Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

AFP: Terror Attack in France Kills At Least 84; Presidential Candidates React to Nice Attack. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired July 15, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Terror in France. People running for their lives as a gunman shoots and then drives over dozen of pedestrians. A day of celebration turning into tragedy. Eighty- four people killed. Dozens and dozens injured.

This morning, who was the killer and did he act alone?

Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman. It is Friday, July 15th, 5:00 a.m. in the East. Welcome to the viewers in the United States and all around the world.

Let's get you the latest on the breaking news. A new death toll in the French terror attack. AFP reports that at least 84 people have been killed with 18 in critical condition. This follows the horrific attack in Nice, southern France, on Bastille Day.

What happened was this: we believe an armed terrorist drove into a large crowd, opened fire on pedestrians. Then he drove more than a mile through the crowd just running them down, hitting them with the truck and mowing down dozens and dozens and dozens on the main boulevard through Nice before police finally gunned him down.

We have some cell phone video that seems to capture the sound from the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(GUNSHOTS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Right now, investigators are trying to determine whether the I.D. of a 31-year-old French-Tunisian man found in the truck matches the body of the driver. They found an I.D. They have a body. They are trying to make sure the I.D. matches the body.

Also in the truck, officers found rifles and grenades. There is a sense that some of those rifles and grenades might be fake. They also found one very, very real handgun.

The French President Hollande declared the attack an act of terrorism. He extended a state of emergency for the entire country. It has been under a state of emergency since all the way back to January 2015 after the "Charlie Hebdo" attack. A witness described the truly terrifying scene in an interview with French television.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: You saw the driver? He looked like what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE WITNESSS: Yes, I saw him. Yes, I saw him. He was nervous. He was not controlling the wheel. I looked to the girl because he smashed her. The guy -- yes, yes, yes. I didn't see behind already, but I saw once. He was driving over he smashed her all the way. He lost control and he was moving inside like this and this. I saw he was holding something like a cell phone.

I thought he would call the ambulance. Until I saw the police, he started to shoot the police because he saw the police going in a circle across the window. And in that moment, the officers asked me and the people next to me to run because it was guns shooting.

We were in the middle of the gunshots. I opened my cell phone. I took the video. I was in shock. I just took the video. They killed him already and his head was out of the window. They came close with spotlight just to be sure it is him alone and no one with him.

They thought there was a bomb maybe inside the car. Maybe a bomb around him and he could explode. In this moment, I had to run and they asked all the people on the beach to run, run, run, run.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. Let's go live to the ground right now. CNN's Will Ripley joins us now from Nice by phone.

First of all, Will, give us a sense of what you are seeing this morning. It is morning in Nice right now. Walk us through what happened last night.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Hi, John.

Well, we are here approaching the area where the attack took place. A drive that would have taken us five minutes which is normal traffic, has taken more than 30. Barricades and as we were moving in, we heard police say even at this moment, people are still being transported to hospital.

This is a heinous attack, very unlike anything we have seen before. Using a truck as a weapon in this way, against a national celebration is a new level even for what we see in France in the last 17 months. There have been repeated terror attacks. This particular attack not as deadly as the Paris attacks in November where somewhat of 30 people died and 84 reported dead and 18 people in critical condition right now in the hospital.

If you look at the leaders who are condemning this, it shows how many countries are looking at this as a line that has been crossed and a new level of fear. It is a beautiful day here. People are walking in the streets along the beach front promenade.

[05:05:04] The main street here where people have a somber look as they go about the holiday in one of the most beautiful parts of France knowing this city has been added to the list of targets of terrorism.

BERMAN: All right. Will Ripley for us, who's on the phone for us right now in Nice driving to the scene. Will, keep us updated on what you see and hear. Obviously, some of the new things we are learning, the French president declared three days of mourning now in France. A period of extreme mourning and reflection I imagine in that country.

Also, we are learning they extended a state of emergency that has been in place since January of 2015 with the "Charlie Hebdo" attacks and, of course, November of last year, the attacks in Bataclan and the Stade de France throughout that city, more terror in France this morning.

KOSIK: All right. Let's dig a little deeper and see if we can figure out who was behind this and why, and what was behind this.

CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank live in Nice for us, and CNN military analyst, Colonel Cedric Leighton, he's the former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in our Washington bureau.

Good morning to both of you.

Cedric, I want to begin with you. You know, you kind of look at the lay of the land here in France. There had been three attacks in France over the past 18 months. We know that ISIS has not or may not claimed responsibility for the one we are talking about today.

