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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Examining Potential Clues in the Boston Bombings; Thatcher Funeral Gets Underway
Aired April 17, 2013 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Potential new clues in the Boston Marathon bombings this morning, including our very first look at the mingled remains of an explosive device that was rigged to inflict maximum damage here.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Twenty-nine-year-old Krystle Campbell died right near the marathon finish line, her mother simply heartbroken.
PATTY CAMPBELL, KRYSTLE'S MOTHER: She was a wonderful person. Everybody that knew her loved her.
BERMAN (voice-over): The family was initially told that Krystle had survived.
BALDWIN (voice-over): And the sweet signature tune for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park turns up, of all places, at Yankee Stadium on the playlist last night, a night everyone was rooting for Boston.
Wow. Goose bumps, goose bumps watching that and other stadiums around the country.
Good Wednesday morning and a welcome to a special edition of EARLY START. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. We are live in Boston. It is 5:00 am in the East.
New developments in the Boston Marathon bombings to tell you about this morning. Investigators tracking down some 2,000 leads -- 2,000 and examining chilling new photos, these photos just released overnight, showing the remains of one of the detonated devices. They show wires, they show a battery and bits of what appears to be a circuit board.
The news agency Reuters says a government official who did not want to be identified shared these photos overnight, along with images of a mangled pressure cooker. Now in one photo, you can see what appears to be a cluster of BBs. Those BBs likely fused together by the heat of the blast. Doctors, of course, saying they were finding BBs and nails in the legs of patients. The FBI also saying a second bomb was in some type of metal container.
BALDWIN: We're going to talk about those pictures and the investigation. Also new this morning, Boston area hospitals have now released many of those 183 people injured in Monday's attack. At least 100 of them now out.
BERMAN: That's good news.
BALDWIN: Great news. Great news here.
We are also learning more about the third person, though, who was killed, a Chinese graduate student who was studying here at Boston University. Of course, we are respecting her wishes -- I should say her family's wishes, not releasing her name at this point.
BERMAN: Just shows you this is an international tragedy.
BALDWIN: All around the world -- and back to those 2,000 tips, also coming in globally.
We have every new development in the Boston Marathon investigation here, covered for you this morning, multiple reporters out and about: Pamela Brown with the city's response to the terror attacks; also senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen live this morning at Brigham & Women's Hospital, with an update on the injured.
But we want to begin with Susan Candiotti, tracking the latest on this FBI probe, so much to talk about, new pictures this morning, Susan, of this badly damaged pressure cooker here.
What can you tell us?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Brooke. Well, you know, these bits and pieces are so crucial to investigators because not only will they take them to try to piece these explosive devices, homemade devices back together again through working on them at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia -- they're already doing that now -- but they will also be able to try to trace back each and every component, possibly even to where these things were bought so they can try to figure out who did this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Crime scene photos show part of what could be a pressure cooker used in the bombings. Others show charred wire attached to a battery, what appears to be a small circuit board, a half-inch nail and a bloodstained zipper pull tab.
Another shows what looks like are massive ball bearings -- BBs intended as deadly shrapnel. Investigators are also combing through hundreds of photos from the scene, including this one where a light- colored bag sits next to a mailbox.
The before-and-after images capture its proximity to one of the two blast locations. Authorities are scrutinizing every lead. The FBI needs help; after all, someone knows who did it.
RICK DESLAURIERS, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: The person who did this is someone's friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Crime scene technicians also found gunpowder residue. Analysts say when the gunpowder was ignited inside the metal container, pressure built up, which caused the container to explode.
MIKE BOUCHARD, FORMER ATF OFFICIAL: And of course, in a crowd like this, since it was so tightly packed with people, those people took the brunt of the explosion and all the projectiles.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): A pressure cooker was part of a homemade bomb inside an SUV that fizzled in Times Square 2010, planted by admitted lone wolf terrorist Faisal Shahzad, now in prison.
In Boston, authorities are convinced they'll solve the case, but as of now, have no clue who is behind it.
