Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Arrest Made in Locked Down Belgium; Investigations of Suicide Vest, Cell Phone in Paris Attacks; Hollande Calls for Grand Coalition Against ISIS; Kurdish Fighters Take on ISIS; John Kerry in Israel Trying to Calm Violence; Investigations of Suicide Vest, Cell Phone in Paris Attacks; Hollande Calls for Grand Coalition Against ISIS; Arrest Made in Locked Down Brussels; Trump's Questionable Claims about 9/11; Arrest in Tulane University "Good Samaritan" Shooting. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 24, 2015 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:10] ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: High alert after the Paris attacks. New warnings from the FBI. And Brussels still under virtual lockdown.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: The battle for the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa. An exclusive report from the front lines.

BARNETT: And John Kerry's latest push for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. We'll take you live to Jerusalem.

CHURCH: Also ahead, Donald Trump doubles down on his controversial 9/11 comments.

I'm Rosemary Church.

BARNETT: I'm Errol Barnett. Thanks for joining our two-hour block. CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

CHURCH: We begin in Paris where investigators are analyzing an apparent suicide belt found in a suburban trash can.

BARNETT: CNN affiliate, BFN TV, reports the belt contains the same kind of explosive used in the November 13th terror attacks.

Officials are also looking at a cell phone recovered near the Bataclan concert venue. They say it has possible clues about the attacks.

CHURCH: And we will have a live report from Paris in just a moment.

Also a new U.S. intelligence bulletin is warning police to look out for suspicious people surveying potential targets and to practice scenarios involving active shooters.

BARNETT: Meantime, in Belgium, authorities have charged a suspect in connection with the Paris attacks. The Belgian capital is staying at the highest terror alert level until at least Monday.

We cross now to our senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, who is tracking the latest developments there from Brussels. Fred, people all over on high alert. Brussels still essentially

locked down. But there is someone being questioned. What's the latest on all of that?

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is part of a bunch of raids that took place here in Brussels and in Liege. They netted about 21 people according to the prosecutor's office. 15 of those people have already released -- been released. However, there is one person, as you said, who remains in custody and who has been charged with terrorism offenses also pertaining to the attack that happened in Paris, of course, about 11 days ago.

Now we know that the people who have been netted in those attacks, most of them are either associates or relatives of Salah Abdeslam who is the man still at large, wanted in connection with those attacks that took place in Paris. The authorities here believe that the only reason why he could be able to be in hiding for such an extended period of time. Again, 11 days is a long time to be on the run when there's a global manhunt going on for you, especially one in Europe. They believe he's only able to do that if he has some sort of web, some sort of connection, network that is helping him out. That's one of the reasons why you are seeing so many raids and why so many are connected to Salah Abdeslam.

BARNETT: Fred, we understand that schools there and the subway system to reopen on Wednesday. I'm just wondering if that's because of new intelligence gathered or because officials can't keep this city locked down forever.

PLEITGEN: I think it's a little bit of both. On the one hand, of course, the city officials here, the Belgian officials keep saying, look, in the end, the safety and security of the people of the city, of this country are of paramount interest. They'd keep this terror threat level four going for as long as need. They've already said it's going to keep going until about next Monday.

As you said, the subway and school system will start reopening on Wednesday. That also has to do with the fact that people are starting to get edgy about all of this. Many are venturing out as little as possible. People are quite concerned about the situation, about the threat level that is still out there but they also have day-to-day needs to take care of. And many people we spoke to said they can't go to work because they have no one to take care of their kids because the schools are all shut down. It's a balancing act that the authorities here are having to perform. On the one hand, they have to keep this city up and running. Remember also one of the things people keep saying is we're not going to succumb to terrorism. We're not going to let terrorism intervene in our daily lives. At the same time, they have to keep on top of the threat level.

It appears as though even with all the raids that have been taking place over the past 11 days here in Brussels and other places as well, they are still not sure they've clamped down enough on extremist networks to prevent something like the Paris attacks happening here in Brussels - Errol?

