Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Severe Storms Hammering U.S. Midwest; David Sweat Reveals Details of Prison Break, Time on the Run; Tunisian Heroes; Digging Greece Out of Debt; Donald Trump Reacts to Businesses Cutting Ties; Authorities Fear More Terror Attacks; Who's Burning Black Churches?; Gut-Wrenching Loss for England in Women's World Cup. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired July 02, 2015 - 01:00   ET

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


[01:00:00]

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Wounded fugitive, David Sweat, is revealing even more about his prison break, his co-conspirator, and their time on the run.

ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Efforts to dig Greece out of deep debt remain chaotic following a day of contradictions by the prime minister.

ASHER: And billionaire, Donald Trump, losing business over some controversial comments, but doing well in the U.S. presidential polls. His candid interview with CNN, coming up.

BARNETT: And absolute heart breaks for England. A gut-wrenching close to a Women's World Cup Semi.

ASHER: A warm welcome to all our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Zain Asher.

BARNETT: And I'm Errol Barnett. Thanks you for joining us. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

Now, we want to begin this hour with severe storms just hammering parts of the Midwest in United States. Millions of people are being told to keep a close eye on the weather over the next 24 hours.

Our meteorologist, Derek Van Dam, is bringing us details, because it is a dangerous situation for many people, Derek?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, Errol, in fact specifically, we're talking about Missouri as a line of severe thunderstorms has just moved south and east of the Kansas City area. In fact, Jackson County, Missouri, there was a brief touchdown of a tornado, which is really a suburb of Kansas City.

And we get to the some of the visuals of this to see just this exact tornado from the air. And you can just see some of that debris being pushed around. There was minor damage. There some transformers being blown out. Again, this is about 20 miles or 32 kilometers southeast of Kansas City in metropolitan areas. Snapped trees, power outages, damaging vehicles as they were sliding into each other at a local mall within that region. And in St. Louis at the Busch Stadium, there was a baseball game tonight.

Cardinals versus the White Sox. Fans were actually told to take shelter inside of the actual stadium and away from the outside areas because of this exact line of storms. You can see it stretching from Kansas City all the way to St. Louis. There were six tornado touchdowns with nearly 80 wind reports.

Now, on top of the severe weather, we have now flood threat across the area as excessive rainfall somewhere in the amounts of perhaps even five to six inches that will bring the possibility of localized urban flooding for that area.

Let's move the story forward and talk about what could happen on Thursday. Another round of severe weather this time from Oklahoma City stretching into Memphis as well as Nashville and even in Atlanta. Damaging winds and large hail.

Hey, we got to talk about something else, because we have some new photos sorry images actually coming from a wildfire that is ongoing in Riverside County. This is just southeast of Los Angeles in California. These are live images new to CNN. This is the Merwyn Fire, a 125 fire fighters currently battling this blaze. There are 40 acres that have been burned so far in the Moreno Valley specifically. This is near Merwyn Street and Campbell Avenue.

It's burning towards the Paris State Park. This is an exceptionally dry part of California. We all know that there is an exceptional drought that is taking place, mandatory water restrictions. And some of the visuals coming out of this area have been astounding, flames really soaring in to the air. And we're thinking all the houses and people that will have to contend with this fire going forward the next couple of hours.

BARNETT: That's right. And those dry conditions combined with those winds that can be channeled through the mountains there in southern California just a...

VAN DAM: Very dangerous

BARNETT: ... a recipe for disaster. But Derek Van Dam, watch it all. We appreciate the update.

VAN DAM: Thanks, Errol.

ASHER: Thank you, Derek.

We want to go to New York now where a captured fugitive is spilling a lot more details about his escape from a maximum security prison. A Law Enforcement Official that tells CNN that David Sweat told investigators, he quickly grew tired of fellow escapee, Richard Matt, because Matt was out of shape and couldn't keep up and got drunk while they were on the run.

Matt was later spotted and he was shot and killed by police. But Sweat was captured alive days later.

BARNETT: Now meanwhile, Joyce Mitchell, the woman accused of helping them, denies that she wanted the escapees to kill her husband. 12 employees from the Clinton Correctional Facility have been put on leave.

