Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Brussels At Maximum Terrorism Alert; Mystery Surrounds Surviving Attacker; French Police Seek Information On Attacker; Twenty Two Die In Terror Attack On Mali Hotel; Protester Roughed Up At A Trump Rally. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired November 23, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:30:17] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New terrorism raids in Belgium, 16 people in custody. What we're learning now about these arrests.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: New information about the terrorists who attacked Paris as France's president tries to create an international coalition to fight ISIS. We are live.

ROMANS: Inside the Mali hotel terror attack, a surviving hostage shares her story with CNN. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

KOSIK: I'm Alison Kosik. It's half past the hour. We welcome all of our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. Belgium is at maximum terror alert right now. Officials fear attacks in Brussels like those in Paris, and those attacks nine days ago, were carried out by ISIS terrorists, several who actually lived in Brussels.

Officials in the Belgian capital are extending a partial lockdown of the city warning against large gathering closing schools and also closing the subway.

On Sunday, some 20 raids yielded 16 arrests. Belgian prime minister warning that officials have intelligence about the attacks, quote, "With explosives and weapons may be even in several places at once."

Joining us with the latest is senior international correspondent, Frederik Pleitgen in Brussels. So those big raids happening last night, but what information are they really netting at this point?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At this point, they are being very tight-lipped about what sort of information they've been getting, but what they are saying is that this threat level, of course, is still very much in place.

You can certainly see that, Alison, this morning. On the streets of Brussels here, as you've noted, much of the city is practically a lockdown, you have the subways not working.

You have schools that are closed. Most of the shops are closed as well. I'm actually on the main square here in Brussels. There really are very, very few people.

Normally on a Monday, around noon time, there would be lots of people on the square like this. However most of the city is basically come to a standstill instead what you are seeing behind me is what's normal here on the streets right now.

You have a lot of soldiers walking around. You have police officers walking around. We were here last night and there was a sort of cordoned search operation going on around the area.

I can tell you from speaking to some of the police officers and some of the soldiers there. They were very, very concerned about the situation. They told us to move on immediately.

That of course all part of this whole mood here in Belgium at this point in time where they still have this manhunt underway for the man who allegedly was involved in the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam.

They still don't know where he is. They believe he might be somewhere in the greater Brussels area. That is also one of the reasons they fear that there could be attacks in Brussels. That is why, Alison, the threat level in Brussels is even higher than in the rest of the country -- Alison.

KOSIK: It's so eerie to see those pictures of those empty streets. You know, you think about what is happening in Paris. You have life pretty much back to normal or as normal as can be after the terror attack.

You've got schools reopen. You've got people going back to work, very different there. At what point will officials say let's lift the partial lockdown. How long can the city remain like this?

PLEITGEN: Well, that's a very good question. One of the things that we're hearing from the Belgian authorities is that they are saying this is going to remain in place as long as it's necessary, of course.

However, they also say that they do keep evaluating this on at least a day by day basis, if not even more frequently, because, of course, this is not the situation that they can keep in place for a very long time.

This town, of course, is not only a place that attracts a lot of tourists, but it is also in many ways the administrative capital of the European Union, and especially on a Monday, there are a lot of European politicians and bureaucrats that would normally come into the city.

[05:35:05] Right now, it is feeling very empty especially with the fact that the public transport is not working. A lot of people for them it is also very difficult because the schools are closed. They don't know what to do with their kids. They don't know what to tell their kids.

They are saying inside as much as they can with also a lot of the shops closed. It is not something that they can sustain for a long time. But of course, the Belgian government is saying for them, the safety of the citizens of the city of the country is a paramount interest -- Alison.

KOSIK: Of course, putting officials in a very tight spot there. Frederik Pleitgen, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right, we have new information this morning on the Paris attackers. French national police posting a picture of a man they say is one of the Paris attackers who blew himself up. They are appealing to the public for more information about who that man is.

We are also learning more about how and why the one attacker who survived got away. Sources close to the investigation telling CNN that Salah Abdelsalam abandoned his car and called acquaintances in Brussels to come get him.

