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CNN Live Saturday
Police Arrest 5 In Connection With Train Bombing; New York Mayor Announces Beefed Up Subway Security; Iran Suspends U.N. Inspections
Aired March 13, 2004 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN SATURDAY is straight ahead, but first these headlines.
The investigation into the biggest terror attack in Spanish history leads the arrest of five people. Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with this week's attack in Madrid. CNN's Brent Sadler will have a live report in just a moment.
In the meantime, Iran responds to criticism from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog. Iran says today's IAEA resolution shows Washington is trying to impose its will on the U.N. agency. The resolution condemns Iran for hiding nuclear activities. Tehran suspended U.N. inspections in response to that resolution.
The secretary of Defense comes under fire over a piece of history. According to a Justice Department report, Donald Rumsfeld has a piece of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. The Defense Department says, it is not a souvenirs but a reminder of what happened on 9/11.
(THEME MUSIC)
LIN: I'm Carol Lin and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Also this hour, information that every parent will want to hear. It could help save the life of a college age son or daughter.
But right now we begin in Spain. Police have detained five people in connection with the country's worst terror attack. Meanwhile, some of the 200 victims of Thursday's bombings are being laid to rest today. Coffins have filled Madrid's two main funeral homes beyond capacity. CNN's Brent Sadler joins us now, by telephone, from Madrid.
Brent, I know you're on the move right now. What happened?
BRENT SADLER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Carol. We've been watching for the past six hours as several thousand protestors have been noisily protesting the government's behavior in how it has been handling this investigation into the terror attacks.
The demonstration, noisy but peaceful, in front of the ruling headquarters of the popular party. Now in the past 20 minutes or so those several thousand people have gone on the march through the center of Madrid, so we're stuck in traffic jam, right now, trying to get to the second location, which is believed to be in the area where Madrid's municipal offices -- at least the headquarters of them are centered.
No reports yet, whether or not all those demonstrators have moved as one block to a second location. But it certainly looks like that way, for the moment. Now, for the past six hours these demonstrators have been noisily protesting as Spain's involvement in the U.S. lead invasion of Iraq a year ago and accusing the government of covering up, trying to hide what they believe is the hand of Islamic terror groups or group behind Thursdays bomb blast on the rail commuter network.
The government has been saying, since then, that they believed it was ETA, the Basque separatist group that was behind the attacks. Although, there was a second line of inquiry into suspected Islamic terror links.
Within the past few hours the interior ministry here has gone on air with a press conference, saying that five people have been arrested; three of them Moroccans, two others Indians, formally arrested that is, but no evidence of any direct links to terror groups or indeed the bombings themselves. In addition to those five, two others, these are of Spanish origin but Indians are being held for questioning not officially arrested.
So many developments, very dramatic developments, Carol, on the eve of the general election vote, which starts in less than nine hours from now.
It is pretty cold this evening, here in Madrid. Many thousands of people on the move and really trying to protest the government's handling of this case and indeed of the government's participation in the war a year ago, and trying to really persuade voters that they should make the ruling popular party suffer for taking part in that U.S. led invasion of Iraq, a year ago, at the political level, here in Spain.
Carol.
LIN: Brent, they managed to snag these suspects in less than 72 hours, what led to their arrests?
SADLER: Well, information was gleaned from a mobile telephone card. The authorities managed to get hold of either a sports bag or a backpack from one of the railway stations, and unexploded device, in that bag was a telephone that may well have been part of the detonation, the triggering system. They examined the phone card and that led them to getting on the trial of these individuals -- five of whom, three Moroccans, two Indians -- have been arrested and are under investigation, under interrogation, right now, Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Brent Sadler, trying to move through the streets of Madrid.
All right, well who is to blame for the carnage on Spanish rail lines. Five people have been detained, as Brent was reporting, but police say they are investigating all avenues and are not ruling out any militant group, national or international.
Marco Vincenzino is the deputy executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the U.S. and he joins me live from Washington, with his insight.
Thank you very much for being here.
MARCO VINCENZINO, CNN INT'L. INST. FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, U.S.: Good evening.
LIN: You've heard the profile of these five suspects. Who do you think is responsible?
VINCENZINO: Well so far -- a lot of it -- it's difficult to say at the present time. There are various possibilities. First of all, the government was pointing to the E.T.A., to ETA, but if you look at ETA's operations, previously, in the past three decades, they usually operated by targeted assassinations and car bombs, with usually a handful of dead.
The biggest that they ever hit was in the late '80s, with a supermarket in Barcelona, 21 people dead. But there was a huge outcry and they lost a lot of support. There are many people in the Basque region who sympathize with their cause. So, to do something of this nature I think would be basically political suicide for them.
