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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

FBI Search for American ISIS Fighter; U.K. Terror Arrests; Battling Ebola

Aired October 08, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI wants your help to identify this man. An ISIS militant speaking perfect English. Is he American? Hear for yourself.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Scotland Yard arresting four suspects in London raids. What officials are saying this morning the suspected Islamic terrorists were planning. We're going to take you to London.

BERMAN: The CDC says they are confident they will stop Ebola in its track in the United States. Patients in the U.S. continue to fight for their lives, as a second possible case surfaces in Spain.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, halfway through the week. October 8th. It's 4:00 a.m. in the East.

This morning, the FBI wants your help in the fight against ISIS, posting a video on its Web site in the hopes that someone, someone knows this man and can identify him, can help identify him. He speaks perfect Arabic and perfect English with a Northern American accent,

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here in the 17th division military base just outside of city of Ar-Raqqah. And we're here with the soldiers of Bashar.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Washington correspondent Joe Johns following this story for us. He has more on the hunt for this apparently American or North American ISIS fighter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, this video appears to show a jihadi-spouting, ISIS propagandist, speaking very good English with a North American accent, also alternating speaking Arabic, delivering an on-camera tirade before he and other ISIS fighters appear to shoot a group of Syrian soldiers dead. The Syrians had apparently been forced to dig their own graves. The

man speaking has a mask over his face, which makes him unrecognizable. And authorities are using advanced technology but had been coming up short. They're not certain if he's American or Canadian.

The FBI posted portions of the video on its Web site, asking the public for help in identifying him. They say they're hoping someone might recognize this individual and provide the piece of information that helps them figure out who he is.

The FBI says this is part of a broader outreach to try to get the public to help identify people who are traveling overseas to fight with terror groups. And it goes without saying, that they are perhaps even more interested in learning the identities of American ISIS fighters who might be returning home -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Joe for that report.

In Syria at this moment, the historic city of Kobani is about to fall into the hands of ISIS fighters, this according to several senior administration officials. They also acknowledge that saving the Kurdish city is not a priority for the U.S.-led coalition.

Joining that coalition this morning is Canada. The Canadian approved air combat missions against ISIS in Iraq, though not in Syria. The move to deploy six CF-18 fighter jets as part of the coalition strike force came after two days of debate by lawmakers. The Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper praised the vote in the statement, saying, "We do not take the step lightly. The threat posed by ISIL is real. If left unchecked, this terrorist organization will grow and grow quickly."

Of course, it should be said, this does nothing for the people of Kobani under siege at this moment. We're going to have CNN's Arwa Damon live with more on this dire situation, coming up in about 10 minutes.

ROMANS: All right. This morning, the threat of Islamic militants has London on edge. Scotland Yard arresting four men Tuesday on suspicion of planning an act of terrorism. Officials are offering no details or specifics on what the four all in their early 20s were allegedly planning.

CNN's Nic Robertson standing by live in London with more.

Nic, do officials this morning there believe there's a link here to Islamic terror groups like ISIS?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, that's the indication, they're saying, that this is related to Islamist terrorism. They say that these four men are suspected of either preparing or instigating acts of terrorism. That's why they were arrested. They've been held for now over 24 hours. The question still continues. The police won't give us further information about what these men may have done.

However, what the police chief here has said is that their arrest has links going back to Iraq and Syria. And the implication there that could be ISIS, because it is Iraq and Syria. U.K. right now has as an estimated 500 young men who have gone to join ISIS, and like-minded radical groups in Iraq and Syria. And the concern is that some of them will come back.

So, we're not -- it's not clear at the moment if any of these men have been to Syria. What the connections may be to ISIS. But the indications that we're being given, a plot thwarted in its early stages, and the links to Iraq and Syria at this moment, the indications do point towards an ISIS connection -- Christine.

ROMANS: You know, Nic, just like the U.S., the FBI asking for help to identify this hooded masked man who speaks perfect Arabic and perfect North American English, in the U.K., you have this big concerns about these homegrown young men who have passports and access and financial resources to be able to join the fight. This is a really tough call, tough job for both of these governments.

