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Blast in Turkish Border Town Kills At Least 21; U.S. Condemns Terrorist Attack in Suruc; U.S. Defense Secretary Meets Israeli Prime Minister; Vatican Summit on Climate Change and Human Trafficking; The Fight to End Human Trafficking; Trump Drawing Criticism from Republicans; Burundi Votes in Controversial Presidential Race; John Kasich Announces Bid for U.S. Presidency; Two British Men Charged with Plotting Terror Act; Investigators Look for Motive in Chattanooga Shooting; Anger on French Riviera over Saudi Royal Visit; Surfer Attacked by Shark Back Home. Aired 10-11 ET

Aired July 21, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00]

ISHA SESAY, CNN HOST: Funerals are being held for the 31 people killed in Monday's attack near Turkey's southern border. The victims were

attending a rally in support of rebuilding the Syrian town of Kobani.

As our Arwa Damon reports, authorities say they've identified the attacker.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the cultural center in Suruc where the attack took place and we do need to warn our viewers at this

stage that the video they're about to see is incredibly disturbing.

But we are deciding to broadcast it to show the inhumanity and terror of the attack.

(VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: And now 24 hours later, this is the scene. The group that had gathered not only talking about and wanting to bring attention to the

Kobani reconstruction efforts but they had also gathered donations for the children, toys, school books, now symbolically placed here, a sign of

defiance against the sheer violence that did take place.

Many people, though, very angry at this stage with the Turkish government, the crowds here earlier, chanting anti-government slogans,

believing that the authorities should have done more to protect this nation from the threat posed by ISIS.

In Gaziantep there was a mass procession earlier in the day before the victims killed in the attack were taken to their various resting grounds,

many of those perished here were from different parts of the nation.

The Turkish prime minister also saying that they have identified the suspect in the attack but they are not publicly disclosing that

information. They're still investigating what lengths the individual may have had.

The Turkish authorities have previously alluded to this attack being the work of ISIS revenge for Turkey's most recent crackdown on individuals,

hundreds rounded up over the last few weeks, suspected of having links or ties to ISIS.

This attack not necessarily coming at a surprise. People have been bracing themselves for the violence in Syria to spill over, but still

shocking this nation to the very core -- Arwa Damon, CNN, Suruc, Turkey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Turkey's allies, including the U.S., have been increasingly concerned about the stability of the Turkish-Syrian border and the Suruc

attack is giving new way to those fears.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us now from Washington.

Barbara, what are U.S. officials saying about this brazen terrorist attack on a NATO ally?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest certainly that the Turks are saying ISIS is responsible for, the U.S. expressing that

concern that you're pointing to, Isha, the concern about the Turkish-Syrian border.

This is an area that has been a big concern for some time. For months now, ISIS fighters have found very easy routes across that border into

Northern Syria. The U.S. has been pressing the Turks to shut down the border crossings, to exert more control over the border.

There had been some indication that the Turks were attempting to do that. So the question is, is this ISIS retaliation for the Turks moving

against them?

But there may be something else here. There is a good deal of fighting in Northern Syria right now. The Kurds there have been pressing

towards Raqqa, the Northern Syrian self-declared capital of ISIS. And ISIS is feeling that pressure, U.S. officials believe.

So they may have just simply been lashing out with this terrible episode of violence.

Either way, it's getting very much noticed by the U.S. about what is happening in Northern Syria and how much ISIS may be reacting to the

pressure it's under. So expect to see more from the coalition, more bombing, more airstrikes, more going after the ISIS targets because as ISIS

reacts and moves around, it makes it easier for those coalition warplanes to find them -- Isha.

SESAY: Indeed, Barbara. But given that Turkey is critical to the fight against ISIS, do we anticipate the U.S. stepping up direct support to

this valued NATO ally?

STARR: Well, this has always been an interesting question. Some sort of safe zone on that border region, a lot of people have been calling for

it. But for the U.S. to engage in that directly, I think would be very problematic for the Obama administration.