The lawyer for one of those men says her client thought Abdelsalam may have been planning to, quote, "blow himself up," which leaves a mystery, what was his real role in the attacks and where is he now.

I want to bring in CNN's Max Foster live in Paris for the very latest -- Max.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's interesting because ISIS has suggested there were eight attackers and Salah Abdelsalam appears to be the eighth attacker, but doesn't carry out the attack in Paris. They suggested that there was another attack in Paris, which we never heard about.

So the suggestion being he was meant to be one of the attackers. His brother actually spoke to Belgian TV saying that his feeling is that Abdelsalam pulled out at the last minute out of fear, really, and he decided not to carry out that attack.

We are hearing that one of his acquaintances who drove him to Belgium suggesting that he had something under his jacket. It could have been a suicide belt. He could still have that suicide belt in Brussels where Fred is.

We don't think the heightened alert in Brussels is linked to Abdelsalam, but certainly people in Brussels very concerned, Christine, that there could be a potential attacker in their midst with a suicide belt.

ROMANS: You know, Max, we saw the picture that police released of the man who blew himself up outside the Stade de France. They don't know who he is. Remarkable given all of the concern in France about these Jihadis who left France and to the battlefield apparent could come back. It's a picture of someone we have not seen. They don't know who he is.

Remarkable given all of the concern in France about these Jihadis who have left France, gone to Syria, gone to the battlefield and come back, they've been tracing so many of them. They don't know who this man yet, do they? FOSTER: They don't. They probably got more information they are giving out. All they are doing right is putting out his picture and saying he was the first attacker at the Stade de France. They cannot get anymore, which is why they are issuing these appeals.

It is very interesting to see how they are handling this. They are trying to not give out too much information because they are still chasing that live investigation. But they are desperate for the public to be their eyes and ears on certain things like this. Who is this man?

ROMANS: Meanwhile, Francois Hollande and David Cameron meeting this morning trying to put a face forward together, these two allies.

FOSTER: They really are and this is part of what has been described as a diplomatic dash by President Hollande. Today, he is meeting a key ally, David Cameron here and saying we are on the same page here.

We think we should be attacking ISIS in Syria on home turf. And this war, as President Hollande describes it. Tomorrow, he goes on to Washington to speak to President Obama about the same thing.

On Wednesday, Chancellor Merkel of Germany and then he goes over to Moscow and speaks to President Putin trying to create a united front against ISIS. This big challenge is bringing in Putin and Obama together on this one.

Because Obama won't work with Putin militarily until they've agree on a political future on Syria and they both disagree on whether or not President Assad of Syria should be part of that.

ROMANS: A lot of diplomatic work still to be done and a lot of intelligence work still to be done. Thanks so much for that, Max Foster for us in Paris this morning.

KOSIK: We are learning new information about the bloody terror attack on a hotel in Mali. The U.N. says at least 22 people died in a terrorist strike on a Radisson in the capital of Bamako on Friday. Two attackers died. Now American specialist for the cdc is telling her harrowing story to CNN.

For more on that, let's bring in CNN's David McKenzie live in Mali. Good morning, David.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alison. Yes, there were horrible hours here just days ago in Bamako, Mali, the capital where two or three gunmen stormed this hotel striking terror in the guests and staff.

They were shooting wildly at anyone they could. One American was stuck in a room. She said her training saved her life and it was a horrible experience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[05:40:04] KATHIE FAZEKAS, CDC SPECIALIST: I e-mailed my husband and I said there is something going on. I want you to know that I love you. And then a few hours later when the fire down the hallway, I wrote another e-mail and I said, I do believe there are shooters here and if I don't make it, I want you to know I love you and my family, but I am coming home. I do this because I love doing this work and where we are in the world and we need to continue on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Alison, Kathie said that they had a secret code that the Malian and American forces when they came to her door after so many hour, they used that code and that is why she opened the door for anyone else.

She felt that because she was trained in how to respond to this kind of eventuality. If she had panicked, she said she would have been shot. She hunkered down, put her luggage around her, and heard shots coming closer and closer down the hallway.