ROBERTSON: It is. We're certainly going to hear more from the British government about what they can do to take passports away from people who have been to Syria and Iraq to fight to join radical groups and coming back to Britain. A lot more is hoped to be done in legal terms to make it much harder for them just to leave and come back.

Up until now, some of the young men that have gone and come back saying we've just gone to Syria for humanitarian reasons to help out with aid and such like. Where the security services believe that may not be the case. They may in fact have actually been fighting.

So, what can the governments do about it? Well, one of those things is to control those people more efficiently when they come back, and that would include taking their passports, as well as monitoring the security services once they're back in the country, Christine.

ROMANS: All right. And, again, new arrests Tuesday.

Thank you so much, Nic Robertson in London for that.

BERMAN: I want to turn now to the latest on the Ebola situation. The head of the Centers for Disease Control sounding confident that the U.S. can prevent an outbreak on U.S. soil. Thomas Frieden declared, we will stop Ebola in its tracks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: There are real signs of progress, not only in Dallas, but also around the world. We know how to stop Ebola.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: This morning, Thomas Eric Duncan is battling Ebola, fighting for his life in a Dallas hospital. And we're finding out more this morning about his prognosis. Let's check in with senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Thomas Eric Duncan is still in critical condition here at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. We have some more details about how he's doing. He's on kidney dialysis. He's also on a ventilator to help him breathe. And he's as under medical sedation which means his family can't speak with him.

But a press conference on Tuesday, his family did say there are some signs of optimism. For example, his blood pressure is back up. That's a good thing. Dangerously blood pressure is a problem for Ebola patients. Also, they said his liver function is looking better and that his temperature has returned to normal.

Now, we think about this disease spreading within the city of Dallas, there's some really good news. So far, health authorities have been following Duncan's 48 contacts -- 48 people he came into contact with while he was contagious. And so far, none of them are sick.

And today is day 10. It's been about 10 days since any of them have had contact with Duncan. And usually on average, people tend to get sick about 10 days after they come in contact with an infected person.

But still, authorities will follow these people and monitor them for 21 days just to be sure -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Elizabeth, thank you for that.

An NBC cameraman who contracted Ebola in Liberia is in reasonably stable condition at a Nebraska hospital this morning. Ashoka Mukpo is being treated with an experimental drug this hour. He says he's scared. He's relieved to be back home. He believes he got infected while spray-washing a vehicle where someone had died with Ebola.

His parents got to speak and see him and speak to him Tuesday using a video hookup.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA MUKPO, ASHOKA MUKPO'S MOTHER: He actually looks quite good. I know he's been nauseated and, you know, having some of those symptoms. But he actually looks a lot better than I expected and that was a really hard thing to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Doctors are cautioning it's still much too early to tell whether he will fully recover.

BERMAN: And the most concerning developments in the Ebola fight right now are happening in Spain. Health officials there might be dealing with a second case of Ebola. A second nurse's assistant is showing symptoms she was on the same team that treated two Ebola patients in Madrid last month.

And now, we're learning that a dog belonging to the first infected nurse's assistant is being put down. Spanish authorities are getting a court order to euthanize that animal, fearing he might spread the virus.

ROMANS: Americans have been slowed to open their wallets to combat the Ebola crisis. CNN Money surveyed four U.S. major aid organizations and found they received less than $20 million in donations combined. The U.N. says it will take a billion dollars to stop the outbreak.

Bill and Melinda Gates are doing their part. Their foundation just announced it's donating $50 million to fight Ebola.

BERMAN: The battle against the wild fire in California's Yosemite National Park taking an awful turn, an air tanker that was dropping fire retardant on a dog park fire crashed near an entrance to park. Rescue crews are working their way to really tough terrain to reach the pilot who was the only person onboard that plane.

ROMANS: All right. Ten minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money this Wednesday.

Asian and European markets lower. Weak data out of China. Major selloff in the U.S. yesterday, still kind of roiling the world markets.

U.S. stocks at the lowest levels in months over concerns and worries about growth in Europe. The Dow lost 270 points, John. That's the worst --

BERMAN: Boo!

ROMANS: -- one-day drop in more than two months. The S&P 500 hit a two-month low. Right now, futures are slightly higher, so maybe a bounce back today. We'll have to see if it holds.

