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Giant Bomb Scanners on Patrol in Pakistan; Raids in Times Square Case; Shootings, Explosions in Bangkok

Aired May 13, 2010 - 12:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Hello again. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in the CNN NEWSROOM, in for Tony Harris.

Here are some of today's big stories that we're covering.

The FBI raids homes and businesses in three states today. Agents are looking for clues in the attempted car bombing in New York's Times Square.

And President Barack Obama may see a sign of the times when he gets to Buffalo. This hour, he is push for jobs creation, but you don't have to convince the people behind this billboard.

You're online and we are, too. Ines Ferre is following the top stories clicking on the Internet today -- Ines.

INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, take a look at this. What's most popular on CNN.com right now, former beauty contestants debate over the new Miss USA lingerie photos.

Also, on Yahoo!, seven little known reasons you're not getting hired.

And Michael Jackson's kids on YouTube. I'll have more on that story later in the show.

WHITFIELD: All right. Intriguing stuff. Thanks so much, Ines.

All right. Let's get tart started with our lead story.

Federal authorities are searching several locations in the Northeast in their investigation in the failed bombing in Times Square. They're carrying out search warrants in N York, New Jersey, and in and around Boston, Massachusetts.

Drew Griffin of our Special Investigations Unit is following this developing story.

So, what more can you say about the financing end of all this?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We just want to put it in context, because these raids are definitely involved in the financing of operations, and it's definitely the result, according to a source very close to the investigation, of the Shahzad investigation. Keep in mind, Shahzad, this fellow that was arrested in the Times Square attempted bombing, is still talking, has still not appeared in court on his initial appearance because he's waived that right. And it's based on this information that he is giving to authorities that these raids took place. Here's what we know.

It apparently focuses on a cash courier system, according to our source. This is cash coming in to the United States that would finance activities like those that the Times Square attempted bomber is accused of, but not necessarily linking the two quite yet. They're still investigating that, an expanding investigation.

Two people have been under surveillance at least since Wednesday. We're not sure if they are the same two people now being detained in the Boston area, but we do know that this investigation is expanding into how these operations are financed.

WHITFIELD: And a lot of this information, your sources are telling you, because Faisal Shahzad is talking.

GRIFFIN: Absolutely. And he has been talking ever since -- almost ever since he's been arrested, this guy.

WHITFIELD: Which is the most amazing thing, because initially he was, like, I worked alone, I worked alone, allegedly. At least, reportedly, that's what he was saying. And now suddenly he's being very loquacious?

GRIFFIN: Well, I don't want to stroke these guys, but the FBI is pretty good about getting people to talk.

WHITFIELD: Well, that's true.

GRIFFIN: They got the underwear bomber to talk. They get people to talk. And this guy is talking, and he hasn't shut up since.

Now, what they have to check out is, is the information correct or not? The information right now has got them to this gas station and the studying of how this may be financed, whether or not there is a direct connection between Faisal Shahzad driving that Nissan Pathfinder into Times Square and getting financing from this operation.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. All right. Drew Griffin, thanks so much, with the Special Investigations Unit. Appreciate that.

Of course, this entire story is being investigated by our own team of correspondents, and that also includes National Correspondent Susan Candiotti, who is now joining us from New York.

Susan, what are your sources telling you?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, some brand new information we're getting from the FBI out of Philadelphia, that they are also a part of these search warrants that are being executed. They've been asked to assist the New York division. And they are at a location right now in Camden, New Jersey. Excuse me, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It is a print shop there.

Again, we are told by the spokesperson that there are no arrests being made at that location. No one is in custody. And there's no immediate danger in that area at all.

But this is a part of some of the evidence that is being picked up as a result of all the people that they're talking with, including, of course, Faisal Shahzad. And so, it's branching off in a number of different directions, and they are -- that's why they're at this print shop in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, at this hour -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Susan Candiotti, thanks so much. Keep us posted on that end of the investigation.

