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Donald Trump Meets Pope Francis at Vatican; Putting Down the Hatchet; Manchester Mourns Victims of Bombing; Increased Security Measures. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired May 24, 2017 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00] BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At the G7 meeting in Genoa in 2001, there were violent demonstrations against the leaders in general, but certainly a certain amount of resentment focused on at that time President George W. Bush. And those demonstrations one protestor was killed by the Italian police, so we could expect more in Sicily.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.
WEDEMAN: But certainly here in Rome, by and large, people seem to be more occupied with their daily affairs.
VAUSE: OK.
WEDEMAN: Than a visit of an American president.
VAUSE: Ben, please stay with us. Delia, also stay with us. If every one of our viewers, if you are just joining us right now, it's just gotten midnight here in Los Angeles. It is 9 a.m. on our Wednesday morning. That is the scene right now at Vatican City.
More than, what, 30 minutes ago now, Donald Trump went behind closed doors with Pope Francis for their first one on one meeting. We are expecting it to end maybe around now, maybe at a little sooner but it is continuing, as we've been told by Delia and Ben, there's no real set schedule here. The meeting will go for as long as the pope sees fit.
So, I guess but we're now waiting for the two men to emerge and have this exchange of gifts but of course it's a very significant meaning for Donald Trump, the man who criticized Pope Francis during the campaign. Pope Francis criticized Donald Trump during last year's presidential campaign as well.
ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: And it's worth just reminding our viewers that this is not a meeting that was originally on the president's schedule as it was put out that he was going on this foreign tour. He wasn't set to meet the pope. It seems that it was pull together at the last minute which has made the timing of this meeting somewhat unusual that they were set to meet...
(CROSSTALK) VAUSE: Maybe a little awkward.
SESAY: A little awkward. Set to meet about 8.30 a.m. there on a Wednesday in Rome. It is worth pointing out also that the pope has his weekly audience with the general public on Wednesday at 10 a.m. was kind of quite a small window.
VAUSE: There is a deadline here for the pope.
SESAY: There is a deadline here, but the meeting has gone on for longer than some would have imagined and bear in mind there are no cameras in the room for...
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: These are live pictures, though, so as it is...
(CROSSTALK)
SESAY: Now we are getting live pictures.
VAUSE: So it is that the meeting is over.
SESAY: And we are looking at the body language to see how relaxed they appear.
VAUSE: Smile, there is the first lady Melania.
SESAY: Let's just take the scene for a moment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you give them to eat, pizza?
MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Pizza. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pizza.
(OFF-MIC)
VAUSE: So there we have it, the U.S. President and Pope Francis. Donald Trump introducing his family essentially which also having his White House staff, his adviser Jared Kushner, he's the son-in-law married to his daughter Ivanka Trump who accompanying the president on this visit to the Vatican, Melania Trump was also there as well. The president introduces her to the pope.
SESAY: Rex Tillerson.
VAUSE: Is that Tillerson?
SESAY: Yes.
VAUSE: The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
SESAY: It is indeed. Quite hard to tell from here.
(CROSSTALK) VAUSE: It is, yes.
SESAY: But it is definitely it's the secretary of state.
VAUSE: Mattis, I think. It was (Inaudible).
SESAY: National security adviser at meeting with the pope.
VAUSE: Yes.
SESAY: So, as you see the president's cabinet some of his top officials also accompanying with him -- accompanying him, rather, on this visit to the apostolic Catholic...
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: It's a very big entourage traveling right now with Donald Trump on this first overseas visit. It's almost like on one is left behind at the White House.
SESAY: Reince Priebus is...
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: He is the only one answering the door should someone knock.
SESAY: So, as you see, you know, this is a big moment because this is, this has been a contentious relationship, if you will, one that was conducted by Twitter up until this point the president and the pope exchanging critics of each other, to put it mildly, during the election campaign.
[03:05:01] But now the president and the pontiff have met. They met behind closed doors. I would say went, what, some 30 minutes.
VAUSE: Even longer I thought. I thought it's sort of kick up just before the half hour or just, yes, just before the half hour.
SESAY: Yes, just half hour.
VAUSE: And they only emerge in the last couple of minutes, so certainly more than the original 30 minutes or 25 minutes which was originally planned because we were expecting the exchange of gifts at about 5 minutes before the hour. And they've emerged maybe 7 or 8 minutes longer than we've expected.