DESLAURIERS: At this time there are no claims of responsibility. The range of suspects and motives remains wide open.
CANDIOTTI: And that's why, despite all the FBI's expertise, and they're working very hard to solve this terrorist case, they still desperately need the public's help to try to figure out who was behind this terrorist attack. Brooke?
BALDWIN: Susan Candiotti for us, Susan, thank you.
You know, they're looking for the public's help, but also looking at, as she mentioned, the insignia, the pieces that says 6L on this container for six liter, figuring out who makes the brand, where around the world it was made and could possibly have bought it to done this -- to have done this here in Boston.
Coming up in our next half hour, we will talk to Robert McFadden about the security issues here surrounding this particular sort of device. He's a senior official with the NCIS, that is the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. So certainly stay tuned for that.
BERMAN: As we said, many developments to tell you about, a lot breaking overnight.
This morning we are learning more about those who lost their lives here in this tragic event. Some 2,000 people turned out last night for a candlelight vigil, paying tribute to one of the youngest victims. CNN's Pamela Brown is here with that part of the story.
Good morning, Pamela.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, John and Brooke.
An outpouring of support for the family of Martin Richard last night. One of the many ways communities throughout Boston coming together to show their respect and honor the victims of Monday's tragedy as the city tries to pick up the pieces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BROWN (voice-over): An outpouring of raw emotion from a community struck by grief. Friends and family of 8-year-old Martin Richard gathered in a park near his home to remember him and pray for his family. His 6-year-old sister lost a leg and his mother has a serious brain injury.
On Tuesday, friends and relatives dropped off flowers at the family's house in the Dorchester section of Boston. Martin's unforgettable smile has become the face of Monday's senseless attack.
His picture celebrating his first communion and another with a sign that reads "No more hurting people," now emblazoned in the minds of millions. One of the first responders, Dr. Kim Mills, tried to revive him. Her husband, Matt, describes the horror his wife ran toward after the blast.
MATT MILLS, HUSBAND OF KIM MILLS: She did. That's what she told me that as she handed it off to the EMT, she had pronounced him and said, hey, this, you know, he's dead, and somebody had said we need to start the CPR. And she said -- she's like, I don't think it's going to help.
BROWN (voice-over): Now he says his wife is grappling with the reality of seeing these pictures of Martin.
MILLS: And you could see, she just got quiet and you could see the tears welling up and every -- the emotion coming back from yesterday.
BROWN (voice-over): The second fatality is Krystle Campbell, a 29- year-old from Medford, Massachusetts, a suburb to the north of Boston. Krystle was standing along Boylston Street when the explosions went off; her mother, heartbroken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What kind of a daughter was she, Ma'am?
PATTY CAMPBELL, MOTHER OF KRYSTLE: She was the best.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was fantastic.
CAMPBELL: You couldn't ask for a better daughter.
BROWN (voice-over): Krystle would have turned 30 on May 3rd.
The third victim is a Chinese national and graduate student of Boston University studying statistics.
The injured continue to recover and tell their stories. CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke exclusively to Ron Broussard (ph) in his hospital room.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Were you knocked to the ground?
RON BROUSSARD (PH), SURVIVOR: I wasn't knocked to the ground. I absolutely knew that I was hit with something because the pain that shot through my leg was incredible. BROWN (voice-over): Meanwhile, across the country, tributes to remember those lost, with the Red Sox playing away in Cleveland, the Indians held a moment of silence for the bombing victims.
And the New York Yankees put their rivalry aside Tuesday night to pay their respects, posting this message on the Yankee Stadium marquee, "United we stand," and playing the Fenway Park favorite "Sweet Caroline" in the Bronx.
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BROWN (voice-over): Back on the streets of Boston, an eerie quiet on normally busy streets. For Megan Kieler returning to the scene after witnessing the explosion brought back overwhelming emotions.
MEGAN KIELER, WITNESSED BOMBINGS: I think I just kind of hitting me now, to be honest. I'm sorry.
