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New Day Sunday

Increased Security in Belgium; Enslaved Yazidis Sold to Iraq; Obama's Planning Profound Tax Reform; Cosby's Tour Attract Protesters and Fans

Aired January 18, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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

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PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And breaking this morning, we've learned that three women who were detained as part of the Paris terror investigation have been released. Nine other people still remain in custody. One woman, nine men we're told. Investigators are trying to figure out if the "Charlie Hebdo" attacks were part of a larger terror network. As more than 10,000 French troops are working alongside police officers to monitor potential terror threats.

And in neighboring Belgium, on guard and on alert. Take a look, this is what it looks like on the streets of Belgium where officials are ramping up security after a string of anti-terror raids. 150 troops have already been deployed. And more to be on the way. Get this, it's the first time in more than three decades the military has been called on to patrol Belgian streets.

Also an alert this morning, Greece where police have launched their own terrorism investigation.

Good morning to you, everyone. I am Pamela Brown in Paris with special live coverage on the massive terror alert across Europe. But first more breaking news we want to get to. This is about one of the most infamous terror groups. ISIS. We have learned hundreds of Yazidis who had been held captive by ISIS for more than six months in Iraq are now free. That's according to a local official. The group is now being held by Kurdish authorities. And among those released, children and the elderly. I want to bring in CNN's senior international correspondent Ivan Watson for more on this. Ivan, if would, put this in a context for us. Why now? How surprising is this release?

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It does come as a surprise. We're still trying to get more details. Basically, Iraqi Kurdish officials confirming to us that at least 200 - 250 or more Yazidis from this religious minority in Iraq released in the area of the Kurdish controlled city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq on Saturday, and being taken care of. The Kurdish media having some reports of concern that perhaps there could be ISIS agents infiltrated among what have been described mostly as elderly Yazidis and also children.

Why have they been released right now? That is a question we'll still be trying to explore. The Iraqi Kurdish government, the Kurdistan regional government, has in the past, tried to pay some ransoms to release some of these Yazidi prisoners. It's important to note that in the course (ph) since last summer ISIS has been ethically cleansing hundreds of thousands of members of religious minorities from territories that they have captured in northern Iraq, this includes Christians, Shiite Muslims, other different sects as well as the Yazidis.

And they have reserved particular anger and violence for the Yazidis. They have taken thousands, Pamela, thousands of Yazidi women and girls captive since August. And I reported on this from northern Iraq. They have been selling these women and girls, some of them not even teenagers into slavery across borders into Iraq. And they have been distributing these captive women and girls at effective markets to their supporters. This is something that's been happening over the course of the last six months. Modern day slavery targeting a religious minority. In this case we're hearing about more than 200 of these Yazidis, mostly children and elderly who have been released. It's going to be a long road for them to reintegrate to their devastated communities. Pamela.

BROWN: Well, let's talk about that, Ivan. Can't forget that heroic rescue mission you went on several months ago. I think we're going to put up some video of that, if he haven't already, of when you were on that helicopter rescuing the Yazidis. If you could tell us, here's video, what has come of the folks that you had rescued, then I remember that 15-year-old little girl who was crying in the helicopter. And then also, in addition to that, this newly freed group how do they move on with their lives? Where do they go now?

WATSON: Well there's an enormous population of displaced people living in camps that have been put together over the course of the last six months. So again, hundreds of thousands of people who have been made homeless. When it comes to the people who are kidnapped and enslaved, some have been released in drips and drabs. There's been an effort in some cases to ransom some of these people. I interviewed a teenage girl, she was 19 years old and she had been taken from her village. The men separated from the women and the men then smarmily executed by ISIS militants. The women were then separated by age and she was taken to a bazar and then taken to a man's home where there were several other Yazidi prisoners, and she described how a 13-year- old girl was raped by that man. Now, she got out.