BARNETT: Fred Pleitgen live in Brussels as the sunrises just past 8:00 in the morning.

Thanks, Fred.

[02:05:08] CHURCH: CNN's Max Foster is in Paris. He joins us now live.

Max, what more are we learning about this apparent suicide belt that was found in a trash can, and also that abandoned cell phone?

MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: An item was found in a trash can, a bin, and BFN, our affiliate, said it contained bolts similar to that in the Paris attack. That area has been cordoned off. BFN suggesting there's Abdeslam's mobile phone was tracked to the same sort of area, suggesting a link to him which perhaps contradicts some of the other reports we've had which suggests Abdeslam travelled to Brussels in his suicide vest, although there may have been more than one, of course.

Gradually, a picture is building up here. A cell phone found in a bin near the Bataclan Theater, the scene of one of the attacks. There was a map on that phone. Also some encrypted data and a text message linked to the attacks. The suggestion there being they scouted out the scenes of these attacks beforehand. Some sophistication there. And also it suggests this was more of a planned attack than people had imagined. They had these particular weapons, of course, suicide vests. It's a planned military-style attack. And that's led U.S. law enforcement to put out guidance on new ways of training police in terms of an active shooter. Now they are asking people to look out for people scouting out potential soft targets. That's a new focus of law enforcement in the U.S. Also that's the case for the U.K. as well. Generally, in the Western world, they're now looking at people looking suspicious at soft targets. More surveillance around that.

Separately, Francois Hollande is leaving here in France to head to Washington, D.C., to meet President Obama in his efforts to build a global coalition of superpowers against what he calls this war against ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER (voice-over): The largest air craft in Western Europe, the "Charles de Gaulle," used to strike against ISIS.

The British prime minister stood shoulder to shoulder, in his words, with his French counterpart in Paris at the scene of one of the attacks, the Bataclan music hall. Then they got down to business. Cameron calling again on Britain's lawmakers to allow him to take part in air strikes against ISIS in Syria.

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I firmly support the action that President Hollande has taken to strike ISIL in Syria and it's my firm conviction that Britain should do so, too. Of course, that will be a decision for parliament to make.

FOSTER: Cameron is now back in London to make his case, whilst Hollande will take his message to President Obama at the White House before meeting Chancellor Merkel on Wednesday and President Putin on thursday.

Hollande is calling for a grand coalition of superpowers against ISIS, despite differences over the future of Syria's president.

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translation): The solution is to have a government of union in Syria. And we know Bashar al Assad cannot be the future. Therefore, this seems to be the good formula, and we have to act so all countries can find a political solution in Syria as well as strike Daesh.

FOSTER: The U.S.-led coalition has been bombing ISIS for more than a year. Russia joined the conflict in recent months. U.S. officials contend Russians have mainly been targeting opponents of its ally, Bashar al Assad, not ISIS.

Obama says Putin needs to make a fundamental shift in his support for the Syrian president before joint action can be considered.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The question at this point is whether they can make the strategic adjustment that allows them to be effective partners with us and the other 65 countries who are already part of the counter-ISIL campaign. And we don't know that yet.

FOSTER: Some analysts say there is potential for cooperation.

UNIDENTIFIED ANALYST: Limited perhaps, military intelligence sharing. Maybe about common operations on certain targets, but perhaps not more than that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Russia may be warming up to the idea of forming a coalition with France, if you look at these pictures for you. Video from the Russian defense ministry shows Russian airmen preparing to drop bombs on ISIS positions in Syria. They wrote messages on them. Some read, "For Paris." Others, "For our people."

Certainly, solidarity around the world, Rosemary and Errol, with France at this hour, but some debate around the response.

[02:10:05] CHURCH: Max Foster live with us there from Paris.

We'll join you again in about 20 minutes from now.

BARNETT: Thanks, Max.

Some other stories we're following, at least one person is dead after two bombs exploded outside a hotel in northern Sinai. This is coming from Egyptian state media. The hotel in the city of al Arish was housing election judges.