(CROSSTALK)
KIELER: I just so feel sadly for everybody. I'm really proud of this city. But it's, you know, people are waking up today and their lives are very different.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Certainly an emotional time for a lot of people in this city, also hundreds gathered last night on the Boston Commons for another vigil, such an outpouring of support.
BERMAN: And I know some of the offices behind us and the crime scene will still be closed today, but does it seem to you that most of the city will be back up and running today?
BROWN: I think that's the hope. I think people want to sort of move forward here and bounce back. And you know, yesterday a lot of the stores were closed. It will be interesting to see if that changes today.
BERMAN: All right. Pamela Brown, thanks so much.
BALDWIN: Thank you so much.
BERMAN: Later, Krystle Campbell's grandmother will speak to our Chris Cuomo, so much tragedy. You could see the feelings she has for her lost granddaughter, saying she's simply special.
BALDWIN: We will have that interview for you, but at least some good news here in terms of those injured. There were 183 people injured in Boston's marathon terror right here. They have now been released, many of them, from hospitals around the city.
And our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, joins us live from Brigham & Women's Hospital with more on that.
Elizabeth, good morning. What is the update? ELIZABETH COHEN, SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. The update is is that some of these patients now are well enough to tell the stories of what they went through.
I'd like you to introduce you to Nicholas and Lee Ann Yanni. They were 10 feet away from the explosion. They managed to get to a nearby store, and Nicholas noticed his that wife's calf was gushing blood. His wife had the presence of mind to say, honey, takes some shirts off the racks and make a tourniquet on my leg. So he did that for her, got her settled, and then went outside to help other people. He noticed that a woman was on the ground, seemingly unconscious. Then he was told to get away from the scene because he wasn't very injured. Then he looked up and he saw his wife getting into the ambulance, he said, "I want to be with my wife," and they let him on the ambulance. They took him to Tufts University Medical Center. And after his wife's surgery, this is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLAS YANNI, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: You know, it was like, you know, like home, like safe. You felt safe, you know, because you know the people you love are there with you. And you know they're OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Nicholas said throughout this entire ordeal, his wife had a shattered bone. His wife was as cool as a cucumber. Now his wife, as I said, was at Tufts University Medical Center, and that's one of 11 hospitals where the injured have been treated here.
John, Brooke?
BERMAN: One of the 11 amazing hospitals where they're truly doing amazing work still this morning. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much for that report.
And stay with CNN for continuing coverage of this Boston Marathon terror attack, including more on the chilling new photos that we just got overnight of the explosive devices that caused so much pain, caused so much suffering. And we'll have the latest on the search for whoever planted them.
BALDWIN: Also ahead this morning, a farewell to the Iron Lady. Funeral services underway for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. We will take you live to London, straight ahead.
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BALDWIN: Welcome back here live in Boston, you're watching a special edition of EARLY START. We want to update you on the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings. And here is what we have right now this morning.
First look at these pictures with me, because these are new overnight. These are gripping photos of the remains of one of the explosive devices. You see as we go through these wires, a battery and a piece of what looks to be a circuit board. Reuters is reporting a government official who did not want to be identified turned over these photos.
BERMAN: And there's more. These images of the twisted remains of a pressure cooker that investigators believe held the bomb. In another photo you can see what appears to be a cluster of BBs in the photo that were likely fused together by the heat of the explosion. Aagain, doctors saying they were finding BBs and nails and the like in the people they were treating. The FBI also saying the second bomb, they believe, was in some type of metal container.
We are in Boston coveeering this all day. There is a lot of news going on elsewhere in the world, including some live breaking news right now. Let's go to Zoraida Sambolin in New York for that.
Good morning, Zoraida.
ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN HOST: Good morning to you.
Funeral services for Britain's Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, are just getting underway, starting with a procession through the streets of London.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMBOLIN (voice-over): The former prime minister will then be given a ceremonial funeral with full military honors at St. Paul's Cathedral. Security is extremely tight. More than 4,000 police officers are on patrol at this hour.
CNN's Becky Anderson is live in London.