Another possibility is usually a splinter group of young radicals from E.T.A. who might have taken things into their own hands. In the last two years French and Spanish authorities have cooperated and it has led to many arrests on both sides of the border, of E.T.A. members, in France and in Spain. So this could possibly be a reaction. But even that, once again, it would amount political suicide for these groups.
That leaves an Al Qaeda affiliate. As we know, all the signs of classic Al Qaeda. Very meticulous planning, coordinated, it is a massive attack. The only thing that was lacking here was a suicide bomber. But the thing is that might just be a temporary change in tactics. So, I think at the present time, the likelihood, a strong likelihood this was Al Qaeda affiliation.
But in addition to that there is also to consider collusion. Some people have talked about that. But that is something that one has to doubt greatly also, because Al Qaeda always independently from other groups. It's greatest fear is to be infiltrated and penetrated. To do so, to mix with another group within Europe would open that possibility. And on the side of the E.T.A., once again, if they were to be associated with Al Qaeda in any way, once again, that would be just -- whatever support they have from any sympathizers would ...
LIN: So, perhaps, Marco, you are raising more questions than answers. I mean, what is your experience tell you?
VINCENZINO: Yes, my conclusion, my conclusion basically this was an Al Qaeda affiliate. Maybe not direct participation from the command and control structure, the pre-9/11 command and control structure, two thirds of that which has already been captured and killed.
But this is classic associate, an affiliate group of Al Qaeda. They lived in Spain for probably a while, have mixed in with the population, you have a large Arab and North African presence within Spain. So, they have basically been there for awhile. Recruited locally, from the local community, and as I said, everything points to a strong Al Qaeda affiliation on this one.
LIN: Well, certainly, I mean what do you make of the spectacular nature of how this was orchestrated?
VINCENZINO: I mean, that is classic Al Qaeda. I mean we look at all the -- look at 2003, we had the bombings in Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. This fits a pattern. The only difference between this one and pre-9/11 attacks is the soft targets and the hard targets.
Everything pre-9/11, the bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa, the hitting of the USS Cole, and culminating into 9/11, those are all classic hard targets. Everything since then has been soft targets, which might point to a limited flexibility and some sort of weakness in the operational sphere for Al Qaeda.
They haven't hit a hard target since 9/11. So that leaves one to question, although many people at large think that they are very effective, from a real security perspective, if you look at their targets and they have not hit one target since then. They have hit soft targets with high volumes and high concentrations of innocent civilians.
LIN: All right. Well, in the meantime, what do you make of the fact that the police were at least to get a lucky break, but they managed to apparently crack this in less than three days.
VINCENZINO: Well, that is a strong term you are using there. I mean saying to "crack" it. It seems like it is a possibility, they might have cracked it; but still you have to give a bit more time. The investigation still has to go on. You cannot rule out any possibility.
LIN: What other possibilities would there be? I mean, they found a cell phone device, in a backpack loaded with explosives. They were able to trace from the cell phone records to at least a couple of these suspects?
VINCENZINO: Well, you have to question, how did they exactly reach these suspects? It is something that people want to jump to conclusions. I mean, these things take some time to really reach --I'd say within 48 hours we should have a clearer idea. But to get something -- to jump to conclusions so quickly within 72 hours, I think is jumping the gun a bit.
I think by Monday, Tuesday, they will be able to reach a proper conclusion. If these individuals are the three or the five that they have taken into custody.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much. VINCENZINO: Thank you.
LIN: Marco Vincenzino, deputy executive director of the International Institute.
Well, security has been stepped up here in the United States following those bombings. New York City, for example, Mayor Michael Bloomberg says even more safety measures are in place for the city's subway system.
Bloomberg tells CNN's the Capital Gang: Life must go on despite potential threats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK CITY: The truth of the matter is it is a dangerous world. But the average person has a lot more chance of being struck by lightening than terrorism.
And the one thing I know for sure, the way to let the terrorists win is to let them alter our lifestyle, to let them take away our freedoms by not firing any shots, or firing only a few shots. You've got to stand up for terrorism. We have seen that in Israel. We've seen that every place, throughout this world. Terrorist win if the rest of us are cowards.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: More European countries are concerned their citizens will be come targets of terror. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is calling the threat, the new menace of our time. CNN's Robyn Curnow reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As Spaniards bury their dead, other European countries look on and ask the question: Are we next?
British authorities warning ever since 9/11 that a terrorist attack on British soil is not a question of if, but when.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We will not defeat it by hoping it will leave us alone or by hiding away. We must be prepared for them to strike whenever and however they can.
CURNOW: Resigned to an ever present threat, Tony Blair remains defiant.
BLAIR: We will match their determination with our own. We will be as resolute as they are fanatical; as strong in defense of good, as they are hell-bent on doing evil.