SESAY: And given that we, unless they choose to share specific details of the meeting we really won't know what was discussed, that will remain confidential. These images are really all we have to go on and I believe this is the moment as we're approaching the exchange of gifts moment.
VAUSE: This could be it.
SESAY: This could be it. VAUSE: This is -- this is all what we've been waiting for. Let's find
out what these two men will be giving each other as a matter of respect.
SESAY: This is the man.
(OFF-MIC)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you.
It's so beautiful. Thank you very much.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And do we know what he gave the pope because...
D. TRUMP: Thank you very much.
SESAY: So, the exchange of gift has taken place.
VAUSE: We're still trying to find out exactly what it was. Was it Trump Vodka, Trump steaks on behalf of the president, probably not. But we will find out and find out exactly what these two men gave each other as a, you know, as a sign of respect I guess.
SESAY: And part of the protocol this is what happens when heads of state meet with the pope there's an exchange of gifts, so they are just following protocol here.
VAUSE: So, Delia Gallagher who is at the Vatican for us as well, and Ben Wedeman following all of this. So, Delia, just explain to us exactly what we've been watching and what we can expect in the next few moments.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, from an early analysis I would say this looks like it's gone pretty well, and certainly judging from the body language from the amount of time that they spent together which was about half an hour. From the pope -- I couldn't hear what the pope was saying but he was joking and putting them at ease when he was meeting the first family.
So, I've seen a lot of these gatherings and sometimes the pope isn't always so relaxed, you know, he can be quite stern looking but I see him looking very kind of generous and easygoing this morning which suggest to me that there was a positive conversation.
Only exchange of gifts. We don't yet know what gift President Trump gave to the pope. It looks like a kind of labyrinth lamp of candelabra sort of item. We do know that Pope Francis I heard gave him a copy of his encyclical Laudato si' on the environment as we expect, and of course, a giant papal medal which is one of the standard gifts that he gives.
And then he gives rosaries and medals to the other members of the Trump entourage. So, this is a chance for them to meet with the pope, just a brief hello before they have to go off to other meetings with the Vatican.
Secretary of state, the first lady is touring a hospital near hear at children's hospital, Ivanka Trump is going to meet with one of the communities that work closely with the Vatican on human trafficking.
[03:10:07] So, they all have various other meetings at this time. And after the president's meeting and before leaving the Vatican he will also be touring the Sistine Chapel, so they've got another of other meetings to do before they finish here at the Vatican.
SESAY: And Delia, as we take in these pictures of what one assumes as the pope is saying goodbye to the president and the first lady as they exit the apostolic palace, let me just ask you this. As far as you know having spoken to Vatican officials and other watches on the Vatican, was the pope looking to get anything specific from this meeting?
GALLAGHER: What I've heard is that the pope was just looking to get the measure of the man. He wanted to see up close and for himself what he's all about. The pope himself told this he wanted to listen to President Trump. He didn't want to judge him beforehand.
You know, we've talked about some of their public spats before this meeting, but Pope Francis said very clearly that he wanted a sincere conversation.
The pope is a straight talker and he wanted to be able to say a couple of things to the president. But mostly to just kind of figure out where is the president going on some of the issues which are close to the pope's heart.
So, from those I've spoken to at the Vatican, it really is just this initial meeting to get to know the president and try to understand what he's thinking and where he wants to go.
If there is any kind of influence to be had on the part of the Vatican I think it's just in the more general sense of reminding President Trump that he is now a world leader, responsible not only for Americans, but that there are consequences to many of his political decisions for people in the rest of the world, especially for the poor who are a priority for Pope Francis.
VAUSE: So, Ben, to you, as we await the presidential motorcade, I guess, to leave the Vatican. And we know that this is a very brief stop for the president. From here he heads off to that NATO meeting. Which one could imagine may not be as friendly as his meeting with the Holy Father.
WEDEMAN: No, because that's going -- there's going to be a variety of issues on the table. And let's not forget that President Trump, as candidate Trump, called NATO obsolete. Now he went back on his words, but obviously they are going to be looking, Europeans leaders are going to be looking for some sort of clear commitment, and recommitment of the United States to NATO, the defense of Europe, European unity. So a lot of issues there that are very thorny indeed beyond what he
has been discussing with the pope, which is probably more focus on things, certainly, if the pope is going to set the agenda on the rights of refugees and climate change, for instance.