All right. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder commented on the raids during a hearing on Capitol Hill. Here's what he had to say just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Just this morning we executed search warrants in several locations in the Northeast in connection with the investigation into the attempted bombing. Several individuals who were encountered during those searches have been taken into federal custody for alleged immigration violations.

The searches are the product of evidence that has been gathered in the investigation since the attempted Times Square bombing and do not relate to any known immediate threat to the public or active plot against the United States. I share that information just to indicate that this is an ongoing investigation and that we are actively pursuing all those who were involved in it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Our correspondents are following this story on multiple fronts, and we'll bring you the latest information as we get it.

So, from the White House to Main Street now, President Barack Obama is set to arrive in Buffalo, New York, in just a few minutes. He's pushing his economic agenda.

CNN's Dan Lothian is already there.

So, who will be in the audience of this town hall meeting, Dan?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're told by the White House about 250 people will be here, mainly employees and their friends or family members of this company, which is a fabrication company. And in addition to those folks, we're told local and state officials will also be attending.

But as you pointed out, the focus of this visit by the president will be the economy. According to White House officials, the president will be making an aggressive case to show that what Democrats, what his administration have been doing, starting to make some sort of headway here with the economy in terms of turning it around and also job creation.

But, you know, the guest that you had on just a few minutes ago who put up that billboard calling on the president for a job made an interesting statement when he talked about how it's important to create jobs at some of these bigger companies like GE, it's great for the administration to work with them, but what they need to focus on, what the president needs to focus on, are those small businesses, because he said they're the ones who really have the ability to create jobs. And that's one of the things that we'll also hear from the president here today. He'll talk about pushing Congress to do additional -- take additional steps to create jobs, and particularly small businesses, because the president believes that that is the best way to really drive this economy in creating more jobs -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: OK. And, Dan, the president will be accepting questions as well. So this really is an interactive opportunity for a lot of people.

LOTHIAN: It is. First of all, he will tour this facility, and then he will have this town hall style event which he has been holding at various stops across the country.

People will get a chance to ask questions. But the president will also be able to make some opening remarks where he will talk about, as I mentioned, some of the steps that the administration has been taking to turn the economy around.

But this really is a chance for the president to be right on the front lines, to hear from the people who are being impacted most. And here in Buffalo, they have been hit very hard, because long before the rest of the country started sliding down, they were losing a lot of jobs here. Their unemployment rate was about 10 percent back in February.

Things are starting to turn around. The medical field is starting to create some jobs in the region here. But people still have a lot of concerns, and the president will hear some of those today.

WHITFIELD: OK. Dan Lothian, thanks so much. Appreciate that.

Of course, keep it right here to listen to what the president has to say. He is scheduled to speak next hour, around 1:50 p.m. Eastern Time, right here on CNN.

All right. Meantime, some breaking news taking place out of Thailand. We understand right now that there has been an anti- government demonstration taking place. And reportedly, the leader of the anti-government movement has actually been shot while in the middle of being interviewed by a number of reporters.

Our own reporter, Dan Rivers, is with us now on the phone now to give us a better idea of what took place -- Dan.

DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that is one of the radical leaders of this so-called Red Shirt protest movement. He's been nicknamed "Seh Daeng." Khattiya Sawatdiphol is his real name. He's a major general in the army.

He was shot through the head while talking to some reporters, including "The New York Times." We have some pretty dramatic video of him seconds after he was shot and being carried away by his security guards.

He's now in critical condition in hospital. We understand he's in surgery right now.

And just in the last 10 minutes, another protester has been shot and killed, shot in the head just 100 meters from where I'm talking to you from.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dan, here's another question for you. I'm wondering, is any allegation being made that the military or government may, in any way, be behind this shooting?

RIVERS: I think that's the initial assumption of most people here. The army has been deployed this evening with orders to shoot anyone they see as armed terrorists.

This guy, "Seh Daeng," was -- walked around in army fatigues. He's been consistently urging a sort of aggressive response from the Red Shirts, urging them to back away from talks to the government.