But you see how this strategic transformation of these attacks has changed. It went from very coordinated, let's say in November with the Bataclan and sports stadium and restaurant, that coordinated attack. And then you look at some like this. One man in a truck with a weapon. It may be some fake weapons in his truck causing so much death.

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: That's right, Alison. The tragedy of it is is the potentially lone-wolf attacks are difficult to detect. In this particular case, what you are seeing is if ISIS or whatever group responsible is lashing out. Of the groups I have seen so far do point to the possibility of is. Al Qaeda is another possibility as Paul mentioned previously.

But in this particulars case, when you look at how ISIS is squeezed on the battle field in Syria and Iraq, it means that there are going to be things they will do. The things they do include the terror attacks we see in Nice. There are, obviously, reports that things in which they worked in many ways to attack targets like in in asymmetric fashion. Those are the targets that are the most vulnerable.

BERMAN: Paul Cruickshank, Colonel Leighton just mentioned the battlefield in Syria and Iraq is being squeezed. But really, in so many ways for ISIS or terror groups, no claim of responsibility just yet, France, is a battle ground. This is the third attack we have seen there in 18 months. What is unique to France that makes it such a target? That makes it at war right now with terror?

I'm being told we don't have Paul Cruickshank with us.

But, Colonel Leighton, if you heard that question, why don't you take it?

LEIGHTON: Sure, John. I think the real issue for ISIS in France, this is a great country for them to attack because of the vulnerabilities that it has and also the fact that you have a situation where there are so many people who have gone from France to join ISIS. You combine those things. Soft targets with the number of people who know France and who ideologically feel they are committed to ISIS' philosophy, its ideology. And that is the defense that has come about.

And I think that is why France is one of the more vulnerable countries, not because they don't try to prevent it, but they did a great job trying to prevent things in Paris and other areas in France. Terrorists only have to be right one time. This is the one time in which they were able to actually make things work for them.

KOSIK: Cedric, what does it take to anticipate something like this? I mean, does it take trying to obviously get in the minds of the killers and how do you do that? Because they are just so horrific. I mean, who can dream up this? Well, terrorists can.

How do you get in the minds of the killers before this happens and try to prevent it?

LEIGHTON: Yes, exactly. Alison, that's one of the most difficult thing authorities have to deal with. Officials are in the business of predicting the kinds of things that could happen. The problem that you have is how do you predict something that is non-standard, that deviates so much from normal behavior?

[05:10:06] And it's very hard for people who are in positions of authority or who work for governments to actually like that. It's a very a non-standard approach.

But one thing that can be done is to harness the powers of artificial intelligence, big data, in order to try to anticipate certain things. Some police departments use big data to anticipate murders that might happen. While they're not going to be exact in preventing those murders, what they can do is they can predict where those murders are going to happen, and perhaps anticipate where they might happen and who might be perpetrating them. That's the kind of thinking that needs to get into counterterrorism business. That's a very difficult challenge for authorities all around the world.

BERMAN: All right. Colonel Cedric Leighton in Washington for us, thanks so much, Cedric.

KOSIK: Thanks so much.

LEIGHTON: You bet.

KOSIK: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both responding to the terror attacks in France, but with very different messages. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:15:30] KOSIK: Welcome back.

President Obama condemning the terror attack that killed more than 84 people in Nice, directing his administration to help the French investigate the attack and bring those responsible to justice.

BERMAN: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, they also weighed in.

I want to bring in CNN politics reporter Eugene Scott, who's live for us in Washington.

Eugene, Donald Trump actually cancelled a rollout of his vice presidential pick this morning because of the terror attack. But he did go on the phone last night to respond. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE (via telephone): I said when it comes to refugees, we should only let people into this country after we have thoroughly screened them, no matter how long that takes. So, we've got to be smart about this. Not get pushed or pulled into taking action that doesn't have the positive effects it needs to have.

So, I would be very focused on intelligence surge. I would be very focused on working with our partners and allies and intensify our efforts against the ideologues who peddle radical jihadism online.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, that was Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump also called in last night. Let's listen to him too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE (via telephone): I would not allow people to come in from terrorist nations. I would do extreme vetting. I would call it extreme vetting, too.

And, you know, our country has tremendous problems. We don't need anymore problems. Right now, we have more investigations of this kind going on than we ever had in the history of our country. And we're going to allow thousands and tens of thousands of more people coming in. And then you see a situation like in Nice, France, it's a horrible thing. And we better get awfully tough.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So many times in the campaign. Orlando, Dallas, now this. Either national or world events, tragedies, terror events really injecting into the campaign, Eugene.