She was in a shelter for about a half dozen other young women and girls who had been similarly imprisoned and it appears that they were made into sex slaves. Her mother was still a captive of ISIS and her brother was as well. While the father and her elder brother had been executed. This girl was totally, totally psychological devastated by the experience that she had gone through. And we have to take into consideration that probably thousands of other women and girls like that still held captive are going through similar ordeals right now.

This is a modern day crime on a massive scale that is still unfolding in northern Iraq. And some of the activists that I've talked to who are trying to help track down the thousands of women and girls who have been taken prisoner in the first weeks when this disaster was unfolding, they were getting text messages, they were getting messages online from some of the captive women. And then one activist described to me in chilling detail how some 80 people she was getting contacted by a day went down to almost zero as these people were taken away.

We've just heard cases of these women getting taken across the border to the ISIS stronghold in Iraq and apparently being used as rewards to ISIS followers. So, this is an incredible, incredible crime against humanity that has been taking place unbelievably over the course of the last six months. Pamela.

BROWN: Just absolutely horrifying. Ivan Watson, thank you for bringing that very important story to our attention.

And turning now to the Paris terror attack, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the "Charlie Hebdo" massacre. Officials believe that massacre was likely years in the making. And we now know that Said Kouachi made several trips to Yemen. His first trip was as early as 2009, and, of course, the big question here that investigators are trying to figure out, whether one or both of the brothers ever met with Anwar al Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric and former spokesman for the terror group. Let's bring in CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh. He is live from Yemen this morning. He has been on the ground for several days. What are you learning there, Nick?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, last night we heard a revelation from Yemeni officials that two Frenchmen were arrested. A number of months ago, I should point out, but arrested for suspicion of offering logistical support to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. They were trying to leave the country when they were picked up. Still in Yemeni custody and the Yemenis say they are trying to work out what the next move should be. But while at this point it's clear that they were not arrested in necessarily for an obvious connection to the Paris attacks, we can't rule out that they may have something to do with the networks, according to Yemeni accusations, but this is also Yemen. It is already clear now that it's on top of Westerners leaving this country coming into this country and accusation that it simply hasn't been able to control the flow of foreigners in and out of here. Fair to say, that's relatively understandable. We are talking about a failing or failed state here, where just yesterday the president's chief of staff was kidnapped from his car in the very center of the city at the capital behind me. Sana'a here. So, really, it is a country which is struggling to hold itself together. And that's the reason why al Qaeda could get a foothold here in the first place, Pamela.

BROWN: It's a huge concern for counterterrorism officials I've spoken to, this pipeline open in Yemen where Americans and Europeans have been going to. As we said, the Kouachi brothers are believed to have trained with AQAP. Do we have a better sense of whether there was any sort of command and control element here?

WALSH: That is exactly what investigators needs to establish. We know that the gunmen on the "Hebdo" attack said they were from al Qaeda in Yemen. And we know that al Qaeda in Yemen claimed that attack as being theirs. What we don't know is if actually it is true or what level up to the moment of the attack logistical support was being given by al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula here. Now - with that all information, we have more clarity on the timeline of the brothers come in and out. Said, the elder one, we know from a database, apparently seeing by an interior ministry officials, first came here in August 2009. In and out of the next couple of years there is some uncertainty as to whether it was just Said or his younger brother Cherif or both of them. They came into the country in 2011. We spoke to the Yemeni officials as it was both of them at the same time for a number of months, then in 2011, they could, at that time, potentially have met Anwar al Awlaki. The U.S. citizen killed in the drone strike, just a few months after the brothers were here.

The question is then yes, if he may have targeted the Hebdo magazine, he may have told them to (INAUDIBLE) and place. Did assistance continue up until the attacks? We know U.S. officials you reported, Pamela, said they brought back with them tens of thousands of dollars potentially to France. Did the actual connection between Yemen and France sustain, if that did happen, are there other cells in Europe who are waiting for some sort of - from Yemen to continue their attacks. Questions investigators are struggling to answer right now. Pamela.