I think many people will assume here that he was shot by the soldiers, but we just don't know. I spoke to one policeman at the hospital who said he thought "Seh Daeng" was shot by a sniper because of the type of entry and exit wound to his head. But we simply don't know at this point, and we don't know who has shot in the last 10 minutes this Red Shirt protester dead. But the natural assumption is the army is out, they're (INAUDIBLE) to use live ammunition if needed, and that appears to be what is happening now.

WHITFIELD: So, Dan, give me an idea of the scale of these anti- government demonstrations. And for how long has this been taking place?

RIVERS: Well, this has been going on for a month and a half in this latest phase. They've occupied a massive swathe of the center of this city, including shopping malls and five-star hotels and areas which have embassies, and so on in.

At the moment, there is a crowd in front of me of probably, I don't know, 500, 600 people. And they are basically ruling the streets where we are. It's completely anarchic. There are no police or soldiers right here.

But it's difficult to know how many protesters there are in total. There have been talk in the local media of several thousands.

There's another gunshot. I don't know if you heard that, just while I'm talking to you now.

You can probably hear the crowd in the background. We're just cowering behind a wall by the park in the middle of town here, but it's difficult to know who is doing this shooting, of course. But it is more brawl on the streets of this part of Bangkok tonight.

WHITFIELD: It's a frightening situation, Dan. And I'm reading some CNN wire which says witnesses are indicating that the gunshot appeared to have come from a rooftop on the corner of Bangkok's Lumpini Park, where many of these protesters have been.

Are we talking about dozens or hundreds of protesters that have amassed just today alone?

RIVERS: Well, there's certainly hundreds where I'm standing talking to you from. And yes, you're right, there are lots of local eyewitness reports here saying shots were coming from a rooftop.

So we're building up a picture of, you know, it looks like some sort of sniper fire, but we just -- we can't be sure at the moment. It's obviously still happening as I speak to you.

We have had no confirmation from the government at all as to whether they have opened fire and whether they have effectively tried to take out an assassination attempt on one of the Red Shirt leaders. I must stress, he is still alive, as far as we know. At the moment, he's in critical condition, this leader. But it's pretty anarchic stuff right now.

WHITFIELD: And so, just listening to the background noise from where you are, especially immediately following what you said was a gunshot, you would think with a shooting like this, that people would disperse and certainly leave the area. But I don't get the impression that that's happened.

People have stayed?

RIVERS: That's what's remarkable, yes. I mean, all the press are cowering behind a wall, but the protesters are just sort of standing there.

You know, they all sort of duck slightly when there's the sound of a shot, but they're not going away. And there's no evidence of the army or the police using tear gas or anything else to disperse these crowds.

And they are now outside the area they had been occupying. So they have spread out from their barricaded sort of area that they erected lots of barricades in. They're outside of those barricades now, on a main intersection on a freeway overpass and under the overpass. And as I say, they're kind of ruling this area of central Bangkok.

WHITFIELD: And so, Dan, over the past month you said these anti- government demonstrations have been taking place, or at least the sentiment. Has the government or even the military singled out this anti-government protester, "Seh Daeng," or anything before this shooting, do you know?

RIVERS: He's certainly -- I mean, he's made no secrets of the fact that he thought his life was in threat. He's been giving lots of media interviews saying, you know, he feels that he was -- you know, he was under threat, that he could be shot at any time. That's what he was saying, that he was going -- he felt he was going to be targeted by a sniper.

But despite all that, he had made no real attempt to conceal himself. He was giving an interview right in the middle of the street, on the corner of this park, and then a shot rang out.

We've talked to one journalist who was there, just meters from him when it happened, and he described it as like a firecracker and said there was screaming and wailing afterwards, and everyone running for cover. And we have that video showing the still body of "Seh Daeng" being carried away, apparently still alive. We think he is still in critical condition in hospital, but certainly severely injured with that gunshot wound to the head.