CHURCH: The bombing comes a day after a second and final round of parliamentary voting. There's been no claim of responsibility so far.

BARNETT: Now, all these discussions of terror in France and Europe and elsewhere, and after the break, we'll take you to the front lines of the battle against ISIS in Syria.

CHURCH: Nick Paton Walsh is there and talking to Kurdish fighters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: From where we're standing, here is the Kurdish front line, a trench dug as far as we can see. And then all in this direction, and then flat open land until you reach the outskirts of Raqqa, the capital of ISIS' self- declared caliphate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: His exclusive report is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Hi, there. I'm Patrick Snell, with your CNN "World Sport" headlines.

It's just what any football manager doesn't want to hear, the so- called vote of confidence from your club's hierarchy. In this case, Real Madrid humiliated at the weekend by bitter rivals Barcelona. And the club's head coach says for many Real fans, the final straw was the 4-0 home drubbing which saw them drop to third in Laliga. On Monday, came the unusual step. The club's president calling a press conference to announce the manager was keeping his job with the club's full support. Bear in mind, Barca were 3-0 up in that game with real before Lionel Messi even came off the subs bench. Yes, they were that dominant.

Speaking of Messi, the Argentine has now been declared fully fit after being out injured since the end of September. He should start in the home match with Roma.

The Golden State Warriors, as in the 15-0 Warriors, and the defenders have tied an all-time NBA record after defeating Denver on Sunday. Only the '49 Washington Capitals and 1994 Houston Rockets have started an NBA season with 15 straight victories. If the Warriors defeat the Lakers at home on Tuesday, they will make league history for the best start ever.

Thank you for joining us. You're bang up to date. Keep it at CNN for all the latest twists and developments. That's a look at your CNN global sports headlines. I'm Patrick Snell.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:15:00] BARNETT: The U.S. and its coalition allies continue to take aim at ISIS in Syria and Iraq. The U.S. military says there were 14 coalition air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria on Sunday. CHURCH: There were 19 coalition air strikes on ISIS positions in

Iraq. The U.S. military says the war planes took out weapons caches, artillery, and more than 200 trucks used by ISIS to smuggle oil.

BARNETT: Along with the aerial bombardment, young Kurdish fighters are taking ISIS on one on one on the ground. But they need weapons and reinforcements.

CHURCH: Nick Paton Walsh is at the Kurdish front lines in northern Syria just 32 kilometers from the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa. And here is his exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATON WALSH (voice-over): After Paris, the Sinai in the crosshairs is here, Raqqa. Lost in the haze, yet they can hear it, loud thuds, heaviest at dusk.

"Three days ago," says Bahas (ph), "we saw 14 air strikes suddenly hit just nearby. Then the French said they'd started bombing. We'll do our best to avenge Paris."

He, like the other young Kurdish fighters here, have lost friends, but say fighting ISIS is a duty for humanity, rather than vengeance as they man a series of trenches and outposts about 20 miles from the city.

(on camera): We have heard distant thuds of what could have been air strikes. From where we're standing, here is the Kurdish front line, a trench dug as far as we can see. All in this direction, flat, open land until you reach the outskirts of Raqqa, the capital of ISIS's self-declared caliphate.

(voice-over): Four Russian missiles hit ISIS in this day, activists said, but otherwise, it's the silence stalemate in the desert.

Weapons here are scant. This man carries the A.K.-47 of his friend who died eight months ago.

Out here, in the flat, open ground, with ISIS in the next village, they still scorn ISIS's leaders and welcome help.

"If French, Russian or American fighters," this commander says, "come here to fight, we'll cooperate with them as we're all fighting to clean the area of is for humanity."

ISIS left their mark on nearby Annalisa (ph), as has the fights for it. Even the mosque littered with mines.

(on camera): The silence here is breathtaking. This is directly the road down to Raqqa. You can just hear the complete absence of human life.

(voice-over): There is little in victory left to fight for.

On the way out, we meet these guys. They don't look much like white knights but that's what the Pentagon hopes they are. The Syrian Democratic Forces, getting American aid, who explain they've secured the major defection of Sunni tribes inside Raqqa to fight ISIS.