BROWN: And it's very important to answer those questions to prevent further attacks. Nick Paton Walsh, thank you for bringing us the latest there in Yemen. Stay safe.

And more on the hunt of potential terror threats and sleeper cells as we were just talking about across Europe. We're going to have that conversation up next. Stay with us.

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BROWN: And our special coverage of the manhunt for terrorists across Europe continues this morning. I'm Pamela Brown live in Paris. Thank you for being here with us on this Sunday.

As we speak officials are ramping up security after a string of anti- terror raids. The big question this morning, whether al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS have active terror cells in the West waiting and ready to strike. Terrorist expert Jean-Charles Brisard joins me now to discuss this. So, this is really a big concern among folks I've been speaking to, Jean Charles, especially in the wake of the Paris attacks. What we saw in Belgium. What's the latest you're hearing about the hunt for potential terror threats and these so called sleeper cells across Europe?

JEAN-CHARLES BRISARD, TERRORISM EXPERT: Well, what we know for example for the Paris attacks is this is obviously, a larger cell that we've initially anticipated. There's nine people held. Other are sought by the police currently. And we're also trying to determine currently if they were simply inspired, initiated by a foreign terrorist network, such as AQAP or Islamic State or any other, or if they were inspired simply by these networks. And it's very difficult at that stage to have a clear view of what happened exactly.

BROWN: And, of course, there could be a middle ground where they did have some connection with the terrorists groups, but ultimately they decided the time and place. Jean-Charles, as we know, the international manhunt still underway for surviving members of the Belgium terror cell that was taken down this week. As time goes on, does the chances of capturing them go down because it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for some of these suspects to be making their way to Syria or already be there?

BRISARD: Yes, as we've seen in the Paris case and then Belgium case, I mean certain, several members of these cells have made their way to Syria or Iraq or they had just before taken action in recent weeks if not days. Obviously, the main concern over Europe is to know whether these individuals are acting alone by themselves in small cells or if there's a major plan by any of these terrorists organizations, whether in Syria or Yemen or elsewhere, to target the West. And obviously there's probably a mix of both. Because as we've seen in France, these people have been traveling, entertained close contacts with the highest level of the terrorist groups in Yemen. In Belgium it seems to be almost the same situation. So the investigations are pending and this will be, of course, determined in several weeks - in several days or weeks.

BROWN: Jean-Charles, I want to get your perspective on this. So, I was speaking to a counter terrorism official recently, and I asked him, what do you do about these people as the Kouachi brothers who - maybe went to Yemen, but for years, they laid low. They were dormant in some sense. What do you do about those people that you are concerned about? That are under surveillance, but for years don't do anything. And he said, it gives them something that they can bite and you take them down. We recently saw this in the U.S. with a Ohio man who was arrested who had allegedly been plotting to kill government officials at the U.S. Capitol building. In Europe, do you think that is the solution for these people that are under surveillance in Europe, given the manpower issues as well?

BRISARD: Exactly. Well, the main issue is these individuals have learned, being in contact with terrorists organizations, how to go underground. So even if you put them under surveillance, and we did, as you know, for most of the offers of the Paris attacks, someday they're disappearing, meaning they're not showing their intentions. And you can put them under surveillance for three, six or one year period. You won't see anything apparent about their intentions. And this is the real issue tomorrow. What can we do? We have no -- not enough resources and we won't have enough resources we know because there's so many -- there are thousands of individuals concerned and there are civilians in the watch in the European countries.

So to some extent we should use other techniques as those employed in the U.S. maybe, to have them triggered, their plot and to identify the offers. Because again, at some point, to some extent we won't have the ability, the capacity in terms of human capacity, to follow all of them. There are more than 4,000 individuals who went involved in Syria and Iraq since 2012. For all of the European Union countries. So, it is- it is a huge factor that we need to deal with in the future years.