WHITFIELD: Dan Rivers, thanks so much.

Extraordinary sequence of events taking place there in Thailand. You heard Dan reporting there, the leader of an anti-government demonstration was shot in the head. There are the images right there.

It's believed that he is in critical condition at a hospital. Unclear who may be responsible for that shot.

We'll check back with you, Dan, as we see fit.

Of course, we're covering multiple breaking stories. That one taking place in Thailand and, of course, the terror investigation right here in the United States.

We'll have more on those stories. Keep it right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Oil giant BP is working on two possible solutions to the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. And we are getting a closer look at the geyser of oil. BP released new video of the leak 5,000 feet under water in the Gulf. Take a look.

CNN's David Mattingly is in Grand Isle, Louisiana, with the latest on the effort to try to cap that leak.

Any hope?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, when you look at that video, we see the black cloud of oil coming out of that massive pipe, as well as a spray of gas coming out. It's sort of a lighter color.

That gas was actually forming crystals inside that larger dome they tried last week, and clogged it up. That's why they had to set that aside.

So now what they're doing, they have got the smaller dome calling the top hat. And they're thinking that the smaller dome, the way it's constructed -- they're also going to be using chemicals -- they will be able to prevent those crystals from forming inside of it as they lower it over the top of the end of that pipe. Now, when they do, the plan is to siphon that oil up to a containment ship on the surface and prevent this oil slick from getting any bigger than it already is. Now, at the same time, they're working on another solution if they decide not to go with the top hat, and that's to insert another pipe that they've developed inside the leaking pipe.

So, they've got two possible solutions in play right now. They hope to have one of them in place and working by this weekend, possibly today, possibly tomorrow. But again, every day that goes by, we have another 5,000 barrels of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico.

WHITFIELD: All right. David Mattingly, thanks so much, from Grand Isle, Louisiana. We'll check back with you.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A resounding message awaiting President Obama in Buffalo, New York, today -- jobs needed. One Buffalo businessman puts it this way" "Dear Mr. President, I need a freakin job. Period."

Jeff Baker posted that billboard and launched a media campaign called the INAFJ Project, before learning the president actually would be visiting this economically troubled city. I talked with him just last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF BAKER, SPONSORED "FREAKIN JOB" BILLBOARD: It certainly ends up being catastrophic loss. And I owned a small textile business called Adirondack Blanket Works with my youngest brother. And unfortunately, we got -- like many other businesses in the country, we got caught in the banking collapse and were basically forced out of business.

And so, for the first time in my life, I found myself as an unemployed dad and husband and person. So, just watching the dialogue meander through a variety of different political issues, we decided to at least make an attempt to redirect the -- you know, the attention of the government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So, with 9.9 percent unemployment in Buffalo, New York, this is a tough time to be entering the workforce. But that's exactly what my next guest is doing.

Samantha Prior is a graduate of Buffalo State College. She joins me now from that economically troubled city. Good to see you. Congratulations on graduation.

SAMANTHA PRIOR, BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE GRADUATE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: But sorry. It's tough trying to get into the workforce.

So what's it been like?

PRIOR: I would be lying if I said that I wasn't worried. Last year, it was probably a little worse than it is now. I mean, we're up against people that have already been in the work field that are willing to take pay cuts. But I'm trying to be optimistic. I've prepared myself.

WHITFIELD: So -- well, how do you prepare yourself, and what do you do to distinguish yourself from the many others, as you just described, who are looking for the same job?

PRIOR: Well, it's all about networking, especially. I'm interning right now. Part-time jobs also lead the way to new networking experiences.

I work at an office on campus that offers assistance for those types of things. So I'm a little bit a step ahead. My department at school makes sure that we're out in the community and getting as much experience as we can.

WHITFIELD: So, ultimately, what kind of job do you want to land, what career path do you want to go?

PRIOR: Ultimately, I was, you know, thinking advertising, glamorous in New York City, but now I've come to terms that there's a lot of avenues that I could probably take. So, I've started to research other types of jobs in sales. And, you know, entry level positions are definitely not out of the loop for me.