CURNOW: After Madrid, many governments rethinking their security strategies. Determined to protect their own citizens from similar horrors. France has raised it terror alert level and called in the military to provide extra protection for public transport. The Greeks are strengthening their security plan for the August Olympics in Athens, asking NATO to help out. And in Italy, police and local authorities also on high alert.
The Germans, though, are not acting as concerned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The situation in Germany hasn't changed. It doesn't affect Germany.
CURNOW: The affects of the Madrid bombings continue to be felt throughout Europe.
(on camera): After terrorists threats in Kenya and Tanzania, New York and Washington, Bali and Istanbul, now the threat is closer to home for Europeans. After watching the horrors of the Madrid bombings unfold so near to them many Europeans now starkly reminded that they too are vulnerable.
Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: For more on the terror investigation in Spain you can use our website to say up to date. Just log on to CNN.com.
Piecing together a bizarre murder mystery.
Charges are coming for a dad suspected of killing nine people, seven of them children, possibility all of them his own. I'm Miguel Marquez in Fresno, California. I'll have a live report.
LIN: We'll see you shortly, Miguel. Also, another student lost to suicide. Is the problem growing on college campuses? We're going to find out. And John Kerry back on the campaign trail today, this time issuing another challenge to President Bush. Details coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: This hour's top stories, Spain detained five in the investigation into the Thursday's train bombing. Fresno police hold a dad in the death of the nine of his children. Two Pittsburgh firefighters are missing after a burning church collapses.
And that story in Fresno, California, police are investigating the gruesome killings of nine people. The bodies of a woman, a teenager, and seven children were found piled up in a man's home. CNN's Miguel Marquez is live in Fresno with the latest on this story.
Miguel, we're waiting for a news conference that is happening in about 45 minutes. What have you learned so far?
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it seems that investigators are starting to work their way through this case. Marcus Wesson is still here at Fresno Police, being talked to and questioned by investigators. But a public information officer with Fresno Police tells CNN that he will be charged this afternoon. In about 45 minutes, during that press conference, the sheriff will announce at least nine counts of homicide against the 57-year-old Marcus Wesson, for the deaths of those nine people. One adult, one teenager, and seven younger children, we understand.
The autopsies on all of those individuals are still ongoing and the exact cause of death has not been determined but police still feel that they can bring charges against Mr. Wesson.
This all started yesterday as a child custody called, two women went to pick up their children at the house. Mr. Wesson refused to give the children up. It has become a question as to what exactly his relationship was with these women and with those children.
A friend, business associate, of Mr. Wesson says basically he had a polygamist relationship with several of the women he lived with.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Well, originally he represented that he was just an advisor to them as far as the reconstruction of the house. It later turned out that he was actually intimate with what I had noticed two or three of the women, which raised some concerns in my mind about them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Now, one other thing that investigators are looking at is sort of a cult behavior on the part of Mr. Wesson and these several women and several children that he lived with. One friend of the family saying that they always wore black, sort of a Muslim type dress, but also said that they didn't seem to have any sort of specific religion. That he seemed to make up his own religion and that the women and the children, essentially, adherence to it.
Investigators also telling CNN that the arraignment could come as soon as Monday or Tuesday.
Carol.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Miguel Marquez, reporting live in Fresno, California, where we're going to be hearing from police in about 42 minutes.
In the meantime, Fresno police are -- well as I just said are about to hold a new conference at 7 p.m. Eastern, on the case. We're going to bring it to you live as soon as it happens.
In some other news across America, in Battle Creek, Michigan, two people are dead and another injured in a shooting at Kellogg Community College. Police are looking at video from surveillance cameras near the sight of this morning's shooting. The victims were found in a parked car on campus.
In McKinney, Texas, four people are found shot in the head. Three of them died. Police are looking for a truck believed to have been taken during the shooting last night.
And in Tennessee, a teen's stand off with police ends with his own death. Police in Loudon County say 16-year-old Michael Harvey was found with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The teen held authorities at bay since yesterday after allegedly killing a sheriff's deputy.
A campaign slug against a political rival, President Bush takes aim at the economic policies being touted by John Kerry. We have the latest from the campaign trial.
And we'll examine a disturbing trend, why is suicide the second leading cause of death among college-age students? Details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Every year students head to college campuses across the country, leaving friends and family behind and adjusting to a new environment. That can all be pretty tough, and sometimes it can be too tough.
Many people were shocked this week by a "New York Post" photo, we're showing it to you there, to get an idea. That is an NYU student plunging to her death. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. But some people are fighting to change that. Here is our Adaori Udoji.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The pain for Philip and Donna Satow's family was indescribable after their youngest son, Jed, committed suicide.
DONNA SATOW, FOUNDER: I didn't see the signs.
UDOJI: Searching for answers they were shocked to discover their 20-year-old college student had shown signs of depression.
DONNA SATOW: My son did not indicate to us that he was not sleeping for example, but his friends at school noticed that he was not.