ASHER: CNN's Kyung Lah joins me now from New York.

So, Kyung, I guess the question is how much of David Sweat's story can authorities really believe?

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They have to, you know, sort of weave through that. Because they just don't know. They know he is a convicted cop killer. They know he's escaped from prison. But they are listening to what he has to say. They want to hear what he has to say. And he certainly is talking quite a bit from his hospital bed.

[1:05:02] And what he has led authorities to certainly believe is that it was much easier to break out of this place than anyone could have imagined.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: After two days of questioning David Sweat in a lockdown section of Albany Medical Center, investigators say they have heard enough for now.

Sweat telling investigators escaping with Richard Matt wasn't as complex as you might think. Using only hacksaws to cut through their cell walls and a steam pipe they slipped out of their cells night after night. Finally finding an underground passageway.

There they came across a sledgehammer, likely left by a construction worker, breaking down a brick wall to make their way out. Sweat tells investigators the escapees first tried one manhole in a dry run but it was too close to a neighborhood.

ANDREW WYLIE, CLINTON COUNTRY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: He felt that due to there being a number of houses in that area that it might not be a good spot to exit from.

LAH: The next night, they tried again. Finding a more isolated manhole where the escapees were to meet Prison Teller, Joyce Mitchell. Sweat says while he was the mastermind, it was Mitchell's idea for the men to kill her husband before fleeing to Mexico.

Mitchell's attorney says she denies that allegation. When Mitchell didn't show up, Matt and Sweat headed towards Canada.

As the intense manhunt through the dense woods dragged on, Sweat says he grew frustrated with Matt because he was out of shape and couldn't keep up. Sweat says the two went their separate ways after Matt broke into a cabin and started to get drunk.

It was after the two split up that Sweat had his closest call with being caught. The district attorney tells ABC News. Sweat was hiding in a hunting tree stand as an officer walked past him.

Sweat says while on the run he learned officers had killed Richard Matt and pressed on to the Canadian border until a state police officer shot and wounded him. He's now Albany Medical Center in a lockdown section only for prisoners.

DR. DENNIS MCKENNA, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER: How confident do we feel this patient is not going to escape from the hospital? I feel very confident.

LAH: The hospitals medical director says in this lockdown section of the hospital, two guards watch each patient, inmates are often shackled. A jail within a hospital.

MCKENNA: There's a door that opens and closes. There's the sound of the rattling of the cage, there's a turning over the wallet and your keys. So, you know, you can't help but feel this is a different unit. Once you get into the patient room, it's about taking care of the patients.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: On David Sweat is not expected to be released from the hospital this evening here east coast time in the United States. He is expected to stay here for the next few days according to the hospital. Where he goes from here, though we do not know. The Department of Corrections is being intentionally vague, Zain, about that.

ASHER: And we know that three members of the prison's executive team have been placed on leave so.

Three of those victims were members of the same family. Now, in all, 38 people were killed in Friday shooting ran page in the beach resort. And we know that most of them were British.

BARNETT: Now, some Tunisians took enormous risks to chase down the gunman, to try to stop the massacre. Our Nick Paton Walsh spoke with one of them and joins us from Sousse.

Nick, the man who recorded the attacks somehow felt the need I guess to follow the gunman even as he was firing his weapon. What did he tell you about that experience?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Errol, as time has passed, and the sheer horror of what happened on the beach not far from where I am standing has begun to emerge. So to have stories, increasing in number, of the Tunisians, who with little regard for their own personal safety, seem to have rushed head long at a man. Many of them have witnessed shooting down the hotel guests. They were there to assist, serve and it seems now they chose to protect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: This cellphone video gave the world an almost too vivid window into sheer horror of the Tunisia beach massacre. But also of the bravery of the Tunisians here who tried to fight the twisted gunman (inaudible).

And this is the man who risked his life to film it, Ayman Dar Hussain. He tells us why he and others ran head long at the gunman.

AYMAN DAR HUSSAIN, WITNESSED AND RECORDED ATTACK: A lot of people came. He was hiding in the garden and we started to encourage each other saying we can go inside and kill him.

I felt so sad. We loved those people. We always talked with them and also I felt angry. Anger is what made me follow this guy. Not just to film. I was all the time thinking of defending the people.