WHITFIELD: So what are you hearing from your fellow grads? How has it been going for them?

PRIOR: They're all a little stressed out. I mean, graduating is a big deal.

We're all on the grind though. Everyone is applying left and right. Everyone is going on informational interviews.

Some people are excited to start working. Some just don't want to work for a while. It's a pretty mixed bag. But all in all, I think we're trying to get in the field as soon as possible.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And so the president today will be in your city, or he is in the city this hour. And he'll be talking to people about the economy, about jobs creations.

We just heard from Jeff Baker. Have you seen that billboard in your town that says, you know, I just want a job? PRIOR: I actually haven't physically seen it, but it's about less than a mile away from me right now. I'm sure I'll see it later today.

WHITFIELD: OK. And he talked about how he's hoping that the president will say something or make a big commitment to the small business out there. Instead of the large businesses, but the small ones, who can help create some jobs.

What's your hope from the president this afternoon?

PRIOR: My hope is that he actually pays attention. Not saying that he has to do anything about it right away, but definitely start small. Small business is where it starts, and then everyone can just grow from there.

WHITFIELD: All right. Samantha Prior, thanks so much. And congratulations on graduation.

PRIOR: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And all the best of luck in your continued job search.

PRIOR: OK. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And a reminder for everyone out there. Ali Velshi will have actually CNN live coverage when President Obama speaks in Buffalo next hour. The president's town hall is scheduled to begin at 1:50 Eastern Time. We do understand he's landing in Buffalo this hour. But, of course, we'll carry that live as that town hall meeting gets under way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. So, Arizona -- this you know -- is at the center of another highly-charged debate. This time over a new law banning ethnic studies. Not just the new immigration law, but something else.

Police actually arrested 14 people for trespassing at the state offices for education in Tucson yesterday. They were a part of a large group of students, parents and educators who oppose a law signed by Governor Jan Brewer. It bans schools from offering classes that are designed for students of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity.

Opponents say it's yet another law targeting Latinos in that state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE PAIZ, ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAM GRADUATE: I think it's an attack on the Mexican-American communities, and all ethnic communities within the cities and the communities of Arizona. I think it is ridiculous, completely outlandish, horrendous, and diabolical. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So, Arizona School Superintendent Tom Horn pushed for the measure. For years, he says some of the classes push ethnic chauvinism and racial resentment toward whites.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM HORNE, ARIZONA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: We're individuals. We're not exemplars of the race we happen to have been born into. What's important is what we know, what we can do, what is our character, not what race we were born into.

And in Tucson, what they did was they divided the kids into different races. So, African studies for the African-American kids, Raza studies for the Latino kids. Raza means "The Race" in Spanish. Asian studies for the Asian kids, Indian studies for the Native American kids.

And particularly in the Raza studies, they taught a very radical agenda, a separatist agenda. We have testimony from teachers and ex- teachers that they were teaching kids they live in occupied Mexico, that the United States is oppressive. They were making them angry. They use a Marxist book, the "Pedagogy of the Oppressed," which -- whose sources are Marx, Anglos, Lenin, Che Guevara, and the philosophers who influenced them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYRSTEN SINEMA (D), ARIZONA STATE HOUSE: Tom is actually incorrect when he states that students are divided into these courses. The fact is very clear that these courses are open to all students. So, any student of any race or ethnicity can take an African-American studies class and learn about the history of slavery and the civil rights movement.

Similarly, they can take an Asian-American studies class and learn about the history of Japanese internment camps and the exclusion of Chinese-Americans from our country, and that's an important part of the American education system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. So, Arizona is on fire right now. Our Josh Levs has been reading through the bill, and he's here to show us what it says, what it says can be included, omitted, et cetera.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, perfect example of a time that everyone is going to have an opinion. What we really want to do is have everyone out there as you're building your opinion around this, read the thing and learn some of the basics about what's actually in it. So, what I've done here, I got the bill right in my hand here. House bill 2281. And what I'm going to do is show you some of the key points from it using the actual language from the bill and some of where it gets so subjective. So, we're talking about some ethnic studies classes that would be banned.