And, Becky, I understand there are about 2,300 guests from around the world that are expected?
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: That's right. And the Queen and her husband here at St. Paul's Cathedral, they will arrive at around 10:45 local time, just about a half-hour from now. The pictures that you are seeing at present are of the coffin of Lady Thatcher and the flowers on top are, we assume, from her children, Carolyn, Mark; and the message on those flowers says simply "Beloved Mother, Always in Our Hearts."
The coffin is currently at the St. Clement Dane's Church, which is just up from the Palace of Westminster. And moments from now, the coffin will be drawn, and a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from this church to St. Paul's Cathedral. You are right to say there will be some 2,000 dignitaries from around the world.
We have seen Henry Kissinger, we've already seen Dick Cheney and his wife; Newt Gingrich, former politicians from all over the world, F.W. deKlerk here on behalf of South Africa, Howard here on behalf of Australia, 2,000 people inside St. Paul's Cathedral to honor Margaret Thatcher.
And that, the gun carriage, getting put into place, which will draw the coffin, Margaret Thatcher's coffin, here to St. Paul's Cathedral, with the Royal navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force lining the route. Back to you.
SAMBOLIN: Becky Anderson, live for us in London. Thank you very much.
And straight ahead, CNN's continuing coverage of the Boston Marathon terror attack, including chilling new photos of the bombs that were used, before and after they were detonated.
And a letter laced with poison sent to a sitting U.S. senator. The latest on that investigation when this special edition of EARLY START continues.
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SAMBOLIN: Welcome back to EARLY START, 23 minutes past the hour.
More tests will be done today to confirm a letter sent to a U.S. senator was laced with ricin. A tiny drop of that poison is enough to kill a human being.
The letter was intercepted before it reached the Capitol Hill office of Robert Wicker. He is a Republican from Mississippi. There's a picture of him right there.
CNN's Shannon Travis is in Washington for us this morning.
And, Shannon, we know where the letter might have been mailed from. What we're trying to figure out is who mailed that letter, right?
SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And in both those questions, the federal officials are going to be investigating as you mentioned.
We know essentially where it was from. It was postmarked at least Memphis, Tennessee. But there's no return address, Zoraida. That's the information that we are getting from the Senate sergeant-at-arms, Terence Gainer (ph) in an e-mail to senators and aides.
Now as you mentioned, experts will perform more tests today to determine if, without a doubt, the substance on the letter was ricin. We know that a Maryland laboratory confirmed the presence of ricin, but the FBI says field tests can be unreliable and that only a full analysis at an accredited laboratory can truly determine if the poison was present. The FBI says those tests usually take between 24 to 48 hours.
Those tests will happen at an Army research lab in Maryland, according to U.S. Capitol police. Now the Boston Marathon bombing was on Monday. This potentially poisonous letter to Senator Wicker on Tuesday, it's reasonable to wonder are they somehow linked? The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee at this point said no.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R), CHAIR, HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: It did test positive for ricin. We have no evidence whatsoever connecting the two, between the ricin incident and the Boston bombing incident. Since 9/11, since the anthrax scare, we have an offsite mail facility, and it actually worked in this case, where it was caught in advance, screened and prevented from getting to Capitol Hill and the offices.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TRAVIS: Now, Zoraida, one source tells CNN Senator Wicker has been assigned security in light of all this.
SAMBOLIN: I suspect that is a very good idea. I was just trying to do research to see how you can get a hold of such a deadly poison. I'm sure we will be following up on that. Thank you so much, Shannon Travis, live for us.
And CNN's special coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing continues right now. So we will get you right back to John Berman and Brooke Baldwin. They are both live in Boston for us this morning. Good morning.
BALDWIN: Good morning, Zoraida. Thank you so much. And when we continue, we're going to show you these new photos of the bombs that were used in the Boston Marathon terror attack, just a couple of yards from where we're standing this morning.
BERMAN: Investigators poring through them right now. Can they provide enough clues to solve this case? We will tell you where the investigation stands right now this morning. You are watching a special edition of EARLY START.
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