"We weren't expecting this large number to join, but there are now 4,000 tribesmen," he says. "When we want to move, all of them are ready and we've already managed to sneak weapons to them. We're moving forward."

Western leaders call this a global fight, but here, alone, you feel the dust, death and determination.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: It's been more than a year since U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Israel and the West Bank. Coming up, a live report on what we can expect from his latest trip.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:21:50] BARNETT: Pope Francis is getting ready for his first trip to the African continent. The terror attacks in Paris mean security is heightened for the pope's visit which begins Wednesday.

CHURCH: Pope Francis will stop in Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

The trip comes as the Vatican criminal court begins its first hearings against five people accused of leaking and publishing secret church documents.

BARNETT: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Israel at this moment. Soon he'll meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and later he'll head for the West Bank.

For more on Kerry's visit, let's bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann.

Oren, as Kerry tries to lower the temperature of violence there, we've just received word of yet another attack with a vehicle. What do we know?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Errol, this happened just moments before Secretary of State John Kerry touched down in Israel. The IDF says a Palestinian driver rammed his car into three Israelis soldiers in the northern West Bank. All three soldiers were lightly injured. The Palestinian driver was shot and was receiving treatment.

That is what Secretary of State Kerry is here to address. What he'll be looking for is practical steps. He was in Jordan just a month ago and there secured with Jordanian and Israeli leadership a promise to put cameras on the temple mount to ease some of the tensions, hoping that would help. Not only has there been no progress of the installation of the cameras, but no easing of the tensions. So Kerry is back in the region, seeing what he can do. He'll be looking for something concrete. He wants to see both sides put real steps in place. As we see with this alleged attack this morning, Errol, it's difficult, and the situation doesn't seem to be improving at all right now.

BARNETT: Even if there are more cameras installed all over the place, it doesn't really -- wouldn't do anything to address the underlying issues. We've heard comments out of the White House that there is no expectation that major progress on a peace plan will take place before the end of Obama's administration next year. So in some way, are the expectations pretty low for this trip in the first place?

LIEBERMANN: Absolutely. I hate to say it but they are about as low as it gets. It was also the Department of saying they don't expect any real progress. All they want to see is an easing to tensions and easing of the violence we've seen here stretching back to October. There have been the briefest periods where it looked like a quiet day followed by a somewhat quiet day. In the last few days, a number of attacks that's led to a number of clashes. There's been no easing of any of that. That's what Kerry wants to see here. His spokesperson says he'll keep working for a two-state solution, even though he knows it's almost impossible. But he wants to see both sides here at least scale back the tension we've seen here. Kerry will try to get some promises here he can put in place.

BARNETT: Oren Liebermann with those low expectations, reporting out of Jerusalem for us. Oren, thanks.

CHURCH: This just in. A bomb exploded outside a Greek government building in Athens early Tuesday. No one was injured, and police have sealed off the area.

[02:25:14] BARNETT: This is the first chance we're getting to look at footage of this incident. Several Greek media outlets received an anonymous phone call warning of an exPLOsion outside the Greek federation offices. At this point, no one has claimed responsibility.

CHURCH: From the streets of Brussels to the highest levels of the European Union, the Paris terror attacks are making a dramatic impact. Just ahead, we'll sort them all out.

BARNETT: Plus, the September 11th attacks are the focus of a political debate as two U.S. presidential candidates make claims about what happened that day. We'll bring that to you after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:13] ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and welcome back to those of you watching around the world. I'm Errol Barnett.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Rosemary Church. We want to update you on the main stories we're following this hour.

Belgian authorities have charged a suspect in connection with the Paris terror attacks. Meanwhile, Brussels will stay at the highest terror alert level until at least Monday. And Belgium's prime minister says Wednesday will be the earliest day schools and the metro will open in Brussels.

BARNETT: Investigators in Paris analyzing a possible suicide vest found in a garbage can. CNN affiliate, BFN TV, reports the vest contained the same kind of explosive used in the Paris attacks. Authorities haven't said if the vest is related to those attacks.