They're going to ask as they continue to for more coalition support, more intelligence sharing. That may be something that the U.S. can do

something about.

As it flies those reconnaissance missions over Northern Syria, having a look at what is happening and sharing what intelligence they can with the

Turks -- Isha.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, appreciate it. Thanks so much.

[10:05:00]

SESAY: Now the U.S. Defense secretary spends a second day in Israel trying to ease anger over the Iran nuclear deal. Ash Carter met Israeli

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for two hours. They did not speak to reporters afterwards.

On Monday, Carter called the U.S.-Israeli relationship "rock solid" and said Israeli concerns about security are justified.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASH CARTER, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There's no disagreement about the ultimate objective. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.

And there's no disagreement about the threats Israel sees every day from Iran's destabilizing activities; from terrorists, like Hezbollah,

Hamas and ISIL.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Ash Carter will also visit Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The Saudis have expressed concerns over the nuclear deal as well and how it may

increase Iran's influence in the region.

The mayor of the largest city in the U.S. says he's committed to reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030. New York's Bill de Blasio

made the ambitious pledge during a Vatican conference on climate change and human trafficking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL DE BLASIO, MAYOR OF NEW YORK: The encyclical is not a call to arms; it is a call to sanity. It's a reminder that we, as leaders, have a

sworn duty to protect.

But how can we protect our people if we accept a status quo that is slowly killing our Earth? I humbly submit that we were called here not to

be congratulated for whatever progress we've made, although it is certainly worthy.

We were called here to take la datosi (ph) and give it life, to systematically address the danger of climate change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: You heard Mayor de Blasio refer to the pope's encyclical, released in June. The document is essentially a papal love letter to our

planet and a strong warning about the destructive impact of climate change.

Our Vatican correspondent, Delia Gallagher, joins me now with all the latest on the Vatican summit.

Delia, help us understand the Vatican's point of view, their reason for calling this summit and those they have invited.

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what's interesting about this summit, Isha, is that for the first time the Vatican has invited

mayors from around the world. We've had religious leaders here; we've had international government leaders here.

But for the first time we've got the mayors. And the recent for this, the Vatican says, is that they want to address the issue of climate change

and modern slavery from a grassroots level, in particular in urban areas, where the poor are the hardest hit.

So for the Vatican's part, they are hoping to encourage action at a local level as well as obviously working at the international level and

attempting to influence the conversation that's going on and some important decisions that will be made on U.S. sustainable development, U.N.

sustainable development goals in December in Paris.

So really Pope Francis has kind of ramped up the Vatican's efforts with regard to these two issues, which are very close to his heart. He has

been very consistent in mentioning them over and over. You heard Mayor de Blasio reference the pope's encyclical, which, in large part, is devoted to

the topic of climate change and human trafficking.

On the part of the mayors, of course, it's a wonderful opportunity for them and perhaps one of the first times that they've been able to all get

together, 65 of them, and hear and share some of their best practices. It's been a fascinating morning and afternoon to listen. It's still going

on at the moment, to listen to some of their contributions. They each had 10 minutes to speak and, for example, there's the mayor from Kochi in

Kerala in India. And he says India has the most slaves in the world but that they have enacted laws to attempt to allow Indians the right to work

and to give children the right to an education.

The mayor of Madrid, for example, said that it's not enough just to set laws; they have to set a good example. And she says that she and her

local counselors take the bus and walk whenever possible.

So there's a good exchange going on between the mayors to effect action at a local level but from the Vatican's point of view, they want to

put what they call moral pressure on the U.N. decisions for some kind of a legally binding agreement between all countries on these issues -- Isha.

SESAY: Delia Gallagher joining us there from Rome, Delia, appreciate it. Thanks so much.

Now the CNN Freedom Project is dedicated to shining a light on modern- day slavery. Our latest production is a documentary called "Children for Sale: The Fight to End Human Trafficking."