But keep in mind the pope is a very persuasive man. I recall several years ago when he met with Cuban leader Raul Castro. After the meeting Castro came out and said, well, maybe I might be going back to religion.
So, who knows? Maybe after this meeting President Trump may see the light, the light of Pope Francis and become an advocate for fighting climate change and the rights of refugees.
SESAY: ell, Ben, you touch on something, the areas of cooperation that have existed in recent times between the United States and the Vatican. As we all know, the pope playing an integral part in reforming improving relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
In the absence of, well, with the oust of President Obama no longer in office, and now with this new president are there areas of cooperation we are aware of right now where the U.S. is working with the Vatican?
WEDEMAN: Well, I think sort of in the broadest possible terms, yes. But, certainly, what we've seen between this president and this pope is that they don't see eye to eye on many things.
I think Delia was mentioning that they do have similar points of view when it comes to abortion and euthanasia. But in broad terms, no, they don't seem to have much in common at the moment.
But this, let's keep in mind this is a new administration whose positions are slowly evolving, slowly becoming somewhat clearer. And there may be areas where they can finally find some sort of a common ground. But at the moment it's definitely a work in progress.
[03:15:09] VAUSE: We also have some details about...
SESAY: Sure.
VAUSE: ... what actually happened in the last couple of minutes or so within the Vatican.
Our correspondent with the national Catholic reporter has just tweeted out that apparently Pope Francis joked with the first lady about the president asking what do you give him to eat? So it goes to the tone of the meeting that this is very friendly.
SESAY: Lighthearted, yes.
VAUSE: Pope Francis was having a bit of a joke. Also we are hearing that the meeting actually lasted for about 29 minutes.
SESAY: That's right.
VAUSE: And as we have been saying the pope did give President Trump a number of his writings including on the environment as well as climate change.
SESAY: Yes, indeed. And Delia, back to you. The meetings that will follow this audience with the pope. As you mentioned the president will go on to meet with other Vatican officials. And Ivanka Trump will also be taking her own meetings. When it comes to the meetings that Ivanka Trump is having, tell us a little bit more about them, and the significance.
GALLAGHER: Well, it points to one of the areas where the Vatican works closely with the United States and has been doing so for years. That is on the issue of combatting human trafficking throughout the world.
And it seems that Ivanka Trump is now also going to be an advocate for that issue. And the Vatican does that through one of their groups called the Community of Sant'Egidio. The Community of Sant'Egidio has been nominated and on the list for the Nobel Peace Prize. They do great works throughout the world.
And it's really one area where you see the U.S. and the Vatican cooperating, that is on outreach, on charity, on humanitarian work through the Vatican's various educational systems and hospitals in Africa and Asia. Human trafficking is one of those top issues for the Vatican where they work very closely with the United States.
In those meetings with the secretary of state and the foreign minister of the Vatican, they are very important. I mean, the meeting with the pope is kind of the public face of this visit to the Vatican.
But the real nitty-gritty gets done with the secretary of state. And they say, what are the issues that are important to them at this moment, such as, the de-escalation of the nuclear situation with North Korea and such as, the issue of migrants and refugees throughout the world.
And they can kind of pose a couple of issues to the Trump administration and say where do you think we can go with this. So those are more of the political discussions, if you will. That happens in this meeting that the president is about to enter into, which again we don't see and we don't know the details of. But the real nitty- gritty is kind of worked out in those meetings.
VAUSE: And we should note, making it hear that there certainly there's going to be a large crowd gathering there at the Vatican. But we know the president likes crowd but we should note that this is for Pope Francis and his general audience there at St. Peter's Square which happens at about 40 minutes from now.
SESAY: This is his weekly audience.
VAUSE: This is his weekly audience with the public.
Joining us here in Los Angeles is democratic strategist Dave Jacobson, republican consultant, John Thomas. To you, Dave, much was made about, you know, the dispute between these two men during the campaign. Donald Trump obviously going through his own troubles right now
politically back here in the U.S. Clearly, Donald Trump needed this meeting with the pope more than the pope needed the meeting with Donald Trump.
