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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Source: 20 Sleeper Cells in Europe; D.C. Attack Plot Suspect in Court Today; Chad to Help Fight Boko Haram

Aired January 16, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning: terror threat across Europe. Investigators revealing up to 20 jihadist sleeper cells scattered across the continent. Some plotting what are described as eminent threats. The terror threat connected to Thursday's deadly rage in Belgium and have been tied to the Paris terror attacks.

We are breaking down all these brand new developments overnight.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. A lot to get to this morning. I'm Christine Romans.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Berman live in Paris.

We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. It's 4:00 a.m. in the East. It's 10:00 a.m. here in Paris.

And breaking overnight. New information of a terror threat spanning four European countries at least. A Western intelligence source tells CNN the threat involves as many as 20 sleeper cells. Police in Belgium shattered one of those cells in a raid Thursday night.

You just saw police walking behind me right here. Let me explain why that is. Just in case you're wondering.

Secretary of State John Kerry just visited to this location. He is now moving on to another location. We'll talk more about that in a bit.

First to the raid. There was a raid in the Belgian city of Verviers. This anti-terror raid killed two gunmen and wounded another. Belgium officials say that was one of several raids across Belgium, as many as 10. And this raid, foiled a major attack.

Authorities will not say, they do not confirm as of now there's any link between these raids in Belgium and what happened here last week, the attacks in Paris. But the intelligence source tells CNN that the Paris attacks did lead to information that perhaps sped up the timing of the anti-terror operation in Belgium.

I want to get the latest now from the ground inside Belgium. Journalist Chris Burns joins us live from Verviers.

Chris, what's the latest?

CHRIS BURNS, JOURNALIST: John, you can really see over my shoulder how officials have been reacting to this. They accepted up security measures here.

Here is a newspaper that says the jihadists were targeting the police. That is what the police said. They moved in on those men in Verviers, because they were, according to the police wiretaps, planning to attack police.

And in fact, there's a newspaper here saying today, quoting judicial officials, that there were terrorists planning to kidnap somebody here and behead them. That is, of course, something we can't confirm. We hope to get more details at the top of the hour from a press conference from judicial officials.

But we are seeing in the press a multitude of information about the searches here, as well as searches in Berlin. Ten places search in Berlin, with a couple of arrests there. In Paris, the same thing, about 10 searches there.

So, it is -- the cast -- the net is cast very wide here across Europe, with the intent to shutdown some of these cells as they try to prevent further attacks. But the threat here is quite palpable. You can see the police step up the protection of police commissaries and police stations across the country. Jewish schools are closed here today, also in Antwerp.

So, the security measures have been stepped up as a result of what happened in the last 24 hours -- John.

BERMAN: All right. Chris Burns in Verviers, on that raid against what experts call an operational cell planning an imminent major attack inside Belgium. That is just one piece of the puzzle, because this morning, there is more information about the possibility of terror cells all over Europe. This Western intelligence source tells CNN the threat involves up to 20 sleeper cells, a total of 120 to 180 people.

The source says that intelligence agencies believe they are ready to strike France, Germany, Belgium, perhaps the Netherlands. The source new information pointed to an imminent threat to Belgium and also possibly an imminent threat to the Netherlands. The sources of information fits with new threats in the reported ISIS video that just surfaced online.

Watch this. A French-speaking jihadist saying more terror operations are on the way, quote, "everywhere in Europe and in America." CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the video.

There's also breaking news overnight here in Paris. CNN has confirmed that at least 12 people had been detained south of Paris, mostly. About 12 miles south of Paris, in connection with last week's attack here. Men or individuals believed to have provided logistical support to Amedy Coulibaly, the man who attacked that kosher market. Twelve people now detained in that situation.

I want to bring in Isa Soares now. She joins us live from our Paris bureau with more on the information here on France and across the continent.

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Yes, Europe was already on edge, and now, it is on high alert. Europeans waking up to the fact there could be up to 20 terror cells active across the continent. This from a Western intelligence source telling these 20 terror cells, could be up to 120 to 180 people ready to strike across the country, mostly in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium.

The source is telling us that the threat, the biggest threat across the countries is within Belgium, possibly the Netherlands.