Now, here's the basics. Ethnic study classes band. You cannot have any courses that promote the overthrow of the government. You cannot have any courses that promote resentment toward a race or class. Now, let's go to the next grade. I want you to see this one. You cannot have courses designed primarily for one ethnic group. And then this, right here, is where things get particularly subjective. Look at this. No courses that advocate ethnic solidarity instead of treatment of pupils as individuals. Now, I mean, schools are supposed to educate, not advocate.

So, how do you decide when a class is advocating versus educating and whether that's about the curriculum or whether it's about the way the teachers are presenting it. You have a lot of subjectivity there to decide what is advocating ethnic solidarity. Here's what the punishment can be if a school is in violation of this law, it can have up to 10 percent of its portion of state aid withheld. That can happen. And there would be a process to determine if the school is really in violation, and this is how much they can lose, 10 percent of their portion of out of state aid.

Now, look at this, what's not banned. This law specifically writes out what is not ban. It does not ban classes for Native Americans which are actually required by federal law. And this is a lot of words here. I never use this many words in a graphic, but this is how subjective it is. I want you to understand this. It does not ban courses that include the history of an ethnic group that are open to all students, unless that class violates the other rules. Let me tell you what you just saw and what that means. The schools can still continue to have ethnic studies classes that look at the history of different ethnicities as long as all students are invited.

We just heard the speaker say all students are invited, but is also another caveat out there. That class cannot do the other things we're looking at, which brings us back to the beginning. That class can still not promote the overthrow of the government, promote resentment toward any race of class. It cannot be designed primarily for one ethnic group, and it cannot be advocating ethnic solidarity instead of treating of pupils as individuals.

When a class is in violation of this and when it's not, you can already foresee just looking at this, Fred, an incredible number of times as there would be subjective decisions and arguments about whether or not a school is really breaking this, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. That's a lot of information.

LEVS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Good information. But a lot of information that people want to go back and read for themselves to get a better view of what this law is all about. How do they do that?

LEVS: All right. This is why I posted it for you. It's just like the other bill in Arizona. I really want everyone to see it. It's at my Facebook page. And you have a screen right here. I tell you the web address of it, but it has like 100 characters in it. So, look at that screen right there. See my Facebook page. Facebook.com/JoshLevsCNN. Right there, the whole bill is up for you right now. You can take a look at it. You can let us know what you think. You can weigh in. You know, Give it a good read before you come up with your opinion and let us know what you think.

WHITFIELD: OK. Thanks so much, Josh, for bringing that to us. Appreciate it.

LEVS: You got it. Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Of course, we've got many more developments in the Times Square terror investigation. We're going to check in with our Jim Acosta who is in Boston, which happens to be the place of an arm of that investigation under way right now. We'll have that straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. I want to get an update now on our lead story this hour. The raids in the northeast and the investigation of the failed Times Square bombing in New York. CNN's Jim Acosta is in Boston with the very latest. What's happening there, Jim?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, you know, since the attempted bombing at Times Square and the arrest of Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in that case, people have been wondering where did this suspect get the money to pull off what was potentially a catastrophic attack, according to authorities. And that question is what led authorities here to this house behind me in Watertown, Massachusetts, right outside of Boston. Neighbors say at about 6:00 this morning, FBI agents and agents with immigration, customs enforcement went inside this home armed to the teeth, we're told by neighbors, and pulled out two men and arrested them very early this morning, waking up neighbors up and down this street.

The neighborhood has been a buzz ever since that happened. We're not told much more than that by the authorities on this scene. And the neighbors only can tell us exactly what they saw earlier this morning. It was quite the commotion, but just across town over and nearby Brookline, Massachusetts, there was a different raid conducted by the same agencies over at a gas station also right outside of Boston. The owner of that gas station tried to talk to him for a few moments after all of that went down. He had nothing to say, and authorities there had little to say as well.