WALSH: He got to so close, meters away, seeing a man walking calmly with no fear.

[1:10:00] HUSSAIN: I saw him when he was coming out of the side of the restaurant. He stopped with the Kalashnikov between his legs put something in his back maybe his phone then he took a bomb and he touched then he took back his gun and went to the beach.

WALSH: These close-up pictures weren't the limit of Ayman's courage. Here he picks up a bottle of oil thinking others would rush in if he attacked risky with it.

HUSSAIN: The most striking moment I remember is when I came so close to him and I did not sacrifice myself or volunteer to attack him. I feel so sorry for the people as I saw so many crying and many tourists dead. And I can't forget the noise of the guns and the bodies on the beach.

WALSH: Ayman joined the change of the gunman death of the hands of police.

Here he films a flurry of bullets police fired perhaps fearing there were more gunmen or if Seifeddine Rezgui was wearing a bomb.

WALSH: Were it not for these pictures and the courage and love for total strangers that led one ordinary Tunisian to film them, there could have been many more dead indeed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: Ayman is someone who has spent and a lot of his time really on the beach, part of the holiday industry here, not somebody with experience in the military. And you can see in those images, it seems as though the gunman in fact on the beach ran out of targets, because everyone had fled and was it going down that side street, perhaps, with ammunition still on him, looking for another place to attack. And I think many think if you not been chased by so many Tunisians alerting police's to where he was, he could certainly have had more targets, Errol?

BARNETT: And you get the sense of the man that recorded all of this is still in some sense of shock realizing just how close he was to danger and death. But thankfully, that evidence will be used to help the investigation.

Nick Paton Walsh, live for us today from Sousse, Tunisia. Thanks.

ASHER: Investigators in Taiwan have released their findings in February's crash of TransAsia flight 235. Transcripts of the cockpit voice recorder show utter and complete confusion. You see the crash there.

Utter and complete confusion after one of the plane's engines lost power. Then the pilot shut off the only working engine by mistake. The transcript indicates the crew discovered the error far too late to get the engine working again.

BARNETT: Yeah. And as you saw there, the dashcam video did capture the moment the plane clipped a bridge and tumbled into a river. That was moments after takeoff. And you must remember the 43 people were killed in this crash, 15 survived.

ASHER: OK. I want to go to Greece now where Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is urging the country to vote "No" in Sunday's bailout referendum. I want to show you some live pictures. These are outside of bank in Athens. We understand that pensioners are lining up outside of this bank. They want their money. They are entitled about 120 Euros a day. These are people who...

BARNETT: Here we go again.

ASHER: Exactly these are people who worked their whole live. Greece typically has a very generous state pension system. These people have worked their whole life. They need money for bills and medication and they don't know what the future holds.

Of course, there's a great deal of confusion and uncertainty about what is going to happen in Greece over the next several days. We know the government has implemented very strict withdrawal limits, as I mentioned, stopped the banks running out of money. That limit once again is 120 Euros a day for the pensioners you see on your screen.

BARNETT: Yeah, that generous pension system, you could argue, is part of the problem in the first place. Now Prime Minister Tsipras says a "No" vote in Sunday's referendum. Doesn't necessarily mean Greece will leave the Euro zone. Less than 24 hours earlier, Mr. Tsipras agreed to accept nearly all of the criticize bailout terms.

Meanwhile, Greece's finance minister says he hopes to have a new deal by bailout deal by Monday. You see him here. Yanis Varoufakis, says Greece is ready to accept strict measures, however, they must allow for economic growth and Greece must not be forced out of the Euro zone. That certainly is easier said than done.

Now, Isa Soares has been following the latest twists and turns in the Greek debt crisis, and there have been many. She joins us now live from Athens.

And Isa, when your thinking about it, the Greek people have been thrown in to a type of twilight zone situation this week. A sobering default, cash limits at ATMs.

[1:15:00] And now questions over what Sunday's referendum is really for. This must be unnerving for so many people.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Errol. Absolutely. What a roller coaster over week for Greek people. And I think many of them so very confused as to what exactly has happened the last few days and what exactly people though Varoufakis and indeed the government will Alexis Tsipras will be asking of them come Sunday, Errol.