BROWN: Yeah. Very concerning. And it does take a lot of manpower to have just even one person under surveillance. Thank you so much, Jean-Charles Brisard. We appreciate it. Christi and Victor, back to you in Atlanta.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you so much. Well, you know, Bill Cosby was greeted with love, with cheers and a standing ovation. This was after he took the stage in Denver.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, but the scene outside, very different. We've got the message from these protesters. They made very loudly and clear. That's next.

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UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Rape is not a joke! Rape is not a joke!

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UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: No more jokes! No more jokes! No more jokes! Rape is not a joke.

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BLACKWELL: Well, comedian Bill Cosby is still touring, still drawing crowds of protesters, as you saw, on the wake of a sexual assault allegations from more than now two dozen women.

PAUL: Yeah, some 50 protesters marched outside a show in Denver yesterday, you saw there, chanting things like "Rape is not a joke" and "Turn back Cosby." The scene was very different inside. Here's CNN's Ana Cabrera who was there.

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ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Protesters greeting the ticket holders outside the Bill Cosby performances in Denver this weekend. You see them holding signs that say, "Colorado believes the women," "Shame on You", at times chanting things like "Turn back Cosby" and "Rape is no joke."

Obviously referencing the accusations facing the 77-year-old comedian. Allegations of drugging and sexual misconduct. In some cases that go back a decade. At times we've seen about 50 protesters out here, including this woman named Vickie. And Vickie thanks for spending a minute to talk with us.

What brought you here? Why was it important for you to come and protest?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, as growing up in the '70s I idolized Bill Cosby. And I just can't stand, the more and more women that come out and the more and more information that gets out. And we learned that he's settled out of court with three women. And I just- I believe the women. There's too many.

CABRERA: And what's the message you want to send by being here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should not support a rapist.

CABRERA: Thanks for talking with us. And important to know that Bill Cosby has not been charged with any crime. He and his lawyers continue to deny all of these allegations. We've also been talking to fans and supporters of Bill Cosby who believe he's innocent.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nobody has proof that he did anything and if these women were really concerned about it, they should have come forth years and years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't believe any of this that's going on. It's really heartbreaking.

CROWD (chanting)

CABRERA: Among the demonstrators who have been out here in Denver, famed attorney Gloria Allred who is representing now eight Cosby accusers, including a woman by the name of Beth Ferrier from Denver. Again, Cosby and his lawyers denying the allegations. Now, it's important to note, there have been about two dozen women who have spoken out alleging they are victims of Bill Cosby. The latest in fact coming just this past week. And despite all of that, despite these protests, Bill Cosby's camp says the show must go on and he plans to continue with his scheduled performances. Ana Cabrera, CNN, Denver.

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PAUL: All right. Ana, thank you so very much.

BLACKWELL: All right, ahead in our next hour, President Obama wants to make changes to what you pay in taxes. And his legacy may be on the line. We'll tell you what changes may be ahead and who's going to pay for them.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: press powder construction techniques of the concrete, on the curb has worked on very well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Daniel Libeskind is an architect used to the pressure of high profile projects. His eye-catching buildings include the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the Denver Art Museum and the Imperial Wall Museum north in Manchester. Today he's in Belgium overseeing work on a new conference center in months. The city, which will be a European capital of culture in 2015.

DANIEL LIBESKIND: Because it's large. Like a ...

By 2050, I think, 75 percent of the world population will live in cities. So the cities cannot just build more, you know, more boxes and more of the same ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In lower Manhattan, Libeskind is dealing with one of the greatest challenges facing architects today. To build sensitively in a high density city. Libeskind is the master planner of the redevelopment of ground zero, the site devastated by the 9/11 attacks.

LIBESKIND: 70,000 people have moved to lower Manhattan since I started working on this project, which means families, people, schools, housing has been built. So there's a complete rebirth of this area that was so devastated by the attacks.

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PAUL: Catch the whole show at cnn.com/one to watch.