CHURCH: French President Francois Hollande will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday. It's part of the French leader's push to build a broader coalition against ISIS.

On Monday, Mr. Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the memorial outside the Bataclan Theater in Paris.

BARNETT: A New U.S. intelligence bulletin says the Paris attackers surveyed at least some of the locations they targeted before the attacks. The bulletin also said the attackers used multiple tactics in their planning and likely had military style training.

CHURCH: We want to go back to our Max Foster who is live in Paris.

Max, do bring us up to date on all we know so far about that apparent suicide vest found in a trash can and the cell phone found abandoned at the Bataclan, as well as President Hollande's meeting Tuesday with President Obama.

MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Effectively, there's an area that's been sealed off around a trash can. BFN, our affiliate, saying it contained explosives. The same kind used in the Paris attacks and also bolts within it. Additionally BFN reporting that Abdeslam's mobile phone was tracked to that area around the bin. So they're making the connection between him and this suicide vest, although we haven't had any official confirmation on that. We have been reporting in previous days a lawyer for one of the drivers suspected of taking Abdeslam to Brussels said he saw something under Abdeslam's jacket and it could have been a suicide vest. So is there more than one vest, did he dump the vest? Lots of questions about that but an area in Paris cordoned off as a result of that.

And you mentioned the separate cell phone found outside the Bataclan in a trash can. And that had a map on it which suggests this was a very well planned attack in Paris. So, therefore, law enforcement there, in light of what happened here in Paris, should be looking out for people scouting out soft targets. Having an impact abroad.

And also because of the type of weaponry used and, the suicide belts used in Paris, Rosemary, there is now a theory this was a very sophisticated attack by trained military-style training given to these attackers. So great deal of concern about that and authorities around the world trying to learn lessons from that about how they can instill their own enforcement training around this.

CHURCH: Max, let's look at that mission of President Hollande. He's going to meet with the U.S. President Barack Obama. They are pretty much on the same page, but he does want to bring the United States and Russia together. They're not on the same page, certainly when it comes to whether or not Bashar al Assad should remain in power. How is that likely to work and what is likely to come of those discussions?

FOSTER: He's got his work cut out, President Hollande, when he goes to Washington. He wants to bring the Russian and American coalitions together in one concerted effort against ISIS. And President Obama has ruled that out on the basis they disagree on the political future of Syria. So the Russians don't want to rule out president Assad staying in power, or as the Americans do. Until that's resolved, President Obama has ruled out any sort of military cooperation on that. And that's the bridge that President Hollande is trying to build between these two countries and going along to Moscow to meet president Putin later in the week. The suggestion from analysts here is that perhaps President Obama can offer President Hollande something in the sense that he can support Russian strikes against ISIS in Syria, specifically not supporting the strikes against the Syrian opposition in Syria. So we're going to see what President Obama can offer President Hollande. He'll certainly want to offer something in a sign of solidarity after these French attacks because America, a key ally of France, and the same goes the other way. We'll see what comes out of that meeting. Certainly, Hollande has his work cut out diplomatically speaking today.

[02:35:35] CHURCH: He does. The United States and Britain certainly standing shoulder to shoulder with France. We'll see what happens and we will watch that meeting.

Max Foster there in Paris. It is just after 8:30 in the morning. Many thanks to you, Max, as always.

BARNETT: Brussels remains on lockdown at this hour as authorities search for a fugitive suspect in the Paris terror attacks.

CHURCH: For days, forces have made arrests in Molenbeek, a neighborhood that's developing a reputation as a breeding ground for extremists.

CNN's Nima Elbagir has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a nightmare. As a mother, you feel, did I not give him enough love? Maybe I didn't give him enough love?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We promised this Belgian mother not to show her face or broadcast her face. Her son is an ISIS fighter. He's threatened to kill her if she speaks publicly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Truly, it's terrible. I feel so guilty.

ELBAGIR: And she's not alone. Hundreds of young Belgians are fighting in Syria alongside her son.