Yesterday, taking everyone by surprise, Alexis Tsipras visit coming out and saying he'd put a request for a third bailout with the IMF with, pardon me, with the Euro Group, accepting pretty much everything with one or two minor changes. But then many were expecting him to come out and say, actually with the referendum is out of the question.

But now he took to the air waves here, basically, national television saying he's going to stick to the referendum and he's going to continue to urge people to vote "No". And I think people -- and many people were left scratching their head, Errol, to be completely honest with you. Because many were saying, well how can you possibly say you want this deal, you want a third bailout, and then you want us to say no? His argument is very clear, he says.

He says that voting "No" strengthens in his hands. So if the "No Camp" wins on Sunday, that means that when it comes to the negotiating table perhaps he can get an even better deal even better conditions to with the rest of the Euro Group. Is exactly the point, the Varoufakis has made Yanis Varoufakis the Greek Finance Minister when he said, you know, we will accept terms of the deal on Monday but we have to be able to grow. Take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YANIS VAROUFAKIS, GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: We are prepared to accept even strict measures, as long as the framework in which they are contained are sustain able as far as growth so Greece can grow and Grexit disappears, so we are not in the same situation in a few months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: So very easy saying that, but Greece has been trying to grow for the past five years also Errol and it's been unable to do that. Varoufakis and his team of Alexis Tsipras obvious, as because the conditions imposed of them are being too tough and now what is left is a country turned really upside down, people with their hands tied unable to get to cash points, unable to get their money out.

Of images that we have seen pretty much every day, as the one you showed, of pensioners lining up, waiting for the cash they've worked so hard for, Errol?

BARNETT: That's right, Isa Soares is live for as in Athens this morning. And we just saw those pictures there. Another day of pensioners lined up today it seems a bit more calm than yesterday trying to get access to their own cash. Is the new reality in Greece.

Isa, thanks very much for that report.

Now when Greece missed its $1.7 billion payment to the IMF on Tuesday, the online community, if you can believe it, sprang into action. A British man started a crowd-funding site to raise money for Greece.

ASHER: And how resourceful. And now depending on how much you donate, you can actually win prizes. Like, for example, a postcard of Alexis Tsipras, an authentic a Greek salad or perhaps a trip to Athens. So far, the site had raised more than $1.3 million. Some very generous people out there. I'm sure Greece appreciates it.

BARNETT: But a more $100 million to go.

ASHER: Yeah. It's exactly.

OK. We will take a quick break here on CNN. When we come back, Donald Trump is ticking up in our latest election poll, but he's lost another round of business partners. ahead, what he told on Don Lemon about getting dumped by Macy's.

BARNETT: Plus, one U.S. State now has seven shark attacks in less than a month. An expert weighs in on what may be causing so many attacks.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

ASHER: OK. We turn now to U.S. politics. Nearly a year in a half before the U.S. presidential election, republican candidate, Donald Trump, may be rising in the polls, but he is being dropped by even more business partners.

BARNETT: Yeah. Each and everyday this week, in fact. American department store chain, Macy's, says it is cutting ties with Trump, phasing out his line of men's wear from his nearly 900 locations. And this is the latest business relationship he's lost after recent controversial comments referring to immigrants in Mexico and other countries as, quote, "killers and rapists."

ASHER: Macy's says those comments are inconsistent with the company's values. Take a look here. You can actually see demonstrators they're actually thanking the store. They're saying "Shame on Trump", but they're thanking the store for that particular move.

And by the way, interestingly enough, Donald Trump says, he ended his relationship with Macy's.

BARNETT: Of course, he did.

ASHER: And the company behind the CHI line of hair tools now says its no longer doing business with Trump's reality show and won't renew contracts with his pageants either.

BARNETT: After NBC cut their relationship with him. He said he had to end his relationship. On Don Lemon spoke with Trump.

ASHER: Yeah. Interesting perspective.

BARNETT: Yeah. Our Don Lemon spoke with Trump about his immigration comments and the various businesses that appear to be abandoning him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST, "CNN TONIGHT": But let's talk about Mexico.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Right.