UDOJI: Depression, they learned, is a contributing factor of suicide, which they also learned is the second leading cause of death for college students.
(on camera): Realizing that so many parents and students don't know these facts, the Satow's launched the Jed Foundation, dedicated to lifted the stigma associated with mental illness and raising awareness.
(voice over): Nationwide the Jed Foundation projects more than 1,000 students will commit suicide this year. An American College Health Association survey reports, 22 percent of students have suffered depression so severe at times they could not function. That almost 10 percent have seriously considered suicide. Dr. Herbert Herdin of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
DR. HERBERT HERDIN, AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: It is making the schools do something, is not going to come from organizations like ours. It may come much more from the young people themselves and the schools and the pressure that they are exerting.
UDOJI: From young people, like Allison Malmen (ph), after her brother, a talented student committed suicide, she formed Active Minds at the University of Pennsylvania.
ALLISON MALMEN, ACTIVE MINDS: I just think it is important for students to be aware of their mental health and be aware of their friends mental and not be afraid to talk to their friends or talk to somebody.
UDOJI: Malmen (ph), like the Satows, says it must be a collaborative effort. Schools must allocate precious resources, teachers, counselors, coaches, must participate. That information on the Internet is critical. The Satow's "New Lifeline", links students to programs at over 300 schools.
PHILIP SATOW, FOUNDER: Students can, on their own, gather some information, have questions answered.
UDOJI: Gather information to shine light on these lonely diseases to prevent what can be the terrible consequences.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, there are a lot of different reasons why kids might get depressed, so depressed that they're willing to kill themselves. We want to talk a little bit about this and the warning signs. Dr. Morton Silverman is an expert on suicide prevention in Chicago. He's also on the board of the Jed Foundation, Adaora Udoji just mentioned.
Dr. Silverman, it is good to see you, because I'm sure, just that picture alone, of the "New York Post" told a story that went untold for so long. Why is it that these kids are so willing to kill themselves? Why has life gotten to be more than they can bear?
DR. MORTON SILVERMAN, SUICIDE PREV. RESOURCE CNTR.: Well, I think what is happening is that more and more students are coming to college these days with histories of psychiatric problems and psychological problems.
And the universities and colleges are a little behind in gearing up to provide the range of supports that the students need. They are very far behind --
LIN: So, it is not the pressure that they're feeling in school? I mean, it is not something, a dynamic that happens when they hit campus and suddenly they're on their own or they can't handle the pressure of testing? It is something that they actually arrive on to campus with, an undiagnosed illness?
SILVERMAN: Well, either undiagnosed or previously treated but students will often come to college and decide not to continue taking their medications or decide that they really don't need to continue with the treatment that they had received prior to coming to college or they won't notify the appropriate authorities that they're in need of continue care. And that then raises their risk.
LIN: So, what do parents need to know then? How do you see the warning signs? How can you be proactive?
SILVERMAN: Well, what parents need to be aware of is they need to listen very carefully to their sons and daughters about the kinds of problems and challenges that they are facing when they arrive at campus.
LIN: What should they be listening for?
SILVERMAN: They should be listening for things like signs and symptoms of depression: Inability to cope with new stresses and strains; difficulties dealing with roommates; changes in usual behaviors, sleeping patterns, eating patterns; difficulty with getting to class on a regular basis. Things of that nature.
LIN: And what's the difference between feeling like your kid is just adjusting to, you know, being away from home and college life and that clinical depression where they might be willing to take their life. What are the true specific warning signs?
SILVERMAN: Well, the true specific warning signs are things that include feeling hopeless; changes in eating patterns and sleeping patterns; in preoccupation with death and dying. Other symptoms such as feeling hopeless and feeling worthless, feeling guilty, feeling fatigued and unable to function in a normal situation.
LIN: Let's say the parents aren't even ...
SILVERMAN: Losing any life -- excuse me? I'm sorry.
LIN: And what happens if for example, a lot of parents aren't anywhere near their kids. You know this is a conversation that is happening over the telephone?
SILVERMAN: Right. And so what they need to do is to listen for failures or inability to cope on a regular basis.
LIN: Right.
SILVERMAN: Or a loss of interest in usual activities, such as a social life, such as hobbies, such as any joy in being at school in the first place.
LIN: And then do what? What can they do?
SILVERMAN: Well, any number of things. One, they can notify the appropriate school authorities that they have concerns about their son or daughter, whether it is the dean of students or whether it is the resident hall system, or a college advisor or the counseling center, itself, which is always prepared to talk with parents, confidentially, provide them with information, as long as it doesn't breach the confidentiality if the student is in fact already in treatment.
LIN: Well, let's hope you have offered some comfort and some clear advice for the parents out there who may see the warning signs already.
Thank you very much, Dr. Silverman.