So, who exactly are these people? These are people, young men, from Europe who have gone to fight jihad, went to war in ISIS. We are believed to be about 3,000 that left Europe in recent years, 500 returning, 250 to the U.K., 200 to Belgium and some 70 to France. Young men who had been radicalized there and then come back to wage war and to fight and really create havoc across Europe.

Obviously, what we have seen across Europe, John, not just in Verviers, but also in Paris, who's got authorities on high alert and obviously intensifying their search across the continent. Let me bring some breaking news we had in the last hour or so.

The Paris prosecutors told CNN that 12 people are being held in custody over reports over what they say part -- of being part of Coulibaly. They helped Coulibaly with logistics. If you remember, Coulibaly is a terrorist behind the kosher store. Four people died there. So, 12 people arrested and now, still in custody over some sort of logistical support that may have provided Coulibaly.

We've also heard according to "Le Monde", Hayat Boumeddiene, this is the woman that is the partner of Coulibaly, who is on the run, she is believed to be four to five months pregnant. This is according to "Le Monde". If we switch from France and go to neighboring Germany, there have been two arrests that we've heard overnight.

One of the people is a French. He is a German Tunisian man who was arrested in Germany. He is believed to have been gone to Syria with ISIS back in May and have returned.

The other man is a man who was arrested and questioned in Berlin for having really led a recruiting network for jihadist, most of the Chechen jihadists. This is what we're learning. We know that already that fighters from Chechnya and indeed from Dagestan are prominent within ISIS. So,

You are starting to see the picture unfold across Europe and all of this information, all these questions, arrests coming as ISIS releases another video where three French-speaking jihadists say the law -- they will be fighting more terror attacks across France. In it, they say, I'm going to quote it for you, we are going to come to Europe and there will be more operations across Europe.

CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of that report. But, really, it goes to show you how unnerving it is for people waking up in Europe here not only because of this video from ISIS, but also as you know, from claiming from AQAP, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, saying they were behind the attack in the kosher store.

So, people are waking up in a state of high alert, concern of more attacks of the sleeper cells across the continent -- John.

BERMAN: Isa Soares for us in the Paris bureau, giving us a sense of the security situation here in France and really all across Europe.

And now just a few minutes ago, right where I'm standing in front of the offices of "Charlie Hebdo" which are behind me right now, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, he came here. He laid a wreath at what is a growing memorial here, and the man who guided him through this tour, through this solemn moment was Francois Vauglin, who is the mayor of 11th arrondissement, this district of Paris.

Mr. Mayor, thanks so much for being with us.

FRANCOIS VAUGLIN, 11TH ARRONDISSEMENT MAYOR: Thank you.

BERMAN: What was your message with Secretary of State John Kerry when he was here, visiting this --

VAUGLIN: Thank you. It was just -- thank you. Because it's important for us to feel supported. In this time, you know, people have been assaulted and some have been murdered.

It is very important to have this support from the United States of America. We gathered people of the neighborhood living here on the streets a few days ago. And they need to feel home again. And for that, they have to go beyond this awful attack.

That's why the presence of John Kerry has been very important to us.

BERMAN: It is such an important location. We see people come here every day with flowers. We see people come here still crying -- so much emotion, Mr. Mayor.

Let me ask you this, though, as you move forward -- do you feel safe in this city?

VAUGLIN: Right now, yes, because police and the army has been summoned. Everywhere in the streets are policemen. And so, we feel quite safe now. But we know the threat is still very high and we don't know how long we will be able to withstand this threat.

For us, it's right now it's all right. But how will it be in a few weeks or few months when less policemen will be here? That's what the question that people ask right now.

BERMAN: And how about this location right now, Mr. Mayor? This memorial has been here more than a week. What are the plans for this area? This street -- when will those buildings reopen?

VAUGLIN: It depends on justice. But, right now, judges are seeking what's --

BERMAN: Permits and going through the building and looking for clues.

VAUGLIN: Yes, looking for clues. Yes. So, it depends on that. But we have to reopen the streets as soon as possible because people are home and they don't feel home again.