LEMON: And you did mentioned NBC not being happy. They cut ties with you yesterday today because of your comments about Mexican immigrants. Another company

TRUMP: Because they're weak, you know what, they cut ties because they are weak.

LEMON: Who NBC, you think?

TRUMP: And it's very sad to see. But that's it.

[01:25:01] Because I'm talking not about Mexico. I'm talking about illegal immigration. In has to be stopped down in this country.

LEMON: OK.

TRUMP: It's killing our country.

LEMON: Let's talk about Macy's then?

TRUMP: Yes, and people are pouring over the borders, pouring. We have incredible border patrols. These are incredible people and they were disrupted, they can't do anything. People are pouring in to the United States. I guess some come from Mexico, but they come from all over the world. By the way, they come from the Middle East. We don't even know where they come from.

LEMON: Why did you have to say they are rapist so, Donald?

TRUMP: And I have to point out, and a lot that's resonating with the voters.

LEMON: Why do you have to say they were rapist so, Donald?

TRUMP: Who's racist?

LEMON: No rape -- no, no, not racist, no. Why did you have to say they were rapists?

TRUMP: Well, if you look at the statistics of people coming -- I didn't say about Mexico, I say the illegal immigrants. If you look at the statistics on rape, on crime, on everything, coming in illegally into this country, they are mind-boggling. If you go to "Fusion," you will see a story about 80 percent of the women coming in. I mean, you have to take a look at these stories. And you know who owns "Fusion"? Univision.

LEMON: Yeah.

TRUMP: That was in "The Huffington Post." I said let me get some of these articles because I have heard some horrible things. I deal a lot of talking with people on the border patrols.

LEMON: Yeah.

TRUMP: They are incredible people.

LEMON: I want to get some clarification.

TRUMP: No but Don, all you have to do is go to Fusion and pick up the stories on rape and it's unbelievable when you look at what is going on. So all I am doing is telling the truth.

LEMON: I have read the "Washington Post." I read the "Fusion." I read "The Huffington Post." And that's about women being raped. It's not about criminals coming across the border or entering the country.

TRUMP: Somebody's doing the raping, Don. I mean, you know, it's I mean somebody's doing that. Do you think it's women being raped, well, who's doing the raping? Who's doing the raping?

LEMON: Yeah.

TRUMP: I mean, how can you say such a thing? So that's -- look, the problem is you have to stop illegal immigration coming across the border. You have to create a strong border, Don.

LEMON: Yeah.

TRUMP: If you don't we don't have a country.

LEMON: I want to get this Macy's in there because Macy's cut ties with you today. They took your stuff off your shelves. And here's part of the statement. It says, "Macy's is a company that stands for diversity and inclusion. We have no tolerance for discrimination in any form. In line of the statements made by Donald Trump, which our inconsistent with Macy's values, we decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump." How do you respond to that?

TRUMP: They folded under pressure. You know, it is not a big business for me. It's very small ties and stuff. But it's -- they folded under pressure. Terry Lundgren folded under pressure. They called me -- he called me, he said, "Gee Whiz, you know, he's under a lot of pressure." And, you know, and guess who knows? I mean they fold under pressure.

That's the problem with our country. Everybody folds under pressure. Instead of doing the right thing, they just immediately, they have took these people go outside with a sign. And you see two pickets and they immediately say, oh, gee, we have to do, this is pressure, pressure. People can't handle pressure. And that's what they did. They did a total fold. And that's OK with me.

LEMON: Yeah.

TRUMP: That's OK with me. It's a very small business. Let them do what they want to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BARNETT: There you have it.

Now despite all of this, the latest CNN/ORC poll shows Donald Trump in second place of all of the Republican candidates. He trails only former Florida Governor Jeb Bush by about seven points.

You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. When we come back, extra eyes will be keeping an eye on 4th of July celebrations this weekend. We'll look at stepped up security in the states.

ASHER: Plus, coordinated attacks in Egypt leave more than a dozen servicemen dead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASHER: Welcome back, everyone. You are watching CNN. I'm Zain Asher.

BARNETT: And I'm Errol Barnett. Here our top stories right now.