SILVERMAN: You are welcome.
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Mayor Announces Beefed Up Subway Security; Iran Suspends U.N. Inspections>
Aired March 13, 2004 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN SATURDAY is straight ahead, but first these headlines.
The investigation into the biggest terror attack in Spanish history leads the arrest of five people. Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with this week's attack in Madrid. CNN's Brent Sadler will have a live report in just a moment.
In the meantime, Iran responds to criticism from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog. Iran says today's IAEA resolution shows Washington is trying to impose its will on the U.N. agency. The resolution condemns Iran for hiding nuclear activities. Tehran suspended U.N. inspections in response to that resolution.
The secretary of Defense comes under fire over a piece of history. According to a Justice Department report, Donald Rumsfeld has a piece of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. The Defense Department says, it is not a souvenirs but a reminder of what happened on 9/11.
(THEME MUSIC)
LIN: I'm Carol Lin and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Also this hour, information that every parent will want to hear. It could help save the life of a college age son or daughter.
But right now we begin in Spain. Police have detained five people in connection with the country's worst terror attack. Meanwhile, some of the 200 victims of Thursday's bombings are being laid to rest today. Coffins have filled Madrid's two main funeral homes beyond capacity. CNN's Brent Sadler joins us now, by telephone, from Madrid.
Brent, I know you're on the move right now. What happened?
BRENT SADLER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Carol. We've been watching for the past six hours as several thousand protestors have been noisily protesting the government's behavior in how it has been handling this investigation into the terror attacks.
The demonstration, noisy but peaceful, in front of the ruling headquarters of the popular party. Now in the past 20 minutes or so those several thousand people have gone on the march through the center of Madrid, so we're stuck in traffic jam, right now, trying to get to the second location, which is believed to be in the area where Madrid's municipal offices -- at least the headquarters of them are centered.
No reports yet, whether or not all those demonstrators have moved as one block to a second location. But it certainly looks like that way, for the moment. Now, for the past six hours these demonstrators have been noisily protesting as Spain's involvement in the U.S. lead invasion of Iraq a year ago and accusing the government of covering up, trying to hide what they believe is the hand of Islamic terror groups or group behind Thursdays bomb blast on the rail commuter network.
The government has been saying, since then, that they believed it was ETA, the Basque separatist group that was behind the attacks. Although, there was a second line of inquiry into suspected Islamic terror links.
Within the past few hours the interior ministry here has gone on air with a press conference, saying that five people have been arrested; three of them Moroccans, two others Indians, formally arrested that is, but no evidence of any direct links to terror groups or indeed the bombings themselves. In addition to those five, two others, these are of Spanish origin but Indians are being held for questioning not officially arrested.
So many developments, very dramatic developments, Carol, on the eve of the general election vote, which starts in less than nine hours from now.
It is pretty cold this evening, here in Madrid. Many thousands of people on the move and really trying to protest the government's handling of this case and indeed of the government's participation in the war a year ago, and trying to really persuade voters that they should make the ruling popular party suffer for taking part in that U.S. led invasion of Iraq, a year ago, at the political level, here in Spain.
Carol.
LIN: Brent, they managed to snag these suspects in less than 72 hours, what led to their arrests?
SADLER: Well, information was gleaned from a mobile telephone card. The authorities managed to get hold of either a sports bag or a backpack from one of the railway stations, and unexploded device, in that bag was a telephone that may well have been part of the detonation, the triggering system. They examined the phone card and that led them to getting on the trial of these individuals -- five of whom, three Moroccans, two Indians -- have been arrested and are under investigation, under interrogation, right now, Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Brent Sadler, trying to move through the streets of Madrid.
All right, well who is to blame for the carnage on Spanish rail lines. Five people have been detained, as Brent was reporting, but police say they are investigating all avenues and are not ruling out any militant group, national or international.
Marco Vincenzino is the deputy executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the U.S. and he joins me live from Washington, with his insight.
Thank you very much for being here.
MARCO VINCENZINO, CNN INT'L. INST. FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, U.S.: Good evening.
LIN: You've heard the profile of these five suspects. Who do you think is responsible?
VINCENZINO: Well so far -- a lot of it -- it's difficult to say at the present time. There are various possibilities. First of all, the government was pointing to the E.T.A., to ETA, but if you look at ETA's operations, previously, in the past three decades, they usually operated by targeted assassinations and car bombs, with usually a handful of dead.
The biggest that they ever hit was in the late '80s, with a supermarket in Barcelona, 21 people dead. But there was a huge outcry and they lost a lot of support. There are many people in the Basque region who sympathize with their cause. So, to do something of this nature I think would be basically political suicide for them.
Another possibility is usually a splinter group of young radicals from E.T.A. who might have taken things into their own hands. In the last two years French and Spanish authorities have cooperated and it has led to many arrests on both sides of the border, of E.T.A. members, in France and in Spain. So this could possibly be a reaction. But even that, once again, it would amount political suicide for these groups.