One bright spot in the U.S. economy. Job openings, at the highest level in 13 years. Ironic, right, job openings the highest in 13 years, and the Dow falls 272 points.

The Labor Department reported that openings reached 4.84 million in August. That means there are about two unemployed workers for every available job.

BERMAN: Look at that chart. That's a good chart right there.

ROMANS: That is one of those charts that -- you know me, I love that chart.

Analysts say it's a sign we should expect more declines unemployment. Last week, the unemployment rate fell below 6 percent for the first time since 2008. I've been looking at pretty ugly charts for the last years or so.

That's kind of chart --

BERMAN: That's a good-looking chart right there.

ROMANS: Two unemployed people for every job opening. That would be like I have to beat you out, easy.

BERMAN: I don't know why you have to go there.

ROMANS: I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

BERMAN: Let's take an early look with our weather right now. Let's check with Chad Myers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, guys.

Still some wet weather across the Northeast this morning. It will go away later this afternoon. And then, showers will pop back up maybe for this evening, could even see some airport delays across the Northeast today due to that.

Other than that, we are in pretty good shape, there maybe some wind delays out there, as well as still some window conditions, Chicago, Minneapolis, all the way down to D.C., 75, though, in D.C. this afternoon.

For tomorrow, scattered storms redevelop in the plains as the next system tries to move to the Northeast for the weekend, nothing really in the Gulf of Mexico, although the tropics are getting a little more active than they've been. Now, that's not saying much. But at least there are a couple storms that we're watching, we certainly don't want them to hit the U.S., but the active season that we haven't had could be picking up.

Seventy-four in D.C. for tomorrow, 84 in Atlanta, and 88 in Memphis. A pleasant 74 in L.A.

Enjoy your day, guys. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Pleasant all around that map. That's good. Thanks, Chad.

BERMAN: Pleasant on the map is always a good thing.

All right. Very pleasant right now for the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants, they are on to the National League Championship series. The Cards eliminating the Dodgers in four games on that swing. Matt Adams, his three-run homer off of Clayton Kershaw who was shockingly ineffective in the playoffs despite being one of the best pitchers ever, that gave the Cardinals a win. They went 3-2 right there. There's Clayton Kershaw looking very sad. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants beating the Washington Nationals

also in four games. They claimed a 3-2 victory. Game one of the ALCs will be Saturday in St. Louis. These teams are good, and they've been good for a while. This is the fourth straight year that the Cardinals are playing for the pennant. The Giants in the championship series for the third time in last five seasons. The weather goes on to the World Series.

There was a scandal in one of these games, Yasiel Puig, you may have heard of him, he's the Cuban player for the Dodgers, the best player in the Dodgers, he didn't start for the Dodgers, because the manager clearly wasn't thinking correctly. And he didn't even hit, he was used as a pinch runner in the ninth inning. It was crazy. And the Dodgers lost.

ROMANS: There you go. You better call John for unsolicited morning after advice.

BERMAN: All right. The fight for Kobani continues this morning as officials acknowledge its fall maybe imminent. We're live from the scene of that battle.

ROMANS: New concerns this morning about chemical weapons in Syria, as authorities now say there are four additional facilities they failed to disclose. Why inspectors are questioning even more. It's coming up on EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. Overnight, coalition aircraft have been flying air strikes against ISIS fighters who've been trying to take the city of Kobani. That's on Syria's border with Turkey.

A CNN crew captured footage of this bombing mission. But coalition efforts are looking increasingly futile, with senior administration officials, several, telling CNN on Tuesday that Kobani will fall and will fall soon. But those same officials say Kobani is not a U.S. priority. This despite pleas by the U.N. special envoy for Syria by the international community to step in and help the fighters, Kurdish fighters who are there try and save that city.

Standing by live on the border, CNN's Arwa Damon.

Arwa, what's the latest?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that rhetoric coming out from the U.S., especially that declaration that Kobani is not a priority, most certainly not working in America's favor when it comes towards sentiment towards the United States.

That being said, though, a senior Kurdish official in Kobani we spoke to said that those airstrikes, those handful of airstrikes that did take place had helped them. That coupled with the Kurdish forces, sheer determination has meant, according to this official, that they managed to push the ISIS fighters back ever so slightly along some of the streets that they had originally taken when they managed to break through Kobani. And we're hearing aircraft overhead right now, John.