(HEADLINES)

BARNETT: There is still confusion and uncertainty in Greece ahead of Sunday's referendum on the country's financial future. As you see here in these live pictures, people are lining up outside of banks once again today, hoping to get their hands on their own cash. A couple of the arguments seem to be breaking out, as well.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is urging voters to reject the European bailout deal earlier on Tuesday. He told creditors risks will accept most terms of the deal but their negotiations were almost as contentious as the people who you see there.

ASHER: And certainly chaos outside that bank you see there. And now the call for a no vote is adding to the uncertainty both Greeks and global investors have faced for the past week and the referendum may turn into a vote on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's future.

I want to bring in CNN's emerging markets editor, John Defterios, who is going to be live from Abu Dhabi. So John, Alexis Tsipras is saying that people vote no in the referendum on Sunday. It would give Greece a stronger negotiating position and he personally said, that "no vote" doesn't necessarily mean leaving the Euro. I want to ask you, how much of that is true and how much of that is sort of mere political posturing?

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, a lot of posturing. It's a tough sell for Alexis Tsipras, and now explain why, Zain, first and foremost I think it's a bit of wishful thinking that you can ask for a no vote and still get money out of the European Union right now.

And the reason is because one of the preconditions to ask for more money from the trick, the European Central Bank, European Union and the International Monetary Fund is to support a yes vote.

[1:35:07] Yes, would like to stay in Europe. Yes, follow the European Union bailout package.

So, trying to have it both ways is extremely difficult. He's asking for another 29 billion Euros, that equals $32 billion and that would be the third bailout. And you saw the response from the creditors. Now we heard from Christine Lagarde on CNN and others, including the President of the Eurogroup and the president of the European Commission saying, "Let's wait for the referendum to take place." It's quite clear now. They'd like to see the backside of Alexis Tsipras.

If in fact, we get a resounding yes and that's still a huge question mark. You could see a case in the next week or so where in parliament, there's a no confidence vote that is called. Perhaps prolonging his future or ending the future after only six months in office.

Now at the same time, he spoke to the people asking for patience saying, "Look, these company controls that we see in the market right now won't last for long." That was his pledge. Let's take and listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TSIPRAS: I would like to assure you this situation won't carry on too long. And you won't lose your wages and your pensions. Your savings won't go away. Personally, and I take on full responsibility for an instant solution after the referendum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: An instant solution after the referendum but the other political reality right now, Zain, is that all the creditors suggest that this is going to process, going to take time and the deposits in the Greek banks were dwindling very quickly. The European Central Bank last night suggests they will maintain the liquidity level, the emergency assistance but they will not raise it.

So what we see right now is getting squeezed from all sides. The European creditors, the left wing members of his party who want to see this battle go to the very end, perhaps even leave the Euro, some members of his party. And then he has to watch every single morning the pensioners lining up at the banks unable to get their funds. So, the 40-year layer only in office for six months, he is facing a very tough battle after the calculations or perhaps miscalculations he's made over the last week.

ASHER: Yeah, John Defterios, we'll see what happens after the referendum on Sunday. We know that nothing is going to change after that referendum takes place, that's according to the creditors anyway.

OK. John Defterios, live for us in Abu Dhabi, thank you so much. We appreciate that. Errol?

BARNETT: Well, you can learn more about the Greek debt crisis folks, and get some tips on traveling to the financially troubled nation on our website anytime. The address, you should know by now CNN.com.

Now, attacks like the ones in Egypt and Tunisia have led U.S. authorities to boost security measures ahead of the July 4th holiday.

ASHER: Pamela Brown reports more police are being deployed over concerns that ISIS supporters in the U.S. could heed the call to launch attacks. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: With heightened concern this 4th of July, major cities like New York are deploying radiation detection devices, resources on waterways and in the air. In addition to utilize in, there are more than 7000 closed-circuit cameras to prepare for the threat.

JOHN MILLER, NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT: This may be potentially the most complex counterterrorism overlay for this event ever.

BROWN: U.S. law enforcement officials are concerned ISIS supporters could be inspired to carry out an attack during the holiday because it is symbolic in nature and falls at the same time as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

With the U.S. tracking hundreds of alleged ISIS followers, officials say it's difficult to detect in advance who could act out.