DAVE JACOBSON, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Desperately. It's no secret. Like if you look at the visual with the two of the men there, Donald Trump clearly seemed out of his comfort zone, but he did look much more presidential in a way that we haven't seen throughout the course of his presidency, his 130-or so day presidency. Right.
There is so much turmoil and chaos and distraction happening with this White House and the investigations going on with the FBI in Congress at the Justice Department, that he was in desperate need of a pivot, and this presented a great opportunity for him.
SESAY: John, do you agree that the president looked out of his confident zone.
JOHN THOMAS, REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT: No. Everything from walking in -- I mean, he was looking around almost like a real estate developer admiring all the marble.
VAUSE: I think, this would look good at Trump tower.
(CROSSTALK)
THOMAS: There was so much gold and marble.
VAUSE: If I can deal with this I think it's great.
THOMAS: Yes, it really was.
VAUSE: A little gold, a little marble.
THOMAS: But you know, from the second he sat down, I mean, you saw the pope cracking a smile. And then when they exited -- I think the duration of the conversation really spoke the loudest.
SESAY: Yes, 29 minutes.
THOMAS: We'll see if there are leaks that come out about this meeting.
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: Well, there are any leaks...
THOMAS: Leaks or tweets.
VAUSE: Because apparently the White House interpreter wasn't there. It was just the Vatican translator who was there for the meeting which I think is unusual in itself. But maybe that means if it were that leaks there's only three people they can blame.
[03:20:02] JACOBSON: Right.
THOMAS: It's a tight net.
VAUSE: It's a tight net. But we keep saying that, you know, Donald Trump needs this pivot, he need a distraction, he needs to look presidential on the world stage because of all the problems he is facing back here in the United States. He may get it for a couple of hours but it's not going to last long, is it.
JACOBSON: Donald Trump is his worst own enemy. And I think the question is like how long is this going to bleed into the news cycle like is there going to be some tweet or some new breaking news that comes out that changes the conversation back to Russia. I think that's the big issue here.
VAUSE: What hour is it? Because we haven't had anything on Russia for like three hours.
THOMAS: Yes, but the other thing that I thought was noteworthy was the massive entourage with all of the Trump folks, you know, that were there as well.
Missing there obviously was the Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Vice President Mike Pence. But there was a number of Trump officials there that were there with them that I thought was telling.
SESAY: I mean, I don't know. We should ask our Delia Gallagher there. I mean, how customarily...
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: Why do you think it's telling?
SESAY: ... how big is the -- is the entourage that travels with the president meeting with the public. I have no idea.
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: Why do you think it's telling?
JACOBSON: It just seemed unique. I mean, when Barack Obama went there wasn't this massive entourage, there wasn't the secretary of state, you know, and other family members.
VAUSE: Right.
JACOBSON: It was just the president. And you would think for this first introductory meeting that you wouldn't have this massive crowd.
VAUSE: Well, that's Delia...
(CROSSTALK)
SESAY: Yes, let's put that in context. Delia, to ask you this, we saw this largest entourage accompany President Trump in this audience with the pope. Is that customary? I mean, generally what is the size of crowd that accompanies a head of state when they meet the pope.
GALLAGHER: No, that's perfectly standard. I mean, they bring their families, and then they bring their administration people. I think there's about nine people in the president's administrative entourage, plus his family. That's usually quite standard for a head of state visiting, that he brings his main deputies his main secretaries to meet with the pope.
And as we said, to meet with the other Vatican officials because that's where the relationships really happen is between those people. So, that's perfectly standard that he would bring nine or ten people in his entourage to meet with the pope and Vatican officials.
SESAY: That's some important context that we needed there. As our own Dave Jacobson alludes to goodness knows what.
VAUSE: But to be fair, there is a very big entourage traveling with Donald Trump on this trip, on this first foreign trip. I mean, there are a lot of people framed today into air force one traveling with the president. So it did appear that there certainly was a very big entourage for this.
THOMAS: I think by and large, of course the president would like this to shift the narrative, you know, going forward. It's not going to. But I think what this trip has done so far and this meeting, it appears was as sum of as his Saudi trip. Is that it checked an important box as to can President Trump get along diplomatically with other nations and other leaders. And so far he looks like he can.
VAUSE: OK. So we are now learning, you know, a few of the details of what was actually said between the two men. After the meeting as Donald Trump was leaving, he said good-bye to Pope Francis, and apparently you can hear saying on the pool report as if there is anything I can do, let me know.