Actress and activist Jada Pinkett Smith speaks with a young survivor right here in the United States, who was sold for sex a few years ago. She

was lured, she says, by someone she thought was her friend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JADA PINKETT SMITH, ACTOR AND ACTIVIST (voice-over): "Sacharay" was born and raised in Florida. By the time she was 14, she was constantly

being teased at school.

[10:10:00]

"SACHARAY": What I got picked on a lot about was being black. I have really, really dark skin, I guess.

SMITH (voice-over): She felt alone at home and at school. That's why, when an older classmate offered friendship, she jumped at it.

"SACHARAY": I thought she was like my best friend because I could like tell her anything. And one day she asked if, you know, I want to skip

school, want to have fun, you know. So we went to this barber shop. When I was there, she introduced me to these guys.

SMITH (voice-over): "Sacharay's" new "friend" had just led her to the man who would eventually become her trafficker.

"SACHARAY": We talked about how we was going to make money, how it was going to be easy. We didn't have to depend on nobody and it was all

fine and good and stuff. So I fell for it.

SMITH: Was there any kind of grooming process, like when this first started? Or it's just something that just happened and you -- he was just

expecting you to learn on the way?

"SACHARAY": He slowly brought on. When we got closer, when he felt like he got closer to me, he usually did it out of the back of the barber

shop. And he'd even have people that were with the post office, mailmen come in. Mailmen came in and paid their money to him, came back there to

me.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Be sure to watch the CNN Freedom Project documentary, "Children for Sale: The Fight to End Human Trafficking." It premieres

Wednesday night at 8:00 in London, 9:00 pm in Berlin, only here on CNN.

You're with INTERNATIONAL DESK. Still to come, as polls close in conflict-stricken Burundi, we'll get up an update on the vote and the

violence.

Plus, Donald Trump is making headlines and even leading in some polls. But is the U.S. Republican presidential candidate really electable? We're

there as he hits the campaign trail. Do stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SESAY: Welcome back, everyone.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is in the state of South Carolina for what he calls a kickoff rally. The controversial

billionaire has been making headlines and infuriating his own party with fierce attacks on fellow Republicans.

Recent polls show him in the top tier of candidates but indicate he could be losing ground. In a newspaper in a key campaign state is calling

for him to drop out of the race.

CNN's Dana Bash is on the campaign trail with Donald Trump and she brings us the latest from Bluffton, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, SR. U.S. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a brutal editorial, Iowa's biggest newspaper, "The Des Moines Register," is

demanding Donald Trump, quote, "pull the plug" on his "bloviating sideshow," calling him "a feckless blowhard" --

[10:15:00]

BASH (voice-over): -- who can generate headlines, name recognition and polling numbers not by provoking thought but by provoking outrage.

His Republican competitors agree.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), S.C.: He's becoming a jackass.

DONALD TRUMP, ENTREPRENEUR: I have respect for Senator McCain --

BASH (voice-over): Trump is still not apologizing for criticizing John McCain's war service but did come closer than before.

TRUMP: I supported him. I raised a lot of money for his campaign against President Obama. And certainly if there was a misunderstanding, I

would totally take that back.

But hopefully I said it correctly.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

BASH (voice-over): Even for the bombastic Trump, who appears to crave controversy, the bipartisan backlash from his weekend remarks about

McCain's five years as a prisoner of war of Vietnam was intense.

TRUMP: He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like pl that weren't captured, OK? Perhaps he's a war hero. But right

now, he said some very bad things about a lot of people.

BASH (voice-over): Still, a new national poll shows Trump isn't just leading the crowded GOP presidential field, but leading big at 24 percent,

with second place Scott Walker and third Jeb Bush trailing by double digits. But that same survey may signal trouble for Trump. He got 28

percent on three consecutive nights. But on Sunday, after his controversial comments, his support dipped.

McCain himself is determined to take the high road. But McCain's son, Jack, a 4th-generation McCain Naval officer, currently on active duty,

didn't hold back about what he thinks.

JACK MCCAIN, SON OF SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: My father, he's a public figure. He's a politician. He's open to attack. But prisoners of war in

general, I mean, Donald Trump has to understand that he's running for to be the commander in chief of the United States military.