That leaves an Al Qaeda affiliate. As we know, all the signs of classic Al Qaeda. Very meticulous planning, coordinated, it is a massive attack. The only thing that was lacking here was a suicide bomber. But the thing is that might just be a temporary change in tactics. So, I think at the present time, the likelihood, a strong likelihood this was Al Qaeda affiliation.
But in addition to that there is also to consider collusion. Some people have talked about that. But that is something that one has to doubt greatly also, because Al Qaeda always independently from other groups. It's greatest fear is to be infiltrated and penetrated. To do so, to mix with another group within Europe would open that possibility. And on the side of the E.T.A., once again, if they were to be associated with Al Qaeda in any way, once again, that would be just -- whatever support they have from any sympathizers would ...
LIN: So, perhaps, Marco, you are raising more questions than answers. I mean, what is your experience tell you?
VINCENZINO: Yes, my conclusion, my conclusion basically this was an Al Qaeda affiliate. Maybe not direct participation from the command and control structure, the pre-9/11 command and control structure, two thirds of that which has already been captured and killed.
But this is classic associate, an affiliate group of Al Qaeda. They lived in Spain for probably a while, have mixed in with the population, you have a large Arab and North African presence within Spain. So, they have basically been there for awhile. Recruited locally, from the local community, and as I said, everything points to a strong Al Qaeda affiliation on this one.
LIN: Well, certainly, I mean what do you make of the spectacular nature of how this was orchestrated?
VINCENZINO: I mean, that is classic Al Qaeda. I mean we look at all the -- look at 2003, we had the bombings in Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. This fits a pattern. The only difference between this one and pre-9/11 attacks is the soft targets and the hard targets.
Everything pre-9/11, the bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa, the hitting of the USS Cole, and culminating into 9/11, those are all classic hard targets. Everything since then has been soft targets, which might point to a limited flexibility and some sort of weakness in the operational sphere for Al Qaeda.
They haven't hit a hard target since 9/11. So that leaves one to question, although many people at large think that they are very effective, from a real security perspective, if you look at their targets and they have not hit one target since then. They have hit soft targets with high volumes and high concentrations of innocent civilians.
LIN: All right. Well, in the meantime, what do you make of the fact that the police were at least to get a lucky break, but they managed to apparently crack this in less than three days.
VINCENZINO: Well, that is a strong term you are using there. I mean saying to "crack" it. It seems like it is a possibility, they might have cracked it; but still you have to give a bit more time. The investigation still has to go on. You cannot rule out any possibility.
LIN: What other possibilities would there be? I mean, they found a cell phone device, in a backpack loaded with explosives. They were able to trace from the cell phone records to at least a couple of these suspects?
VINCENZINO: Well, you have to question, how did they exactly reach these suspects? It is something that people want to jump to conclusions. I mean, these things take some time to really reach --I'd say within 48 hours we should have a clearer idea. But to get something -- to jump to conclusions so quickly within 72 hours, I think is jumping the gun a bit.
I think by Monday, Tuesday, they will be able to reach a proper conclusion. If these individuals are the three or the five that they have taken into custody.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much. VINCENZINO: Thank you.
LIN: Marco Vincenzino, deputy executive director of the International Institute.
Well, security has been stepped up here in the United States following those bombings. New York City, for example, Mayor Michael Bloomberg says even more safety measures are in place for the city's subway system.
Bloomberg tells CNN's the Capital Gang: Life must go on despite potential threats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (R), NEW YORK CITY: The truth of the matter is it is a dangerous world. But the average person has a lot more chance of being struck by lightening than terrorism.
And the one thing I know for sure, the way to let the terrorists win is to let them alter our lifestyle, to let them take away our freedoms by not firing any shots, or firing only a few shots. You've got to stand up for terrorism. We have seen that in Israel. We've seen that every place, throughout this world. Terrorist win if the rest of us are cowards.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: More European countries are concerned their citizens will be come targets of terror. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is calling the threat, the new menace of our time. CNN's Robyn Curnow reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As Spaniards bury their dead, other European countries look on and ask the question: Are we next?
British authorities warning ever since 9/11 that a terrorist attack on British soil is not a question of if, but when.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We will not defeat it by hoping it will leave us alone or by hiding away. We must be prepared for them to strike whenever and however they can.
CURNOW: Resigned to an ever present threat, Tony Blair remains defiant.
BLAIR: We will match their determination with our own. We will be as resolute as they are fanatical; as strong in defense of good, as they are hell-bent on doing evil.
CURNOW: After Madrid, many governments rethinking their security strategies. Determined to protect their own citizens from similar horrors. France has raised it terror alert level and called in the military to provide extra protection for public transport. The Greeks are strengthening their security plan for the August Olympics in Athens, asking NATO to help out. And in Italy, police and local authorities also on high alert.