As we've been reporting here on CNN all morning, law enforcement sources have told colleagues like -- of mine like Jeanne Meserve, that a lot of this has to do with the money that changed hands that may have changed hands from different individuals on -- in route to Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in that Times Square bombing, so-called cash couriers, is what law enforcement officials refer to these types, and that is apparently the process that they're in the middle of right now trying to get exactly a sense of what these suspects knew when they were transferring, if they were, in fact, transferring money through the days and months leading up to what happened in Times Square -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so, Jim, you mentioned that the neighbors noticed the activity, the vehicles, the investigators had descended on the neighborhood. Are any of the neighbors saying anything about their surprise, about their observations, of the people who are being questioned, and consequently arrested?

ACOSTA: Well, I can tell you, yes. The neighbors did say that very few of them even knew these guys existed. They had seen them from time to time, but they didn't say very much. In fact, the house that they lived in were told by one neighbor is frequently used by renters and then it changes hands every six months or so from different family, family to family and that sort of thing. And so, really, little is known about these two men who were arrested this morning other than what happened this morning, that there was a very loud commotion, those FBI agents and customs agents came in here and took matters into their own hands very quickly.

These agents, according to the neighbors, were very well armed. Apparently, you know, trying to make sure that they knew exactly what they were getting themselves into in case something were to develop, you know, in case this were to become more serious than it ended up being. You know, according to the neighbors here, this ended very peacefully. The suspects were taken away fairly quickly, and now, agents are on the scene going through the house, pulling the occasional item out of the house and putting it in the back of an FBI truck here that's here processing evidence on the scene -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Again, this is in connection with the investigation involving that failed New York Times Square bombing. Jim Acosta, thanks so much.

Let's go to our national correspondent, Susan Candiotti, who is going to pick up the investigation taking place in New York and how the links are being made -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, we know now that there are also searches being conducted on the eastern part of Long Island here in New York, but additionally, there are now two locations, according to an FBI spokesperson, out of Philadelphia that are being checked out in New Jersey, southern New Jersey. Now, according to a federal law enforcement source, one of those two locations is a print shop in Camden, New Jersey, and the second location is a home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Now, the source says that the home is believed to be owned by the people who are in connection with the print shop in Camden, New Jersey. So, we know now of two additional locations in Southern New Jersey, one in Cherry Hill and one in Camden, New Jersey. Specifically, what they have to do with the series of search warrants that are being conducted, we don't know precisely at this time, but, of course, the information will be coming out eventually.

Right now, we know that whatever they are taking out of these locations, all of these locations, is currently under seal because it relates to that attempted car bombing in Times Square -- Fred. WHITFIELD: All right. Susan Candiotti, thanks so much, coming to us from New York. Appreciate that,

We're going to have much more straight ahead in the NEWSROOM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's take a look at our top stories as we look around the world. His name is Ruben. He's just 9 years old out of Tripoli. Plane crash takes place there. Apparently, he's doing reasonably well. And we understand that he is the sole survivor of that plane crash. And relatives who rushed from Holland to be with him say that he's doing reasonably well. I just mentioned that. A Dutch official says the boy has not been told his parents and older brother are dead. Let's go halfway around the world now.

Let's go to New York where we know a terror investigation is taking place there. Sources are saying that they are carrying out search warrants in three states today, including in New York, all in connection with the failed Times Square bombing case. A source close to the investigation tells CNN that agents are looking for those who finance the Times Square suspect.

And the last major shipbuilder, we're going to go to the west coast now, about 3,000 miles away from New York to San Diego where we understand General Dynamics NASSCO is getting ready to lay off more than 1100 workers probably by this summer.