If an individual gets rolled up, becomes a prisoner of war, then is he going to abandon them simply because he doesn't like people that are

captured?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Our Dana Bash reporting there.

Now to voting amid violence in Burundi. The election there finally went forward after months of protests over the president's bid for an

unprecedented third term. At least two people were killed overnight and gunfire could still be heard in the capital today. That disturbing image

was captured by journalist Julia Speers (ph). She joins us now on the phone from Bujumbura, just minutes after the polls closed.

Julia, good to have you with us. Describe what's happening in the capital right now, now that the polls have closed.

JULIA SPEERS (PH), JOURNALIST: Right. As you mentioned, the polls are closing now and election commission officials we spoke to in several

neighborhoods across and just outside the capital say they saw, in the words of one supervisor, very, very low turnout.

Now of course, that's just anecdotal at this point. We don't have official number but the polling stations we visited today were either empty

or had just a trickle of voters while we were there.

Residents across the city told us that they were not voting, either out of fear because of the tension in recent weeks and because of last

night's violence, which killed at least one known member of an (INAUDIBLE) or they said they were staying home from the polls because they agree with

the opposition politicians who say the election completely lacked legitimacy.

SESAY: Yes. And we talk about opposition politicians boycotting the vote, I mean, the key question now is where do we go from here? The

foregone conclusion of course will be that President Nkurunziza will get a third term.

But will those opposition politicians accept the result?

Julia Speers (ph), are you still with us?

Julia?

All right. Sadly, we appear to have lost our connection with Julia Speers (ph). Our apologies for that. We will work to get her back and

continue the conversation about the situation in Burundi at present, where the polls are closing in this vote for the presidency.

President Nkurunziza is of course seeking a third term, despite widespread complaints from the opposition and from members of the

international community, saying that he should not vote -- he should not run again because it jeopardizes stability of the country.

We'll work to get Julia Speers (ph) back and get the very latest on what's happening there on the ground.

All right. Moving on, Nigeria's new president is making the rounds in Washington and seeking support in fighting Boko Haram militants. President

Muhammadu Buhari met with U.S. President Barack Obama Monday and he'll have lunch with Secretary of State John Kerry today. Mr. Buhari spoke with

CNN's Christiane Amanpour about why it's taking so long to find hundreds of schoolgirls captured by Boko Haram last year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA: We have to be sure that those that are (INAUDIBLE) Boko Haram are really in charge and they know where

the over 200 Chibok girls are and in what condition they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[10:20:00]

SESAY: You can watch Christiane's full interview with Mr. Buhari at 7:00 pm in London and in Abuja, 8:00 pm Central European Time, only here on

CNN.

We want to go back to Burundi. We've reestablished our connection with journalist Julia Speers (ph), who's there on the ground as polls close

in these presidential elections.

Julia, if you can hear me, we were just discussing this issue of whether the opposition politicians, many of which have boycotted this vote,

will accept the result, which is expected to be a foregone conclusion, of course, that the President Nkurunziza will get a third term.

SPEERS (PH): Right, exactly. Well, (INAUDIBLE) have said that they will not accept the result of today's elections, even if they are given

votes; they say they will not recognize them.

The real question going forward is whether or not (INAUDIBLE) ruling party and opposition candidates will continue, which some have said they

will, after today's vote. (INAUDIBLE) main opposition candidate here today and he expressed doubt that they will resume and says even if they do,

(INAUDIBLE) the government has really not been willing to engage with the opposition on any of the real issues causing the conflict here.

So people were concerned for his own safety and the safety of other opposition candidates and said he's worried about an escalation of violence

as opposed to a continuation of negotiations here.

SESAY: Julia, given this threat of violence and what we're hearing from opposition candidates, what are we hearing from the African Union at

this stage?

What level of intervention do we expect from them?