Market days at the Molenbeek town square, a sign behind glass reads, "Together against hate."

The Paris attacks brother, the Abdeslam brothers, grew up together on these streets with the architect of the horror.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These were guys I met on a regular basis in my neighborhood. There were no signs in their clothing, their talking or even behavior of radicalization. That's the most intriguing. We have no ways of anticipating any kind of behavior like this. This worries us even more. This should make us think about the capacity that ISIS has.

(EXPLOSION)

ELBAGIR: Molenbeek is almost now synonymous with the horrors of that night in Paris. But this is a national nightmare. Belgium, per capita, contributes the largest number of fighters to ISIS. Their communities, their mosques are struggling to fight back.

(on camera): In your experience, where does the radicalization happen?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think on the streets, on the Internet. You have also some -- where society failed such as tackling racism and discrimination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Also because we have an excuse that we should give them an argument to stand up against society. Yes, there is discrimination, but that's not an excuse to do stupid things.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): There is a first contact with a person trying to convince them. Then they get in contact with someone who is thousands of kilometers away. Then the local network kicks in. Tickets, pay for the flights.

ELBAGIR (voice-over): All under the nose of Belgian authorities. High security alerts, government raids, a nation faced with tough questions, and the enormity of the task ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Talking about the organization, I think it's a very big word. What does it mean? Does it mean we have to put someone in a wash and then after 10 minutes is coming out, he's cleaned?

ELBAGIR: That much is clear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): And I also think about victims. They are innocent, murdered. It's horrible. He's not my son anymore.

ELBAGIR: Nima Elbagir, CNN, Brussels.

(END VIDEOTAPE) [02:30:50] Sajjan Gohel is a terrorism expert and the international security director for the Asia-Pacific Foundation. He joins us live from London to talk about all of this.

We heard there, Sajjan, just one story from someone connected to the -- these, you know, radicalized militants. I'm just wondering how much blame Belgium shoulders for all of this. I understand it's impossible for any nation to be in the mind of all of its citizens. Still, Belgium seems unique in the number of people radicalized there and now with this state of emergency, it doesn't seem it knows what else to do other than shut down places people gather in. What's happening in Belgium, in your view?

SAJJAN GOHEL, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY DIRECTOR, ASIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION: Errol, that's a very important question that you raise. This is a country that's also very politically unstable because of the mix of Flemish and French interests that often clash, which has prevented an effective government from operating there. That's been exploited by criminal networks and also at the same time, groups like ISIS. And you often see the criminal enterprise collaborates with the terrorist groups, which has enabled the transfer of personnel, as well as weapons and that has turned Belgium into is' strategic hub. There have been a number of plots emanating from there that have spread into neighboring countries most notably, recently, the Paris atrocities, and the worry is also that Belgium has been a center for so many Europeans going over to Iraq and Syria to listening up with ISIS. The tap effectively hasn't been turned off.

BARNETT: And the issue seems to be bigger than Belgium as well. The European Union and its many administrative bodies there based in Brussels. Is this really a problem with a lack of E.U. leadership? And, if so, how do you reverse that?

GOHEL: Well, you have the European Union there. You also have NATO as well. And what's important is there to be more effective counterterrorism policies brought in to the Belgium legislature. The laws up until now have not been adequate enough to deal with the threat and the fact you have places like Molenbeek, which have become a cesspool for radicalization, a safe place for extremists to operate. That needs to be turned around. They need to be dismantled. There needs to be an approach at preventing places in Belgium from being breeding grounds for terrorism.

BARNETT: It isn't just Belgium. Also French President Hollande will be meeting with U.S. President Obama before meeting with President Putin. At one possible outcome, more air strikes on is targets. The worsening issue seems to be the ISIS recruitment structure. Can the West really win tackling one and not the other?