He also told the pope "I won't forget you." The first lady Melania Trump also said to Pope Francis "Thank you very much, your highness, I'm going to be visit the hospital. Thank you for meeting with us. Thank you so much." Trump said "I want to get you again. Good luck. Anything I can do, let me know." So friendly.
SESAY: Which I think is, you know, remarkable, you know, if there is anything I can do, let me know, opening the door to future conversations.
VAUSE: About that Muslim travel ban, about the Syrian refugees, about climate change.
(CROSSTALK)
SESAY: Well, he's also suggesting that he is willing to enter into conversations, possible negotiations in terms of positions on things. I think that is a remarkable moment.
JACOBSON: Yes. Well, I think the question is like is he going to dismiss what the pope says on major issues, like take climate change, for example, if the pope gives perhaps another speech on the issue, and then the president asked about it, like what's his response going to be? That will be really interesting to see.
SESAY: That's the sense.
JACOBSON: Right.
THOMAS: It's really fundamental I should -- who Trump is as a negotiator. The stuff on the campaign trail was yesterday. Today is a whole new day. You kind of see that by that language saying let's talk, let's build a relationship.
SESAY: The only question is whether his supporters suffer from whiplash from what happened.
VAUSE: Yes. Everybody else.
SESAY: And what he does when he is out on the trips and meeting these people who were previously critic's foes, adversaries.
JACOBSON: Well, it reeks of hypocrisy. I think that's the issue and the question is like, is his -- is he going to able to maintain that base or is that going to start to cripple. You are seeing this with the budget that he just released today, right?
Where he campaigned on this populous message that was lifting up poor and working class folks, and then he is slashing and gutting services that help those very people.
THOMAS: His language was never derogatory towards the pope, he was responding towards the pope saying...
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: I think you could argue it was the pope.
SESAY: I think taking on the pope is on itself.
JACOBSON: He got this quote, "disgraceful."
VAUSE: OK. Let's get Ben Wedeman is still with us there at the Vatican. So, Ben, from what we are hearing, a 29-minute long meeting. Jokes were made. Friendly gestures at the end, "If there is anything I can do, let me know. I'll never forget you."
[03:25:06] The pope actually taking a bit of a joke. But actually while we just hold that thought right now. We'll come back to Ben and Delia at Vatican City. Also, John Thomas and Dave Jacobson with us.
We will take a short break. But you have been watching our coverage of the U.S. President meeting with Pope Francis, so we want you to see that.
(CROSSTALK)
SESAY: For the very first time. VAUSE: Yes.
SESAY: Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SESAY: Hello, everyone. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: I'm John Vause here in Los Angeles. And we are looking at Pope Francis there at Vatican City. He has just concluded a meeting with the U.S. President, Donald Trump. Their first face to face meeting went for 29 minutes and ended with a joke by the sounds of thing. All very friendly and amicable.
SESAY: Yes, indeed. Relaxed body language. The president meeting the pope, also introducing members of the first family, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, also traveling with the president and first lady and meet with the pope.
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: There was an exchange of gifts as well. The pope giving the president some of his writings, in particular, on the environment and on climate change.
[03:30:01] Still, actually trying to find out what the president gave Pope Francis.
SESAY: Yes. We'll let you know as soon as we find out.
VAUSE: Exactly.
So, we will head over now to Becky Anderson who is standing by in Manchester, England, for all the very latest details there on that terrible attack at a concert on Monday night. Becky.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: That's right, John. It is 8.30 in the morning here in Manchester. Police say the man behind the suicide bombing at the Ariana Grande concert is 22-year-old British Native Salman Abedi.
They raided his home and another location here in Manchester, a 23- year-old man was arrested. But it is not clear how he is connected to the attack. Well, hundreds of residents turned out on Tuesday to mourn the 22 people killed. Sixty-four others were wounded. Many of them teenagers.
Well, this city is known for its vibrant entertainment scene including sports and music venues. And the mayor urged people to carry on with business as usual.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY BURNHAM, MAYOR, GREATER MANCHESTER: The answer isn't around the rhetoric as we hear sometimes from politicians around the world. In the end this is the answer, for people to come together and say, this is -- these are our values. And in the end, that I think is the best -- the best answer.