SPEERS (PH): Well, so far, they haven't made any statements today but they did withdraw their elections monitoring body ahead of the election,

saying that the conditions here were just -- for free and fair elections were just nonexistent. So they're certainly not adding any credibility to

the ruling party or to the elections today.

And we'll have to wait and see in the coming days if they have any comments on politically targeted violence that we've been seeing here in

the capital recently.

SESAY: All right, Julia Speers (ph), journalist there on the ground in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, Julia, we appreciate it. Thanks so

much.

You're at the INTERNATIONAL DESK. Still ahead, as we've been hearing, the race for the Republican nomination for the U.S. president is about to

get even more crowded. We'll tell you about the latest candidate set to formally launch a bid.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SESAY: Hello, everyone.

A few moments ago we brought you up to date with the frameworks surrounding Donald Trump's campaign for the U.S. presidency. Well, he and

other Republican candidates are getting even more competition today. Ohio Governor John Kasich is set to formally throw his hat into the ring

shortly. That brings the field to 16.

Athena Jones is coverage the story for us and she joins us now from Columbus, Ohio.

Athena, John Kasich, a man with a very varied resume, one which could appeal to many.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Hi, Isha. This event will be getting underway in less than an hour. You can see the room behind

me filling up. He's been waiting in line for at least the past couple of hours to get in.

And as you mentioned, Governor Kasich does have the kind of resume that seems to be tailor-made for a run for the White House.

[10:25:00]

JONES: I want to quickly pay for you his bite-sized pitch that he made on Snapchat, the social media side popular with the young folks.

Let's go ahead and play that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: No one running for president has helped balance the federal budget, saved a state from near-bankruptcy or served on

the Defense Committee for 18 years. Maybe I ought to run.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And so of course in less than an hour, he's going to change that "maybe I ought to run" to "I am running." As I mentioned, he has an

impressive resume, nearly 20 years in Congress. He was on both the Budget Committee in the House and the Armed Services Committee. He has his

experience helping to balance the federal budget, working with then- President Bill Clinton. He was later a commentator on FOX News and he's now in his second term as governor of a very, very important swing state.

This is a state that Republicans have historically had to win in order to win the White House. When he won that election, he did so by a landslide,

winning almost two-thirds of the vote and performing well among independents, moderates, women. He even won a quarter of the black vote

and quarter of Democrats.

So an impressive resume. The challenging thing, of course, for him is that he has to break through in a field that's already very crowded and

where Donald Trump is taking up a lot of the oxygen -- Isha.

SESAY: Yes, indeed, and that being said, that need to break through, I mean, what's our sense as to how he will run his race?

And, critically, how he's going to go about trying to track the necessary money to mount a serious bid?

JONES: That's exactly right. And you, up until now, he's only officially -- only going to become an official candidate today. And so the

group that's been raising money for him is a political action committee that's been behind his campaign, New Day for America, they posted earnings

of about $11.5 million, which is not at the top of the pack but not at the bottom, somewhere in the middle of the pack. But they only started raising

those funds a couple of months ago.

And so now the day when he officially launches is when he'll really have to start that money race. And that's the big question that he's

brought up. You know, he said he ran for president before in the 2000 election. He dropped out in 1999, so before -- you know, around this time

in 1999, he dropped out last time around because he didn't have the ability to raise a lot of money. So that's going to be a key issue for him, can he

compete with these huge fundraisers like Jeb Bush -- Isha.

SESAY: We shall see. The race is hotting up. Athena Jones, joining us there from Columbus, Ohio, thank you, Athena.

Well, some surprising revelations from a friend of the Chattanooga shooter, what Mohammad Abdulazeez had to say about ISIS -- next.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SESAY: Welcome to the INTERNATIONAL DESK. I'm Isha Sesay. Here are the headlines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY (voice-over): Polls have closed in Burundi's controversial election. President Pierre Nkurunziza is expected to win an unprecedented

third term. His decision to run sparked months of violent protests. Two people were killed overnight and gunfire can be heard at the capital as

people headed out to vote.