GOHEL: You can keep having air strikes but that's not going to dismantle ISIS's infrastructure on the ground. They'll even use civilians as human shields around infrastructure. They use the smuggling routes to bypass air strikes. Yes, some damage to their infrastructure, but it's not creating any permanent impact. The only way to tackle ISIS is to have more effective ground operations like the one in Sinjar where Kurdish Peshmerga aided by air strikes were able to take Sinjar, which resulted in strategic supply line being cut linking is between Syria and Iraq. That was a very important moment. More operations like that are essential. The cosmetic exercises of air strikes and the very strong platitudes by Western leaders need to be backed up by substantial action on the ground.

BARNETT: It all seems to keep pointing back to forces on the ground making the difference.

Sajjan, the international security director for the Asia-Pacific Foundation. Thanks for your time today. Joining us from London where it's approaching 7:45 in the morning. Thanks.

Rosemary?

CHURCH: Errol, the Paris attacks are now a hot-button issue in the U.S. presidential race. Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is calling for measures to monitor Syrian refugees and he's also getting attention for some questionable claims about 9/11.

CNN's Sarah Murray has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH MURRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, Donald Trump is sharpening his anti-terror rhetoric with some of those salvos coming under intense scrutiny. Trump contends he saw thousands celebrating in New Jersey after the 9/11 attacks.

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I watched in Jersey city, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down.

MURRAY: Standing by his claim, even as news organizations and government leaders call it false.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST, GOOD MORNING, AMERICA: The police say that didn't happen.

TRUMP (voice-over): The people that were cheering in the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations, they were cheering as the World Trade Center came down.

[02:45:02] MURRAY: Tonight, Trump is not backing down, pointing to this sentence in a "Washington Post" story published a week after the 9/11 attacks as proof of his claims. The paper said law enforcement had detained people allegedly seen cheering on rooftops in Jersey City.

Today, that city's mayor said the reports were unfounded. CNN has found no evidence of arrests or video showing Muslims cheering.

Still, despite that lack of evidence, Trump's main rival, Dr. Ben Carson, said he saw the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you see that happening, though, on 9/11? DR. BEN CARSON, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & RETIRED NEUROSURGEON: I

saw the film of it.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: In New Jersey?

CARSON: Yes.

MURRAY: Trump also talking tougher when it comes to the treatment of suspected terrorists.

TRUMP: They don't use waterboarding over there. They use chopping off people's heads.

MURRAY: Calling Sunday for reinstating waterboarding as an interrogation tactic.

TRUMP: I think waterboarding is peanuts compared to what they do to us.

MURRAY (on camera): In the hours after making this statement, Dr. Ben Carson has backed away from his previous comments. He said he does remember seeing footage of people protesting in the wake of 9/11, but it was not in New Jersey, it was in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, at his event in Columbus, Ohio, did not back down from his comments, once again, reaffirming he believes he saw people protesting 9/11 in New Jersey.

Sarah Murray, CNN, Columbus, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BARNETT: Now, this next story is just incredible. Police have made an arrest in the shooting of a Tulane Medical student simply trying to help a woman in need. The shocking video that shows the suspect and the student, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good day, everyone I'm CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam, with a quick look at your "Weather Watch."

(WEATHER REPORT)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:50:28] CHURCH: Welcome back. In New Orleans, a Tulane University medical student was simply trying to be a Good Samaritan when he witnessed a woman being assaulted.

BARNETT: But helping out almost cost the man his life. It's all caught on video.

Alina Machado has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The surveillance video released by police is chilling. Recorded early Friday morning, it shows 25-year-old Tulane University medical student, Peter Gold, getting out of a car, cell phone in hand, walking towards danger. He's just seen a woman being dragged down the street, and he's trying to help. Seconds later, Gold appears with his hands up. The man in the hooded sweatshirt pointing a gun. You can't hear what Gold tells him but police say he's explaining he doesn't have any money.

A witness, who wants to remain anonymous, describes to CNN affiliate, WVUE, what he saw happen next.

UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS: I saw the guy with the gun shoot the guy in the stomach. I saw the guy fall and then saw him stand over him and attempt to shoot him like in the face a couple of times.

MACHADO: But he doesn't. The gun appears to jam.