At one point, someone trying to get in, and when the Malian forces opened that door with that secret code. She said she put up her hands and just said, (inaudible), as they pulled her down the hall, very emotional about the people who lost their lives.

But she said she here was committed to the work she did and she hopes to come back to Mali to finish it all.

KOSIK: Just gut-wrenching to hear these stories. Your heart goes out to them. This could be any of us. David McKenzie, thanks so much for that report.

ROMANS: All right, it's 41 minutes past the hour. Donald Trump igniting new controversy, what he had to say about his supporters beating a Black Lives Matter protester, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:45:52]

ROMANS: Donald Trump leading the presidential pack in a new poll. A new ABC/"Washington Post" poll out Sunday shows Donald Trump continuing to lead the GOP field. He has a double digit lead with 32 percent support. Ben Carson is running second behind Trump at 22 percent. The only other Republican in double digits is Marco Rubio rising in the polls coming in at 11 percent.

KOSIK: This is happening as Trump's controversy refusing to condemn the rough treatment of a protester at the rally over the weekend. Joining us to discuss this latest moment in the 2016 race is CNN Politics reporter, Tal Kopan. Good morning to you.

TAL KOPAN, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Good morning.

KOSIK: You know, Donald Trump says stop with pc. To kind of encourage this guy deserved to be roughed up. This is really traumatic video. These words about him kind of deserving to be roughed up coming from a possible presidential candidate, what is going on here?

KOPAN: In some ways it is disturbing. You wonder does a candidate have a responsibility for what the crowd does and in this case, you could argue that they do. Donald Trump has a bit of history with protesters.

There were some protesters arrested outside of his building at one point that had some issues with how the security guard treated them. There is a bit of an altercation there depending on whose side of the story you sort of listened to.

You got some of the issues with the protesters in the audience. Of course, you had, on the other hand, the protest group calling for people to protest Trump events.

You had the bounty in a sort issue with the "SNL" appearance. So there is a bit tension right now and Donald trump actually saying that this person may have deserved some of the violent treatment he got. It is a question mark as to whether that's appropriate from a presidential candidate.

ROMANS: I never heard a presidential candidate advocating or support violence at their own events ever. I'm racking my brain. It shows you how upside down this primary season is. We are in the new Twitter election too.

You have a candidate, Donald Trump, who tweets and he retweets what others tweet. Tell us about the crime statistics and false erroneous made up crime stats that Donald Trump retweeted.

KOPAN: Sure. He retweeted and what means is that he took a tweet from a follower and then he put it in quote marks and he retweeted it from his account so all of his millions followers could see it.

What was in it was a picture on the screen that contains a number of false statistics. It is cited to an agency that simply doesn't exist. What it implies is black people kill far more people of both races than any other race. That is simply not true.

What statistics show is that each race is most likely to be murdered by someone from their own race largely because people tend to be killed by individuals they know.

So the statistics are completely false. The agency was made up and what is interesting about for the viewers who do not use Twitter, there is a button that you can use that simply retweets a follower.

What Donald Trump does is a copy and paste and puts it in quotes. It's a little bit more complicated than simply pushing a button, and he has had some issues before with tweeting things that have very controversial and in some case offensive material in them.

ROMANS: But he wants his followers to see that so he sends a message. Every retweet sends a message. You are sharing, in this case, an urban myth, racist urban myth with all of those people.

KOSIK: All right, we will wrap it up here. Tal Kopan, thanks so much for joining us for some great analysis.

KOPAN: Thanks for having me.

KOSIK: All right, let's take a look at what is coming up on "NEW DAY." Michaela Pereira joins us now. Good morning.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Happy Monday. Let's make this a good week. We will follow all of the developments in Paris and Belgium. Officials there are hunting for one of the suspects behind this month's terror attacks amid new raids.

Now British Prime Minister David Cameron making the case for the U.K. to join other nations in launching airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, how is the war again ISIS changing. We are going to look at that.