So, it's s quite important that we move forward actually. Now, that the terrorists has been killed, we must be able to live quite normally in this neighborhood again.

BERMAN: Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for being with us. I appreciate it.

VAUGLIN: Thank you.

BERMAN: I know that for many people, it feels like it has been a week and a few days. They are focused on other things. But I know you were not. This is still a period of mourning here. And everyone in this neighborhood, in this city, still feels for you and feels for the people who live here. So, thank you very much.

VAUGLIN: Merci.

BERMAN: All right. That was Mayor Francois Vauglin of the 11th arrondissement, this area where "Charlie Hebdo" is located. And we just saw the Secretary of State John Kerry come here. He visited, he laid a wreath behind me.

The secretary is here on a two-day visit. Just before coming here, he went to the kosher supermarket where Amedy Coulibaly killed four French Jews.

The secretary of state also met with French leader Francois Hollande. He's meeting with the foreign minister here to talk about all the major security issues facing France, facing Europe, facing the United States.

And we do expect some comments from the secretary in a little bit. He will go to the French city hall and make his statement there about his visit. He said what he was coming here to do was give this nation a big hug. In fact, I think you just heard from the mayor that is just what he did.

I want to bring in a terrorism expert Fabrice Magnier who knows a great deal about the security situation here in Paris, here in France and all over Europe.

And, Fabrice, we have been reporting information that as many as 20 sleeper cells exist across this section of Europe with 160 to 180 active members right now. Does that surprise you?

FABRICE MAGNIER, COUNTER TERRORISM EXPERT: No. That's not surprise me. It is not new for our country. It is not new for Westerners. It is not new for authorities. I think maybe we have much more on our ground.

BERMAN: Many more. Many more, perhaps even 20 cells?

MAGNIER: Oh, maybe, yes. We can imagine a cell can be between 5 or 15 people, you know, regarding people who want to perform an attack, people who will be like your own (INAUDIBLE) logistic issues or escape issues.

So, we are dealing with this for the last ten years. And our police, authorities are doing a great job about this because every year, they stop different terrorist attacks in France.

BERMAN: Fabrice, the news we received in the last hour, the French prosecutor's office, the Paris prosecutors' office confirming to CNN that 12 people have been detained in connection with the attacks here in Paris, specifically believed to be associates of Amedy Coulibaly, providing some logistical support. What do you believe these individuals believe to have done?

MAGNIER: We have to wait. We have to wait for the rest of the investigation. But, you know, we speak about logistics. We speak about the place to be when preparing the attack, we speak about providing cars, providing equipment like bullet proof jackets, like goggles, like eventually a radio, like talkies, wipers, ammunition, food, whatever, you know?

BERMAN: And we know that the investigators here have been in Coulibaly's apartment. How do you think they discovered or how do you think they traced these accomplices?

MAGNIER: I think DNA is an issue, you know, because now, forensics especially now, (INAUDIBLE) means as you know in America. So, it's not new. DNA, maybe also documents. With the DNA, maybe they cross the information and that led to a specific target on some people.

They did some following, taping for sure just to understand the network, quickly understand the network and strike and arrest the guys where they live. I mean, 12 miles, 20 miles around Paris.

BERMAN: Do you think there will be more arrests and detentions to come specifically with these cases?

MAGNIER: Yes, I think now we are on. We cannot now avoid that possibility because we have to go quickly, because those guys are already at war. We are not ready to face spreading out in Europe.

So, for sure, we will have more investigation, more arrests, more people jailed. Maybe we will have a better understanding of what is going on actually.

BERMAN: It does feel very much like this city and cities across Europe are the frontlines in this battle against terror.

Fabrice Magnier, great to have you here with us. Thank you so much. MAGNIER: Thanks.

BERMAN: A lot going on here this morning, as you can see, Christine. Still with the mourning period behind me with the secretary of state even as all these developments happen in the investigations here across Europe -- Christine.

ROMANS: Remarkable developments still unfolding. John, thanks for that, in Paris.

We are following the latest on those Paris attacks and terror threat across Europe all morning long.

But, first, new information about the man the FBI says was planning a Capitol Hill attack, in court for the first time in hours. What we are learning new this morning.