REP. PETER KING (R-NY), HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: They get over the Internet that ISIS wants an attack on the 4th of July and there's any number of soft targets that one of the psychos, if you will, could just go out and carry out an attack.

BROWN: Sources tell CNN, there was increased chatter among ISIS supporters leading in to the holiday but no specific credible threats. The homegrown violent extremists remain the number one concern for law enforcement.

So far this year, U.S. authorities have charged at least 49 alleged ISIS supporters. Thus, recently, authorities arrested groups in Boston and New York. And overseas, three near-simultaneous terrorist attacks and U.S. officials on edge.

MILLER: We had what appeared to be three coordinated attacks overseas in France and Kuwait and Tunisia. So, given the world situation, we wanted to put those layers of protection behind the regular patrol police.

BROWN: London is also in the middle of a frighteningly realistic rehearsal for a possible attack after terrorists struck in three countries last week.

And certain police departments, including the NYPD, say they're going to increase monitoring of social media looking for tips and cues, similar to what we saw before that attempted terrorist attack in Garland, Texas, where the shooter tweeted about what he was going to do hours before.

Pamela Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[1:40:01]

BARNETT: U.S. investigators say a wave of church fires in the south has their full attention. We'll tell you what they plan to do about them after this short break.

Stay with us here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASHER: U.S. authorities want to know if airlines are unlawfully keeping ticket prices high. Now officials say several carriers will serve subpoenas on Tuesday. Investigators are looking in to whether airlines have colluded to limit the number of passenger seats available. At least three airlines say they are cooperating with the investigation. We know that American Airlines and United Airlines are among those who say they received subpoenas.

BARNETT: Federal authorities are promising a thorough investigation after a series of fires or black churches in the Southern United States. On Tuesday, Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina was the latest to burn.

A day later, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch spoke about the fires.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORETTA LYNCH, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: They saw recent tragic burnings of the predominantly black churches that have been happening really throughout the south and even the Midwest and in our own state in Charlotte recently had an incident there. And we don't have the full details about those but I want you to know that those also have our full attention. And that this is a serious issue that we will be addressing with the appropriate care. And we will see where those matters lead us, as well. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: And the hashtag, "Who is burning black churches?" has been trending on Twitter for a number of days.

Now, investigators believe the fire at Mount Zion AME may have been caused by lightning but the number of church fires over the past two weeks itself has raised concern. Brian Todd has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church engulfed in flames.

[1:45:03] Firefighters in Greenville South Carolina tried to save the church but all that remains is a burnt brick shell, a total loss. No cause has been ruled out but, so far, no sign of arson.

20 years ago, the Mount Zion AME Church was a target of a fire set by the Ku Klux Klan.

Federal investigator suspect lightning may have caused the latest fire. There was plenty of it in the area Tuesday night.

A forensics report of lightening strikes by CNN meteorologists shows four strikes occurred in the immediate vicinity of the church all around the time the fire was raging just after 7:00 p.m. eastern.

It was just two weeks ago that nine worshipers were shot and killed in a Charleston, South Carolina, church. That shooting by a white 21- year-old saying he wanted to start a race war. Since then, at least six black churches have burned in the Southeastern United States. A fire at the Glover Grove Baptist Church of Warrenville, South Carolina cause undetermined, two more in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee, both caused by arson. The cause of Macon, Georgia's recent church fire is undetermined. Authorities say a fire at Tallahassee, Florida, church was likely a result of natural causes.

The Southern Poverty Law Center says the most recent religious targets of hate crimes have been synagogues and mosques. But senior fellow, Mark Potok, says although there is no real evidence so far suggesting any of these fires is a politically motivated arson, the recent flurry of black church burnings is cause for concern.

MARK POTOK, SENIOR FELLOW, SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: It is difficult not to be struck by how these fires have been kind of bunched together, very closely after extremely widespread criticism of the Confederate battle flag which is a symbol really revered by white supremacists and others in the country.

TODD: Former FBI Director, Tom Fuentes, cites current FBI statistics indicating an average an average of one fire per day in a religious institution.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: In the investigation of those fires, they determined that about 60 percent of the fires are arson. And the vast majority of the arson cases turn out to be insurance fraud or, in some cases, somebody was pulling a prank or a vandalism that went too far.