All right. Afghanistan's president visits Arlington National Cemetery. We'll bring you an intimate look at Section 60.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. MARISSA ALEXANDER, U.S. ARMY: Knowing that this place gives them a happy remembrance of their father rather than something that's so tragic and so sad, that they feel very comfortable to come here and be able to have that time with him and his memory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: It has been called the Saddest Acre in America.

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WHITFIELD: All right. We've shown you the CNN Arlington National Cemetery 0today. Afghanistan's president went there to honor the Americans who gave their lives in his country. The fallen from Afghanistan and Iraq are buried in an area known as Section 60. Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, shows us her report was actually filed last May for Memorial Day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED KID: That's my daddy. BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Captain Marissa Alexander brings Avery and his twin sister, Aleya, here to visit the father they never knew. Staff Sergeant Leroy Alexander was killed before they were born. This is Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. It's been called the Saddest Acre in America. More than 500 troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are here.

ALEXANDER: They need to know what their father was about, have that connection with him.

STARR: Marissa is trying to make Section 60 part of her children's lives.

ALEXANDER: Myself and the children came here, and we released balloons to him. And we explained the story of how he passed.

STARR: Families, buddies, friends come here. They mark their visits leaving stones, notes, pictures, some items reminders of memories we do not know. Angie Capra widowed with five children is visiting husband, Tech Sergeant Tony Capra's grave.

ANGIE CAPRA, WIFE OF FALLEN AIRMAN: Got the news that day. I had talked to him about 12:30 my time. And by 3:30 my time, they were knocking on the door.

STARR: Today, a drawing, and Yoda have been left. Tony was a "Star Wars" fan. With her youngest, Adrianna, Angie is now part of the Section 60 family.

CAPRA: There are widows will come by and put something on for me if they don't see me out there. We're also something (ph) kind of a community.

STARR: Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley just attended a funeral for a fallen soldier. He has other men buried here.

LT. GEN. BENJAMIN FREAKLEY, U.S. ARMY: They're still standing shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters at ranks.

STARR: A place of grieving but a place for young children to learn of parents they never knew.

ALEXANDER: Knowing that this place gives them a happy remembrance of their father rather than something that's so tragic and so sad, that they feel very comfortable to come here and be able to have that time with him and his memory.

STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: OK. We all want to be hip. And that's why Ines Ferre is here following what's hot on the internet. What's going on?

INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right. Well, on CNN.com, we've got Michael Jackson's kids on YouTube. Actually, a source close to the family said that the Jackson kids were on YouTube, these YouTube clips you can see there. That's Blanket Jackson showing off.

WHITFIELD: And not shy.

FERRE: That's right. Not shy at all. And it was on YouTube for two weeks before the family figured that out and took the video off.

WHITFIELD: He did not get consent.

FERRE: No.

And then next one that we're going to is one of the most popular searches today on Google was how old is Bon Jovi. And that's because last night, he performed on "American Idol." And how old is he? 48. 48 years old.

WHITFIELD: He looks good.

FERRE: He looks good, definitely, for 48.

WHITFIELD: He is kind of forever young. Of course, I can't remember Neil -- somebody who wrote that song. I can't. It's been wracking my brain. Anyway.

FERRE: And then the next one from alexa.com and it tracks the most popular pages on the internet. And people are looking at the most expensive homes.

WHITFIELD: Nice.

FERRE: $150 million for this one. This one is going to be my next home.

WHITFIELD: This is fair. No, it's not even fair to have that.

FERRE: I know. I know. Well, you know, you can always --

WHITFIELD: But we can dream.

FERRE: Definitely.

WHITFIELD: And that's what I like to do.

FERRE: Definitely. And that's for the top story (ph).

(LAUGHING)

WHITFIELD: All right. That's a lot of fun. Appreciate that. Thanks, Ines.

FERRE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK. Ali Velshi is also following a lot straight ahead including that terror investigation. He'll be right here straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. That's going to do it for me. Ali Velshi, as you can see right here, is going to take over from here with the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi, Ali.

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Fred, thanks very much. You have a good afternoon.