EUGENE SCOTT, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Yes, very much so. This seems like, John, this is the new normal. That is unfortunate to many on both sides of the aisle.

But I think what is very notable is how differently both candidates responded last night. You saw Donald Trump has gone on record last night saying this is war and that he would seek permission from Congress to declare war on ISIS, to bring these issues to a close. Hillary Clinton, differently approached the situation, saying we're already at war with ISIS, but in a different way, in terms of collecting intelligence and more information about how best to go about defeating terrorism.

KOSIK: So as Donald Trump continues the big question mark over his head of who is his vice president, although we have a pretty good idea who it could be, Mike Pence. Newt Gingrich still possibly in the running. Newt Gingrich going on FOX, giving one solution that came to mind for him. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER: Let me be as blunt and direct as I can be. Western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person from here who is of a Muslim background. If they believe in Sharia, they should be deported.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: So, at this moment, when you see the terror attack in France, it certainly hits home for those not just in France, but everybody around the world, especially here in the U.S. How much are Republicans seizing the moment with strong talk like this?

SCOTT: I think very much so. Especially in light of the vice presidential picks. As you mentioned earlier, CNN has learned it likely will be mike pence. I thought one thing that was interesting last night is that Mike Pence also released a statement declaring that the U.S. government would help France bring these terrorists to justice.

But I think what we are seeing from Newt Gingrich is this tough talk that lets people know if he is part of the administration, even if he is not, he will work for the American people to bring justice to those who have been victimized by terrorism.

BERMAN: All right. Eugene Scott for us. It is worth noting that Newt Gingrich called for a test on all American-Muslims in the United States. It goes far beyond even what Donald Trump called for, which is a ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Eugene, thanks so much.

SCOTT: Thank you.

KOSIK: Terror attack in Nice rattling France reeling from the third major terror attack in less than 18 months. We are live in Paris with the mood there this morning.

(COMRECIAL BREAK) [05:24:28] BERMAN: Let's update the breaking news. AFP reports at least 84 people are dead after a large truck plowed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, Southern France. The driver barreled more than a mile down the main promenade shootout.

Right now, investigators are trying to determine if the driver is a man on the I.D. found in the truck. That I.D. belongs to a 31-year- old French-Tunisian. At this point, no group has claimed responsibility.

I want to bring in French 24 reporter Melissa Bell, who is in Paris for us this morning.

Melissa, I stood beside you there in November after 130 people died on the coordinated attacks there.

[05:25:06] Then, I'm just wondering, after all of this in France, in "Charlie Hebdo" January 2015, what's the mood in France today?

MELISSA BELL, REPORTER, FRANCE 24: In a sense, one of resignation that this kind of things, John, as you suggested, become all too frequent. There's a dreadful regularity and frequency. You mentioned the big ones of the last year and a half, "Charlie Hebdo", and the 13th of November when of course we covered this together. But there had been many others, every few weeks it seems, there's a new tragedy.

I'm thinking a few weeks ago, a couple of policemen who were killed in their home in suburban Paris with a knife. A few months ago, a French businessman beheaded by one of the former employees just outside his factory. So, with dreadful regularity, we are confronted with the threats.

And the major ones that you mentioned are also a reminder, looking back at "Charlie Hebdo" which was claimed by the Kouachi brothers, who claimed links to the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the 13th of November attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group. Those big ones are also a reminder, John, of the different nature of the threats facing France from al Qaeda groups and Islamic state linked groups.

Moments ago, the head of the internal intelligence speaking to the French parliament warning the next thing we will see having seen knife attacks, having seen attacks with Kalashnikov attacks, and weapons belt is precisely what we saw in Nice yesterday. That is a vehicle used to cause casualties directed at large groups of people.

Now, of course, there was an audible sigh of relief when the Euro 2016 football championship came to an end just a few days ago with no incident. We nearly got to the end of the 14th of July with nothing, and did this -- this deadly attack on a group of people watching a fireworks display. It had just come to an end when the truck hit them. No claim of responsibility, but any of the groups that I mentioned could be involved.

Here in France, I sense this kinds of thing has become all too familiar.

BERMAN: Waking up to terror again this morning in France. Melissa Bell, thanks so much.

KOSIK: We are continuing to get new information about the terror attack in Nice. We have live team coverage coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)