TODD: And threats against churches are common place across the U.S. Sheriff's officials in a nearby county tell us five other AME Churches in this area received threatening letters before and after the Charleston shootings. But officials say those letters had to do with the fact that women head up those congregations and they were not racially motivated.

Brian Todd, CNN, Greeleyville South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: And either way, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, says that these church fire certainly has her full attention.

Still to come on CNN NEWSROOM, heartbreak on the pitch at the Women's World Cup semi finals after the England defender scores her own goal.

BARNETT: Yeah.

ASHER: And she's crushed, ahead, why her coach is calling her a hero.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORTS)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BARNETT: Welcome back. Japan is on its way to the Women's World Cup final after a shocking and definitely heart-breaking defeat for England in Wednesday's semi final.

ASHER: Yeah. So here's what happened in case you missed it. The 2-1 victory, Japan hits one victory came after England defender, Laura Bassett -- there you see it. She accidentally chipped the goal into her own net in the 92nd minute. So she scored on own goal. They will now face the U.S. Japan will not face the U.S. in a rematch of the 2011 championship. Back then, Japan won that match in a penalty kick shootout, three-two-one. I certainly feel bad for Laura Bassett.

BARNETT: CNN's World Sports' Kate Riley is joining us from Edmonton, Canada, to talk about what took place.

And Kate, we should say congratulations to Japan but what a brutal heart break for England and player, Laura Bassett, who scored an own goal. What happened, Kate?

KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, Errol, the stadium behind me, the Commonwealth Stadium here in Edmonton, fell silent. An own goal, scored by England in the dying moments of the game and of course, what a costly goal to score because we would then see Japan progress to the final, the prize, meeting the United States in Vancouver. The emotion on the pitch after the final whistle can only be described as raw or devastating because the looks on the line at these faces just said it all.

And for one individual in particular, Laura Bassett, her boss said she had nothing to be embarrassed about whatsoever. And in fact, when she and the rest of England's squad go home, they should be welcomed as heroes. He also added, Laura epitomizes everything good about football and any side should be lucky to have a Laura Bassett in their ranks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK SAMPSON, ENGLAND COACH: In a horrible moment obviously for Laura. But you can see the regard in which the team hold Laura and all that teammates by their reaction. Of course every single member of my group is devastated when that ball went over the line. We were devastated but our first point of call is look after your own.

Laura is one of us. She's one of our team. We get around her, we console her, we that cry, now we tell her how proud we are of her because without her we wouldn't be in the semi final.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RILEY: So, it's not the end for England. They don't go on the plane home just yet. They are in Edmonton now for a few more days because they are going to be preparing for their next match against Germany and the winner of that match will go on to get third place here at the Women's World Cup.

BARNETT: And then, a lot of teammates were saying Laura Bassett's have (ph) wears her heart on her sleeve. And we can see she seemed inconsolable after that own goal. So hopefully, she's able to pull it together. But with Japan taking on the U.S. now in Sunday's final Kate, what can we expect?

RILEY: Yeah, this will be another huge final. In fact, Errol, this is a rematch of the 2011 final.

[1:55:00] Japan, of course, won that. They are now the reigning champions. The USA said, they'll be vying for the Third World Cup title. Japan, how did they get to the final? Well, they've won every single one of their World Cup matches. That is six in total. Who will be the winner? We'll find out on Sunday.

BARNETT: All right. Japan certainly the team to beat.

Kate Riley watching it for us from Edmonton, Canada. Thanks for your time, Kate.

ASHER: Now, even though the England defender, Laura Bassett, scored her own goal, I love the fact her teammates stood by her.

BARNETT: Oh, yeah.

ASHER: That's a very supporting.

BARNETT: They're defending her big time.

ASHER: I love this loyalty.

OK everyone, thank you so much for watching. I'm Zain Asher.

BARNETT: Zain is off to enjoy her weekends.

ASHER: I'm going to sleep.

BARNETT: Have a good time. I'm Errol Barnett.

Natalie Allen joins me now for another hour of CNN NEWSROOM.

Stay with us. There you are.

ASHER: There you are.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Goodbye to you, Zain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)