The Germans, though, are not acting as concerned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The situation in Germany hasn't changed. It doesn't affect Germany.
CURNOW: The affects of the Madrid bombings continue to be felt throughout Europe.
(on camera): After terrorists threats in Kenya and Tanzania, New York and Washington, Bali and Istanbul, now the threat is closer to home for Europeans. After watching the horrors of the Madrid bombings unfold so near to them many Europeans now starkly reminded that they too are vulnerable.
Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: For more on the terror investigation in Spain you can use our website to say up to date. Just log on to CNN.com.
Piecing together a bizarre murder mystery.
Charges are coming for a dad suspected of killing nine people, seven of them children, possibility all of them his own. I'm Miguel Marquez in Fresno, California. I'll have a live report.
LIN: We'll see you shortly, Miguel. Also, another student lost to suicide. Is the problem growing on college campuses? We're going to find out. And John Kerry back on the campaign trail today, this time issuing another challenge to President Bush. Details coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: This hour's top stories, Spain detained five in the investigation into the Thursday's train bombing. Fresno police hold a dad in the death of the nine of his children. Two Pittsburgh firefighters are missing after a burning church collapses.
And that story in Fresno, California, police are investigating the gruesome killings of nine people. The bodies of a woman, a teenager, and seven children were found piled up in a man's home. CNN's Miguel Marquez is live in Fresno with the latest on this story.
Miguel, we're waiting for a news conference that is happening in about 45 minutes. What have you learned so far?
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it seems that investigators are starting to work their way through this case. Marcus Wesson is still here at Fresno Police, being talked to and questioned by investigators. But a public information officer with Fresno Police tells CNN that he will be charged this afternoon. In about 45 minutes, during that press conference, the sheriff will announce at least nine counts of homicide against the 57-year-old Marcus Wesson, for the deaths of those nine people. One adult, one teenager, and seven younger children, we understand.
The autopsies on all of those individuals are still ongoing and the exact cause of death has not been determined but police still feel that they can bring charges against Mr. Wesson.
This all started yesterday as a child custody called, two women went to pick up their children at the house. Mr. Wesson refused to give the children up. It has become a question as to what exactly his relationship was with these women and with those children.
A friend, business associate, of Mr. Wesson says basically he had a polygamist relationship with several of the women he lived with.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Well, originally he represented that he was just an advisor to them as far as the reconstruction of the house. It later turned out that he was actually intimate with what I had noticed two or three of the women, which raised some concerns in my mind about them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Now, one other thing that investigators are looking at is sort of a cult behavior on the part of Mr. Wesson and these several women and several children that he lived with. One friend of the family saying that they always wore black, sort of a Muslim type dress, but also said that they didn't seem to have any sort of specific religion. That he seemed to make up his own religion and that the women and the children, essentially, adherence to it.
Investigators also telling CNN that the arraignment could come as soon as Monday or Tuesday.
Carol.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Miguel Marquez, reporting live in Fresno, California, where we're going to be hearing from police in about 42 minutes.
In the meantime, Fresno police are -- well as I just said are about to hold a new conference at 7 p.m. Eastern, on the case. We're going to bring it to you live as soon as it happens.
In some other news across America, in Battle Creek, Michigan, two people are dead and another injured in a shooting at Kellogg Community College. Police are looking at video from surveillance cameras near the sight of this morning's shooting. The victims were found in a parked car on campus.
In McKinney, Texas, four people are found shot in the head. Three of them died. Police are looking for a truck believed to have been taken during the shooting last night.
And in Tennessee, a teen's stand off with police ends with his own death. Police in Loudon County say 16-year-old Michael Harvey was found with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The teen held authorities at bay since yesterday after allegedly killing a sheriff's deputy.
A campaign slug against a political rival, President Bush takes aim at the economic policies being touted by John Kerry. We have the latest from the campaign trial.
And we'll examine a disturbing trend, why is suicide the second leading cause of death among college-age students? Details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Every year students head to college campuses across the country, leaving friends and family behind and adjusting to a new environment. That can all be pretty tough, and sometimes it can be too tough.
Many people were shocked this week by a "New York Post" photo, we're showing it to you there, to get an idea. That is an NYU student plunging to her death. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. But some people are fighting to change that. Here is our Adaori Udoji.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The pain for Philip and Donna Satow's family was indescribable after their youngest son, Jed, committed suicide.
DONNA SATOW, FOUNDER: I didn't see the signs.
UDOJI: Searching for answers they were shocked to discover their 20-year-old college student had shown signs of depression.
DONNA SATOW: My son did not indicate to us that he was not sleeping for example, but his friends at school noticed that he was not.