Terrorists want to divide us. Greater Manchester sent a message back tonight, you will never do that here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right now, Britain is at its highest terror threat level of critical for only the third time in the nation's history. British Prime Minister Theresa May says another attack may be imminent and announced a boost in security at certain sites.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: This means that armed peace officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces, which will allow the police to significantly increase the number of armed officers on patrol in key locations.
You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events such as concerts and sports matches helping the police to keep the public safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Nina dos Santos is at 10 Downing Street in London. Nina with the very latest on the investigation and reaction from the government.
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPPONDENT: Well, you heard Theresa May there yesterday saying that we'd see more troops on the streets. We just had a statement from the metropolitan police here in London saying the troops will be deployed to major landmarks across the capital including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, embassies and also parliament.
I have to tell you that I've just passed through the entrance to Downing Street. At the moment I'm looking at it to my left here and it is still guarded by police, will be armed police. The army hasn't turned up here. But it could be that when they have a shift change that is when we'll see the troops starting to arrive.
And I've being passed the Palace of Westminster. And there weren't any troops there. But the idea is that as more people start to converge upon some of these landmarks particularly during the tourist season what they are going to be seeing is a number of increased presence from the army and so on and so forth.
Theresa May saying that this is a proportional response to the threat that this country is facing. And that brings me to the threat level which is currently at critical. This is the most severe threat level that we've seen in this country. It's only the third time, Becky, that it's been in place.
And it was put in place yesterday evening after Theresa May chaired that important Cobra security meeting. She is going to be chairing another one at about an hour or so from now. Maybe she will take to the steps of number 10 Downing Street to give people and a further update on what we've learned about the investigation so far.
The reason why it seems as though they've decided to upgrade the threat level here is because they cannot figure out yet whether this individuals was acting alone or whether he had help. If he did have help they've got to figure out who is in his network to prevent further attacks and copycat attacks.
Because as I said, if the threat level critical that means that another attack may be imminent, not just on Manchester but for the rest of the U.K. And we are gearing up to the election in just a few weeks' time. Becky?
ANDERSON: Nina, are your sources telling you anything about any specific intelligence on a possible imminent threat at this point?
DOS SANTOS: It seems as though at the moment the decision that was taken by the special joint committee, which by the way I should say, is independent of the government here.
Yesterday evening when they decided to upgrade that security levels -- seems to be over an abundance of caution rather than any specific targeted threat that they know about. That's quite different, Becky, in comparison to the two other times that we have seen the threat level upgraded to a critical level.
Once in 2006 after a thwarted plan to try to put explosives on planes on liquids, which is why many of us who travel have to put our liquids into very small containers, into those transparent plastic bags.
[03:35:02] And then there was another thwarted attack on a London nightclub. Those attackers eventually ended up going to try and attack Glasgow airport. It was after those two incidences in response to very specific threat information that the government or the special task force that the government has set up decided to upgrade the threat to critical.
But it only stayed in place for a couple of days. So the big question is, as we are now into the second day of no campaigning before the general election during such a heightened security environment with Britons going to the polls how long will this critical level threat stay at for the time being?
Because remember France, after the attacks at France has seen it's still in a state of emergency a year and a half later. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, very good points. Nina dos Santos is outside 10 Downing Street. We are learning about some of the victims killed in the Manchester bombing.
The youngest, 8-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, a primary school student in Lancashire described as simply a beautiful little girl with a creative flare. Her school says she was loved by everyone. And her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly. Eighteen-year-old Georgina Callander was also killed. She met Ariana
Grande at a concert in 2015, posting this photo on her Instagram account. Georgina was a student at Runshaw College in Lancashire.
John Atkinson was in his late 20s. He was a former student at Barry College. Described as a happy, gentle person. Well, we've also learned that 15-year-old Olivia Campbell has died.
Well, CNN's Erin McLaughlin joining me now. She has been following Olivia's story. She is at the Manchester Royal Infirmary where many victims were taken after the bombing. And Erin, Olivia was the subject of a huge social media campaign to find her. Sadly the news in the past few hours that she has died. What can you tell us?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky. In the immediate hours following this horrific attack, Olivia's mother, Charlotte, as well as her stepfather made a very public appeal to try and find their missing daughter.
