. That would give North Korea that distinction of becoming the first non-African nation to be referred to the ICC for crimes against humanity.

We are getting the accounts of the human rights abuses allegedly taking place in North Korea from late leader Kim Jong-il's former body guard. Lee Young-guk telling CNN he was imprisoned for five years in one of many brutal North Korean political camp for trying to defect to South Korea. He says he was barely fed, constantly beaten and forced to watch weekly executions of other inmates. Lee estimates tens of thousands of prisoners are buried in the mass grave at the camp where he was in prison.

Confirmation from the Vatican, Pope Francis is coming to Philadelphia to attend the church-sponsored World Meeting of Families next September. It will be his first trip to the U.S. as head of the Catholic Church. Philadelphia's mayor calls the papal's visit the largest event in the city's modern history. Francis will be just the fourth reigning pontiff in history to visit the U.S.

Here comes the -- convict? Charles Manson reportedly set to walk down the aisle. How the prison is helping the mass murderer to tie the knot with his very young bride, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: In just a few hours, the suspect in the Aurora movie theater shooting James Holmes will be back in court for another pre-trial hearing. The jury selection for Holmes death penalty trial is scheduled to begin in January. Twenty-six-year-old Holmes is charged with killing 12 people, wounding 70 others in the Aurora theater shooting. He's pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. All right. Wedding bells for Charles Manson. The convicted mass murderer reportedly just got a marriage license and intends to tie the knot. Manson is 80 years old. His bride to be, Elaine Burton, is 26 years old. She moved from the Midwest to California to be near the prison and to work for his release. No date has been but the prison has assigned a wedding planner. The couple has until February to get married before they had to reapply for a license.

A Labrador retriever has helped end the search for a wanted fugitive. Kevin Patrick Stoeser's disappearance was featured on the CNN show "THE HUNT", after the convicted child abuser escaped from the halfway house in Texas last year. Earlier this fall, the Labrador fond the remains of a skull in Austin and dragged them home. The owner's called police and tests on the skull matched his Stoeser's DNA. So far, no word on when or how he died.

Support for Obamacare appears to be plunging, even though most Americans who enrolled say they like and plan to renew their coverage. Take a look at the latest Gallup poll, 56 percent of Americans disapprove of the Affordable Care Act. That's an all-time high. Only 37 percent approve, an all-time low. Pollsters acknowledge the drubbing suffered by Democrats in the mid-term elections may have influenced those numbers.

A billboard that spans the length of a football field is being unveiled today in New York's Time Square, said to be the biggest, brightest and most expensive advertising space in North America and it arrives just in time for the holiday season. The digital billboard will occupy an entire city block, eight-storeys high and reportedly on display for four weeks.

A deadly attack in a synagogue in Jerusalem is being called a terror attack this morning. The gruesome details live from the region straight, ahead.

And here in the U.S., anger and protests in Ferguson, Missouri, as the governor declares a state of emergency ahead of the grand jury's decision on whether to indict the police officer responsible for killing Michael Brown. All the details on that story, coming up.

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