Toshiba CEO and eight board members have resigned over an accounting scandal. An investigation found the company overstated its profits by $1.2

billion over a seven-year period. Toshiba makes everything from electronics to nuclear energy technology.

Ohio governor John Kasich is set to become the 16th Republican to make a bid for the White House. He's scheduled to make his formal announcement

next hour. Right now he's at the bottom of the polls but he's hoping to get a bump into the first debate next month.

British police have arrested two men from the town of Luton on terror charges. One is accused of plotting to kill U.S. military forces in

Britain. The man and his uncle are also charged with planning to join ISIS in Syria. For more on these arrests, Fred Pleitgen joins us now from

London.

Fred, tell us more about what we know regarding these men and the charges they're facing.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Isha. Well, so far, there is very little that we do know. But there has been

some new information that came out very recently because these two men appeared in front of the Westminster Magistrates Court just a little while

ago and the charges were read out against them.

And as you said, both of them have been charged with trying to leave Britain, go to Syria and to join ISIS there. Both men have also been

named. One is 24-year-old Junead Khan; the other one is Shazib Ahmed Khan, who's his uncle, actually, but is only 22 years old. And Junead Khan is

the one who is also charged with allegedly plotting to attack U.S. service members here in Britain.

And in the charges, it said that apparently this was supposed to be some sort of car accident-style attack or a hit-and-run style attack, if

you will, where apparently he wanted to hit the U.S. service member with the car and then kill the service member with the knife after hitting him.

Apparently there was also some talk about a possible suicide vest being used as well. And there was also the indication that perhaps he was

talking about possibly killing a British service member but then said he preferred to kill U.S. service members.

Now these two men were arrested on July 14th, so exactly a week ago. There was a third person who was also arrested with them at the time this

happened, north of London in the Luton area. That man was in his 30s has been arrested. So we are monitoring this very closely. There isn't very

much in the way of details we know at this point. But certainly some things already are becoming clear -- Isha.

SESAY: Yes, OK. Thank you, Fred Pleitgen, appreciate it. And so we know the reporting there's been on this, not many details out there, but we

appreciate what you can share, Fred Pleitgen joining us there from London, thank you.

Now investigators in the U.S. and Jordan are still trying to figure out what led a young Muslim man to kill four Marines and a sailor in the

U.S. city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, last week. But a friend of Mohammad Abdulazeez could help reveal something about the gunman's motivations.

James Petty says the gunman taught him how to shoot an AR-15 assault rifle. Petty says his friend told him the Sunni extremist group ISIS was,

quote, "doing wrong."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES PETTY, FRIEND OF MOHAMMAD ABDULAZEEZ: . that it was a stupid group and it was completely against Islam and not to even think about going

towards them. And I felt like it wasn't kind of in the sense of I'm with their group. So I don't want you to do like me. It was more like just

stay away. This is not where you should be going towards.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You felt that he truly believed in his heart at that moment that what ISIS is doing was wrong?

PETTY: Yes, sir.

GRIFFIN: And that any kind of radical Islamic terrorism is wrong?

PETTY: Yes, sir.

GRIFFIN: And he discussed that?

PETTY: He did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Correspondent Sunlen Serfaty joins me now live from Chattanooga with more on the investigation.

Sunlen, great to have you with us.

What more are authorities saying, sharing about their efforts to pin down a motive for this attack?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, investigators have been scouring all the writings, all of the Internet searches of Abdulazeez

in recent days. And the picture that's increasingly becoming clear is that it seems that his motive was something terrorism-related and that's after

investigators have looked at his political and religious views from those writings that they've been scouring over the last few days that were done

over a year ago by Abdulazeez.

They've picked up references over the course of those writings --

[10:35:00]

SERFATY: -- that Anwar al-Awlaki, he's, of course, the American born Yemeni radical cleric that has inspired similar terrorism attacks -- Mt.

Hood in 2009 also the Boston bombing in addition to the "Charlie Hebdo" attack in Paris.

So that certainly is a big red flag to investigators. But they have not found any sort of communications, any sort of connections to terrorist

groups.