UDOJI: Depression, they learned, is a contributing factor of suicide, which they also learned is the second leading cause of death for college students.
(on camera): Realizing that so many parents and students don't know these facts, the Satow's launched the Jed Foundation, dedicated to lifted the stigma associated with mental illness and raising awareness.
(voice over): Nationwide the Jed Foundation projects more than 1,000 students will commit suicide this year. An American College Health Association survey reports, 22 percent of students have suffered depression so severe at times they could not function. That almost 10 percent have seriously considered suicide. Dr. Herbert Herdin of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
DR. HERBERT HERDIN, AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: It is making the schools do something, is not going to come from organizations like ours. It may come much more from the young people themselves and the schools and the pressure that they are exerting.
UDOJI: From young people, like Allison Malmen (ph), after her brother, a talented student committed suicide, she formed Active Minds at the University of Pennsylvania.
ALLISON MALMEN, ACTIVE MINDS: I just think it is important for students to be aware of their mental health and be aware of their friends mental and not be afraid to talk to their friends or talk to somebody.
UDOJI: Malmen (ph), like the Satows, says it must be a collaborative effort. Schools must allocate precious resources, teachers, counselors, coaches, must participate. That information on the Internet is critical. The Satow's "New Lifeline", links students to programs at over 300 schools.
PHILIP SATOW, FOUNDER: Students can, on their own, gather some information, have questions answered.
UDOJI: Gather information to shine light on these lonely diseases to prevent what can be the terrible consequences.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Well, there are a lot of different reasons why kids might get depressed, so depressed that they're willing to kill themselves. We want to talk a little bit about this and the warning signs. Dr. Morton Silverman is an expert on suicide prevention in Chicago. He's also on the board of the Jed Foundation, Adaora Udoji just mentioned.
Dr. Silverman, it is good to see you, because I'm sure, just that picture alone, of the "New York Post" told a story that went untold for so long. Why is it that these kids are so willing to kill themselves? Why has life gotten to be more than they can bear?
DR. MORTON SILVERMAN, SUICIDE PREV. RESOURCE CNTR.: Well, I think what is happening is that more and more students are coming to college these days with histories of psychiatric problems and psychological problems.
And the universities and colleges are a little behind in gearing up to provide the range of supports that the students need. They are very far behind --
LIN: So, it is not the pressure that they're feeling in school? I mean, it is not something, a dynamic that happens when they hit campus and suddenly they're on their own or they can't handle the pressure of testing? It is something that they actually arrive on to campus with, an undiagnosed illness?
SILVERMAN: Well, either undiagnosed or previously treated but students will often come to college and decide not to continue taking their medications or decide that they really don't need to continue with the treatment that they had received prior to coming to college or they won't notify the appropriate authorities that they're in need of continue care. And that then raises their risk.
LIN: So, what do parents need to know then? How do you see the warning signs? How can you be proactive?
SILVERMAN: Well, what parents need to be aware of is they need to listen very carefully to their sons and daughters about the kinds of problems and challenges that they are facing when they arrive at campus.
LIN: What should they be listening for?
SILVERMAN: They should be listening for things like signs and symptoms of depression: Inability to cope with new stresses and strains; difficulties dealing with roommates; changes in usual behaviors, sleeping patterns, eating patterns; difficulty with getting to class on a regular basis. Things of that nature.
LIN: And what's the difference between feeling like your kid is just adjusting to, you know, being away from home and college life and that clinical depression where they might be willing to take their life. What are the true specific warning signs?
SILVERMAN: Well, the true specific warning signs are things that include feeling hopeless; changes in eating patterns and sleeping patterns; in preoccupation with death and dying. Other symptoms such as feeling hopeless and feeling worthless, feeling guilty, feeling fatigued and unable to function in a normal situation.
LIN: Let's say the parents aren't even ...
SILVERMAN: Losing any life -- excuse me? I'm sorry.
LIN: And what happens if for example, a lot of parents aren't anywhere near their kids. You know this is a conversation that is happening over the telephone?
SILVERMAN: Right. And so what they need to do is to listen for failures or inability to cope on a regular basis.
LIN: Right.
SILVERMAN: Or a loss of interest in usual activities, such as a social life, such as hobbies, such as any joy in being at school in the first place.
LIN: And then do what? What can they do?
SILVERMAN: Well, any number of things. One, they can notify the appropriate school authorities that they have concerns about their son or daughter, whether it is the dean of students or whether it is the resident hall system, or a college advisor or the counseling center, itself, which is always prepared to talk with parents, confidentially, provide them with information, as long as it doesn't breach the confidentiality if the student is in fact already in treatment.
LIN: Well, let's hope you have offered some comfort and some clear advice for the parents out there who may see the warning signs already.
Thank you very much, Dr. Silverman.
SILVERMAN: You are welcome.
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