[05:50:11]Also all of the rhetoric concerning the Syrian refugee crisis becoming more emotional, GOP candidates getting more outspoken against letting refugees into the United States. Is the system for vetting them strong enough? We will break it down from fact from fear. We will do our best.

ROMANS: All right, thanks, Michaela. It's 50 minutes past the hour. Did a girl on fire light up the box office? We have box office shockers for you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:55:05]

KOSIK: Breaking news, 16 people rushed to the hospital following a shootout in a New Orleans park. Police say at least 500 people, including kids and teens, were making a music video and that's when witnesses say two groups began shooting at each other and ran off. Detectives are now combing the neighborhood for any surveillance video of the suspects.

ROMANS: Indianapolis police have arrested an 18-year-old suspect in the home invasion killing of a pastor's pregnant wife. Police say Larry Taylor faces a preliminary charge of murder in the death of Amanda Blackburn. Davey Blackburn discovered his wife killed when he came home from the gym on November 10th. Their 1-year-old son was unharmed.

KOSIK: New protests in Minneapolis against the fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer. Hundreds of people calling for the release of videos in the death of Jamal Clark. The 24-year-old was gunned down by police and authorities say he was interfering with paramedics during an assault call. Police say making the footage public now would compromise their investigation.

A look ahead at your Thanksgiving travel weather, let's go to meteorologist, Derek Van Dam. Good morning.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Alison and Christine. One of the biggest travel weeks of the year, of course, weather is playing a major factor out there. Right now, things are quiet across the northeast.

We do have a departing storm system and flurries across the great lakes. You can see we should remain clear from the nation's capital through New York as well as Boston, clouds near Syracuse and Grand Rapids, Michigan region.

Temperatures below average for the big apple. Daytime highs only in the middle and upper 40s. Factor in the strong wind from the northwest and it will feel cool outside.

We also are tracking the major storm across the Pacific Northwest that will impact the travel day, the biggest of the week, Wednesday and Thursday.

Surge of moisture ahead bringing rainfall and possibility of severe weather to the central part of the U.S. Here is New York's forecast, looking good for Thanksgiving Day, temperatures around 58 and dry. Back to you.

ROMANS: Thank you, Derek. Let's get an early start on your money. Stocks down. Europe, Asia, U.S. futures lower as commodities get pummeled. Oil price is sinking. Copper is at a six-year low.

Merger Monday, we are expecting an announcement of the second largest merger of all time. American drug company, Pfizer, wants to merge with smaller Irish drugmaker, Allergan. It is worth more than $150 billion.

It would create the biggest drugmaker. This is inversion where a bigger company moves overseas to buy a smaller company. It moves the Pfizer headquarters abroad and slash its tax bill.

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2" brought in $151 million in the U.S. It is the film series worst opening, nearly 40 percent less than the opening for "Catching Fire." The movie was a hit with fans.

KOSIK: My kids saw it. They gave it an "eh."

ROMANS: The box office numbers.

KOSIK: Europe stepping up its fight against ISIS. "NEW DAY" starts now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together we will destroy this evil threat.

ROMANS: Maximum terror alert right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is still a threat here for the capital city of Belgium.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is going to be the standard to get that city up and running again if we don't catch the single person that they are looking for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After Paris, the Sinai in the cross-hairs here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We heard what could have been two air strikes. From where we are standing, here is the Kurdish frontline.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mali begins three days of national mourning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The country is under a state of emergency.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wrote another e-mail. I said I do believe there are shooters here. If I don't make it, I want you to know I love you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Viewers around the United States and around the world, welcome. You are watching "NEW DAY." We have some news in the war against ISIS. Is the U.K. about to join the all-out war against the terror group? British Prime Minister David Cameron meeting in France this morning, saying air strikes and more must be done.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: This as the French president heads to Washington tomorrow to meet with President Obama and major cities including Paris and Brussels take precautions to prevent further bloodshed.

Also, the manhunt for that eighth Paris attacker continues. We have this story continued only the way CNN can. Let's begin with senior international correspondent, Clarissa Ward in Paris. What's the latest, Clarissa?