Plus, breaking news overnight. U.S. troops now set to train Syrian rebels in the fight against ISIS. Details, next.

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ROMANS: Breaking overnight, the Pentagon sending about 400 troops to train moderate Syrian rebels in the fight against ISIS. Defense officials say beginning sometime this spring, trainers will work out of sites in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. In addition to the trainers, the U.S. will also send hundreds of additional military personnel. They'll provide security and other support at those training sites.

In court later today, the Ohio gunman arrested by the FBI on Thursday for plotting a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. We know more about 20-year-old Christopher Cornell, what brought him to the attention of the authorities and what his parents are saying in his defense.

CNN's Alexandra Field is in Cincinnati with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Christopher Cornell, he is the man accused in that plot to bomb the Capitol and shoot victims as they fled from the buildings. His name is known to the country now, but it was known around his community before that.

Local authorities say he was the lone demonstrator, the sole protestor at the 9/11 memorial event back in 2013. Authorities say that he caused a disturbance, but wasn't arrested at the time. He was apparently holding a sign that said "9/11 is an inside job."

Today, he is facing serious charges, accused of attempting to kill a U.S. government officer. He will appear in court later today for a detention hearing.

But his parents are coming to his defense saying their 20-year-old son raised here in Cincinnati, did not have the ability or resources to pull off the kind of attack that he is accused of. Instead, they believe their son was coerced.

JOHN CORNELL, FATHER OF CAPITOL TERROR SUSPECT: This has never been out of Cincinnati. I believe he was coerced into a lot of this stuff. I believe that the so-called snitch filled his head with a lot of stuff.

FIELD: Investigators had been following Cornell for months ever since an informant tipped them off to some Twitter activity in which Cornell was allegedly discussing jihad.

But they didn't take action until he walked out of this Cincinnati gun store. This is where they say he bought two assault rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition.

Because law enforcement officials were tracking Cornell's moves, they say that lawmakers were never in danger. Following his detention hearing later today, he will be back in court next week for pre-trial hearings -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Alexandra Field for us this morning in Cincinnati -- thanks for that.

New help this morning in the fight against Boko Haram. Just who is stepping up to stop the terrorists from gaining more ground? We are live after the break.

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ROMANS: There is new help coming from the quite against the Islamic terror group Boko Haram. But that help is not coming to Nigeria where Boko Haram is trying to carve out an Islamic state. Instead, the nation of Chad says it will send troops to neighboring Cameroon to trying to fend off incursions from Nigeria. The Nigeria's military meanwhile is so far on its own and not doing well against Boko Haram insurgents who have them badly outgunned.

CNN's Diana Magnay with the latest from Johannesburg.

Good morning, Diana.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

Well, the fact that Chad is sending troops to Cameroon is a positive. But, frankly, they were meant to be what was called a multinational task force, basically all of the surrounding countries, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria, all are acting together to try to combat Boko Haram, up in the northeast in Nigeria, because they are embedded on the borders which all those countries share.

And, in fact, they had a base at Baga where that terrible attack happened at the beginning of January. But the international forces, the Cameroon and Chad forces pulled out of that base back in December. In fact, we just heard from the U.N. special representative for West Africa, a plea to all of those regional countries to set their differences aside and to work together to help the Nigerians against Boko Haram.

You have the U.S. secretary of state in Europe at the moment. He is talking with the British and other partners, we're hearing, about how they can bet better assist Nigeria. From the briefing yesterday, we heard Nigeria hasn't come up with any specific requests from the international community, that the U.S. is doing what it can in terms of the support that it does provide Nigeria to date. It is clearly a difficult situation if a sovereign country is not holding out the begging bowl, which Nigeria isn't.

Now, the president has last visited the Borno state to express his condolences of the displaced people from the attack. Many people will see this as a political move. This, of course, is his election campaign. But, certainly, the mood and feeling is that at least he has gone up there now even if he should have gone up there before -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Diana Magnay for us this morning in Johannesburg, thank you, Diana.

Terror threat across Europe this morning. Investigators now warning up to 20 jihadist sleeper cells across the continent. They are planning attacks. Some threats being called imminent. We are breaking this all down for you, next.

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