Also they're looking at his recent Internet searches on his smartphone done as recently as the day before the shooting last week. They've

revealed that he was searching for what religious teachings say on martyrdom and how he could atone for his sins.

And what is really becoming increasingly clear is that he was really balancing some negatives in his life, drug use, also having some mental

health problems, struggle with bipolar disorder and also really trying to reconcile the drug use, alcohol use with his religious beliefs as well.

So certainly investigators still looking into a motive they said nothing though, as of now, is conclusive.

SESAY: And while they carry on their efforts to identify motive, really painful time for the families, the friends of the victims, all of

whom continue to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in this attack.

SERFATY: That's right. This community is still healing and starting to mourn for some of the lives lost. You'll see this memorial that's

growing by the day here in Chattanooga, a lot of people coming out as you can see behind me, looking at all of the balloons and the American flags

that are up.

We know that tonight there will be the first of what will be many memorials in a hometown of one of the lives lost, in Marietta, Georgia,

just a few hours from here. That'll be the first of many ceremonies, many funerals to come of the five lives lost -- Isha.

SESAY: Very sad. Sunlen Serfaty joining us there from Chattanooga, appreciate it, Sunlen, thanks so much.

Still to come at the INTERNATIONAL DESK, Saudi efforts to make a French beach safe for a king's holiday have enraged some of the locals.

We'll tell you about the arrangements that are shutting off access to the beach.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SESAY: Welcome back, everyone.

July on the French Riviera means enjoying sun and sand along the Mediterranean coast. But this year, locals are getting locked out of one

section of the beach because of a royal visitor. George Howell reports on the angry reactions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a popular spot along the Mediterranean coast but now this beach on the French Riviera has

been sealed off in preparation for visiting Saudi royalty, a move that has many locals here livid.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I've been coming here for 70 years. I used to come here with my parents and it was here that I learned

to swim. So it shocks me a little at what's happening at this beach.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We've been deprived of our holidays because of a king, who I have all respect for, but just because

he's king doesn't mean he has more say than the citizens, whether they're Europeans, French or any other nationality.

HOWELL (voice-over): Near Vallauris, it sits between Cannes and Antibes on the French Riviera, a destination home to many exclusive resorts

and marinas, and it's usually open to the public.

[10:40:00]

HOWELL (voice-over): It's also the place where the Saudi King Salman owns a villa, though French authorities say the king's visit is not

confirmed, local officials say members of the royal family entourage are already on site, preparing for the arrival of the monarch and some 500

people and it's evident as some point to cement being poured on the beach to install an elevator, linking the house to now private shores; also by

the installation of a gate, blocking the only public access to the beach through a tunnel just below the king's villa.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): So as you can see here, there are holes that have been drilled into the wall. This was in preparation

for the grid, which was then projected to protect the residents.

HOWELL (voice-over): A French official tells CNN the beach's closure is a temporary security measure and necessary in the wake of recent attacks

that have put France on high terror alert. No Saudi officials were available for comment due to the public holiday but authorities rarely

comment on the king's personal travel.

Still, people who live here say it's clear what's happening. The public is getting pushed out. And they don't like it -- George Howell,

CNN, Atlanta.

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SESAY: Ooh-la-la.

Well, sticking with the beach theme, people are steering clear of one in Australia and champion surfer Mick Fanning is home, sweet, home. He's

back in Australia after a shark attack that captured the world's attention. Fanning says the true impact of the confrontation didn't hit

until after he spoke to family and friends.

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MICK FANNING, PRO SURFER: To walk away from a shark attack with not a scratch on you, it's a miracle really. I spoke to different people. I

actually had dinner with a guy who'd been attacked three times and you know, it was just like, yes, you don't know. You just count your lucky

stars and if there is someone up there looking after us, thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Mick Fanning, a very, very lucky man.

That does it for us here at the INTERNATIONAL DESK. I'm Isha Sesay. Don't go anywhere. "WORLD SPORT" with Christina Macfarlane is up next.

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