She had received special permission from them to attend that concert with friends. It was a friend's birthday. Take a listen to what her mother, Charlotte had to say.
Like many others at the concert, 15-year-old Olivia Campbell was excited to be there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL, OLIVIA CAMPBELL'S MOTHER: It was half past 8. She had seen the supporting acts. She said they were amazing. She was waiting for Ariana to come on. And she was so happy. And she thanked me and said she loved me. And that was the last I heard from her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLAUGHLIN: When Olivia's mother Charlotte last spoke to CNN she had hoped her daughter was alive, simply missing. Now the news the family feared. Olivia is among the dead.
Killed by a terrorist bomb at the Manchester arena. Her mother confirmed the news on Facebook, writing "RIP my darling precious gorgeous girl Olivia, taken far, far too soon. Mommy loves you so much."
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CAMPBELL: Olivia is a bubbly child, cheeky. As cheeky as anything. If you are feeling down, she will make you laugh. If she can't make you laugh, she will hug you until you are smiling again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not until it happens to you, you deep down and go now I know how then people felt.
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MCLAUGHLIN: We are also learning the nationality of some of those killed in this attack. The Polish foreign minister tweeting out that two Polish nationals were killed and one injured. No further details given though about them.
We are also receiving update from the chief of hospitals here in Manchester. The number of patients admitted to hospital in connection with the attack has risen from 64 from 59. Becky?
ANDERSON: Erin McLaughlin is outside the hospital.
Well, people in Manchester gathered on Tuesday at city hall here to honor the victims and to console each other. One of the vigil's most striking moments came from Tony Walsh. The Manchester poet wrote, "This is the place four years ago," he struck a defiant tone when he read it yesterday evening here at the vigil.
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TONY WALSH, POET: This is the place in the northwest of England, it's ace, it's the best in the songs that we sing, from the stands from our bands that the whole planet shake.
[03:40:02] Our inventions are legends. There is naught we can't make. And so we make brilliant music, we make brilliant bands. We make goals that make souls leap from seats in the stands.
And we make things from steel, we make things from cotton, we make people laugh, mix them up rotten. And we make you at home, we make you feel welcome. We make some happy. We can't seem to help it. And if you are looking for history, then yes, we have a wealth. But the Manchester way is to make it yourself.
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ANDERSON: Tony Walsh joins me now. And Tony, this morning there are families digesting news that no parent should ever have to digest, the loss of their kids.
WALSH: Good morning.
ANDERSON: And what was a pop concert here in Manchester. You really did strike a defiant tone. I know you are a Mancunian. You are born and brought up here. Just talk to me about the personality of the people of Manchester.
WALSH: First of all, I'm tremendously moved to see those names and faces of young people coming in today. And my heartfelt condolences go to all of those people. But we are stood together in this square yesterday, thousands of us, people of all faiths and none. Together. We are a diverse community of proudly so. We're an independent community. We're a spirited community.
We are responsible for many, much great art, music, many great inventions. And we celebrate that. We are fiercely independent. Lots of mavericks here. Lots of radical thinkers. And it all comes together into an incredible melting pot. An credible forward thinking progressive modern city proud of its heritage but looking into the future.
ANDERSON: You talked about people of various faiths and of none...
WALSH: Yes.
ANDERSON: ... coming together of what was this incredible vigil yesterday. Are you confident this is a city that can move on, it can get over this and it will -- and it will retain that resilience?
WALSH: Let's not diminish the loss of individuals here and the blood that (Inaudible) as a city we need to process that. But we've come back from many things. This city was flattened in a bomb. This city was banned by the IRA. This city had a massive -- as the world's first industrial city had a massive post-industrial decline. We've just had a financial crush. And we keep coming back from that. We come back -- we come back together and stronger.
ANDERSON: Anybody who knows this city in Manchester knows that it is a city of music, it is a city of events, particularly those sporting events.
WALSH: Yes.
ANDERSON: Two big very big football teams out of Manchester City and Manchester United here. And so on a Saturday afternoon, on a Saturday night there are thousands of people out and about in this city at those events. And they got to keep going, haven't they?
WALSH: I actually wrote poem for the arena itself a few years ago and there is a line in there as Manchester as a party and then Mancs will party hard. There is a saying...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Thanks being Mancunian.