Watch it again. Gold on the ground helpless. The assailant leveling the gun, then nothing, nothing other than a look of shock across Gold's face.

The suspect, identified by police at Juric Cane, takes off in an SUV, leaving Gold bleeding on the ground.

After a more than 72-hour city wide manhunt, police arrested Cane. They say he had been hiding at his 17-year-old girlfriend's house.

MITCH LANDRIEU, (D), NEW ORLEANS MAYOR: Now he'll likely spend the rest of his life in jail, as he should. And what a waste it is.

MACHADO: The 21-year-old is facing a string of charges, including attempted first-degree murder for nearly killing the young doctor who risked his own life to save another.

LANDRIEU: His courage, an admirable example of the fact that the citizens of New Orleans are not going to turn a blind eye to crime, and that we're going to fight back.

MACHADO (on camera): Police say the woman seen in the beginning of the video is OK. She suffered minor injuries.

Gold, meanwhile, remains in the hospital. His family says he continues to improve and is in guarded condition.

Alina Machado, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Incredible story there.

And this just in from Minnesota. Five people were wounded when gunfire broke out near a Minneapolis police precinct Monday.

BARNETT: Authorities say this shooting happened close to where Black Lives Matter demonstrators were protesting the shooting death of a young black man by police. They say the injuries are not life threatening. We'll keep you posted on any developments.

This is arguably the busiest travel season across the U.S. Naturally, the weather plays an important role.

CHURCH: And our Meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins us to give us some details.

A lot of people traveling.

VAN DAM: That's right. Those words "travel" and "weather" almost synonymous together. They go together perfectly. This is the time of year where upwards of 47 million Americans are on the move, planes, trains, automobiles.

Let's give you a complete breakdown. This is according to AAA. Roughly 89 percent of Americans will be taking their vehicles on the road. Of that, 47 million people. And good news, too. Our gas prices are looking fantastic compared to previous years. Averaging about $2.15 per gallon.

So let's talk about the weather and how this will impact the interstates. Taking into consideration that most people will be traveling by car this Thanksgiving. We have a storm system that's going to move in across the Pacific Northwest. Through the rest of today and into your Wednesday. We're going to see snowfall for the Sierra Nevada's. Rainfall near Seattle, into San Francisco, as well as Los Angeles. Some of that snowfall working its way inland towards Montana and Idaho as well. Interstate 80, for instance. The one that goes across the country will be impacted and a rain/snow mix across the heartland. Here's the storm system rotating over the Western half of the U.S. We'll have some rain and perhaps delays near San Francisco anywhere between 10 and 12 inches of snow for the higher elevations. Very light rain expected near San Francisco. Something certainly to consider as we go forward. This is Wednesday's travel forecast. Wednesday arguably being the busiest time, or at least day of travel right before the Thanksgiving holiday period. This is what I'm concerned about. Right across the heartland of the U.S., rain showers. Some could be strong to severe. Also looking for a rain/snow mix across Minneapolis and into the Dakotas as well. If we were to put forecast travel delays, perhaps at the airports, we're going to look for Denver, perhaps into Kansas City this Wednesday. Thursday, for Thanksgiving, that system is going to move eastward. The big Macy's Day Parade in New York, that will stay dry.

By the way, you have to see this. Remember that snowstorm that blanketed Chicago with about seven inches of snow this weekend? That's a NASA satellite image, the reflection of the moon creating a visible look of the snow on the ground.

[02:55:53] BARNETT: That is incredible.

CHURCH: Fabulous.

VAN DAM: Love seeing that stuff.

CHURCH: Yeah.

BARNETT: And you see the lights behind the image there. Pretty cool stuff.

VAN DAM: That's right.

BARNETT: Derek Van Dam --

VAN DAM: Nice to see you, guys.

BARNETT: -- see you again very soon.

CHURCH: Thank you.

And we're back in a few minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM. We'll have all the top stories from around the world.

BARNETT: That's right. And remember, you can always follow us on social media any time. Tell us from where you're watching right now.

We're back after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)