WALSH: Mancunian. There is a city -- and this Manchester is a city that thinks table are for dancing out. We are a party city, we are historically a working class city. And we were poached, you know, undeterred by being 35 miles in land. We made ourselves a port. We took a ship canal, we were massive ports and train into 60's and 70's. And we will come back. We will -- the sound will be busy on Friday night. We will come back.
ANDERSON: Tony, thank you for joining us.
WALSH: Thank you.
ANDERSON: It is a sad week in Manchester. As you say, it will not be forgotten.
WALSH: The closing words of my poem it says spontaneously and they were 'choose love.' And that's being -- that's my mantra, choose love.
ANDERSON: And no pity you said as well.
WALSH: That was written for a different purpose. But pity and grief are appropriate at the moment. But we will move on from there.
ANDERSON: Tony, I appreciate it. Thank you.
Taking a very short break. Viewers back after this.
[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson here in Manchester in Northwest England with the very latest on the terror attack. The U.K.'s terrorism threat level is at the highest critical mark for the first time in a decade.
Prime Theresa May says intelligence services believe another attack could be imminent. Well, armed soldiers are being deployed to key sites for added security.
Police have identified the suicide bomber as 22-year-old Salman Abedi. Officers raided his home and another location on Tuesday.
How many in Manchester gathered to mourn the 22 victims here at a vigil outside city hall. Dozens of concert-goers were wounded, some critically.
Well, joining me now from London is Tom Wilson, he is with the Henry Jackson Society which is a British think tank. And now that security services have raised, or the authorities have raised that threat level to critical what does that mean in practical terms?
TOM WILSON, FELLOW, THE HENRY JACKSON SOCIETY: It means that they are going to be on the most extreme state for that short of the kinds of state of emergency that you see in France. And that the metropolitan police have said it in London, in particular that they are bringing in special officers who will be particularly looking out for the signs of people who may be about to undertake an attack.
It's quite likely that this intelligence that's coming through about the idea that maybe this attacker didn't act alone is what has contributed them to moving up the threat level. And it's the case when you see this kind of bomb attack that created a device as sophisticated as the one we saw, it's quite likely that there would be several people involved in bomb making of this sort.
ANDERSON: So, viewers, if you are visiting these cities, do expect, at least in the short-term to see the deployment of the army at times, some soldiers an these streets as the security forces here are enhanced at what is now a threat level of critical.
[03:50:13] Thank you, sir. I'm Becky Anderson in the City of Manchester. We'll take a short break. Back after this.
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ANDERSON: The City of Manchester is mourning. It is processing the news of Monday, but trying to grow stronger together. Hundreds gathered here in what is known as Albert Square for a vigil to honor the victims.
CNN's Muhammad Lila has more.
MUHAMMAD LILA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: they came with prayers in their hands and wearing emotions on their hearts.
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CHERYL GARNETT, MANCHESTER RESIDENT: The young girls there. You just think it's probably some of their friends maybe that were at the concert. Just -- it's just devastating, isn't it?
LILA: For Cheryl Garnett, the tragedy hit closer to home than most.
[03:54:55] GARNETT: You just want to help, don't you? I live half a mile from the main arena. So you just, quite from -- you want to go and help. You just -- I don't know. Just awful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LILA: This is the makeshift memorial that people have left behind, take a look. You can see candles and flowers, and teddy bears. And the message here is loud and clear. Manchester stands together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICE THOMPSON, MANCHESTER RESIDENT: I wanted to come to show the children that there was nothing to be scared of and that love always wins over hate.
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LILA: Alice Thompson's son is the same age as one of the victims, 8- year-old Saffie Rose Roussos. Another victim, John Atkinson was a competitive dancer. And 18-year-old Georgina Callander two years ago, hugging Ariana Grande. Little did she know she would lose her life after seeing her idol perform.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMPSON: It just really hits home on how horrible. But they won't win. They won't win. We won't let them.
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LILA: And as night falls that message of defiance and strength comes to life and to light, each candle a defiant stand against those who would seek to divide this city, telling them its people won't be divided.
Muhammad Lila, CNN, Manchester.
ANDERSON: You are watching special coverage of the attack in Manchester. I'm Becky Anderson. Much more in a moment with my colleagues Hannah Vaughan Jones here in Manchester, and Rosemary Church in Atlanta. You are watching CNN. Stay with us.
[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