That being said, though, these Kurdish fighters do continue to need that additional support. They want to see it coming from the coalition. They fail to understand why it is that they saw airstrikes in Iraq for example when ISIS was barreling down on key cities here and they're not seeing the same response taking place when it comes to saving Kobani. The U.S., as you said, they're making it very clear that saving Kobani not a priority. You can just imagine what hearing that is like for the population here that has already suffered at the hands of ISIS.

Also, growing frustrations when it comes to Turkey. The Kurds want to see Turkey allow a corridor from Turkey and to Kobani that would allow them to resupply their weaponry, perhaps get some additional weaponry that would allow them to further deal and even deadlier blow to the ISIS fighters. Turkey at this stage is saying that that is a non- starter. They will not be arming the Kurds, they say, until the Kurds officially join the Free Syrian Army.

Turkey also at this stage ruling out military action to save Kobani, but the government did come out and say that they would be willing to become part of a broader military mission that would encompass not just going after ISIS, but also defeating the Assad regime. That, though, at this stage is not something that the coalition is willing to take on. So, the situation continues to be phenomenally complicated. The Kurds in Kobani are feeling increasingly as if they are the victims of this overarching politics, John.

BERMAN: Complicated and frustrating for the Kurds no doubt, as the Turks stand by and watch and do nothing.

All right. Arwa Damon, right on the border, thanks so much.

ROMANS: There are new concerns this morning about chemical weapons in Syria. According to the U.N., Syria has revealed four previously undisclosed chemical weapons facilities. Government officials claimed three for research and development, one is for production, 1,300 tons have been removed from Syria. Now, international inspectors focusing on the destruction of Syria's weapons facilities.

A 29-year-old newlywed has decided to take her own life. Why she says it's the only decision for her. We have her compelling story, coming up.

And a shocking new video showing a police officer smashing the window of her car with a passenger in the seat. Was this necessary or is this a case of excessive force? We'll have the details, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: This is a remarkable story. A terminally ill 29-year-old speaking out about her choice to die. Britney Maynard was given six months to live after being diagnosed with stage four brain cancer last April. So, she and her family packed up and moved from California to Oregon so she'd have access to the state's Death with Dignity Act. Britney says she'll end her life with medication prescribed by her doctor. She's a newlywed. She said she just wants to pass peacefully.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRITTANY MAYNARD, DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL BRAIN CANCER: I will die upstairs in my bedroom that I share with my husband -- with my mother and my husband by my side. I can't even tell you the amount of relief that it provides me to know that I don't have to die the way that it's been described to me that my brain tumor would take me on its own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: What a brave young woman and what a very sad story, but moving from California to Oregon so that she can have control over the last stage of what will be sadly a too short life.

BERMAN: It's really interesting to hear someone talk about it in those terms. Almost matter of factually in some cases.

All right. Twenty-five minutes after the hour. Stunning allegations against "7th Heaven" actor Stevens Collins, who being investigated for child molestation. Collins allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting underage girls during a 2012 therapy session that his wife, actress Faye Grant, secretly recorded.

On Tuesday, a version of that recording was posted to TMZ. Police in New York say they're aware of the allegations but say Collins cannot face charges because of the statute of limitations.

ROMANS: Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson will be arraigned in a Texas courtroom today. He's expected to plead not guilty to a felony charge of child abuse. Peterson was indicted last month for allegedly using a switch, a small tree branch, to discipline his small 4-year- old son, leaving bruises and scratches. He's been on the NFL's exempt list, still getting paid but barred from all team activities until his case is resolved.

BERMAN: All right. A routine stop for a seat belt violation turned violent in Illinois. Police smashed through a passenger seat window and used a stun gun on a man as a 14-year-old in the backseat recorded all. Watch.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BERMAN: All right. This unfolded last month in Hammond. That's about 30 miles south of Chicago.

Lisa Mahone and her boyfriend Jamal Jones are now claiming there was excessive force, false arrest and battery in a federal lawsuit. Before the window was smashed, Mahone can be heard asking police why they pulled a gun on him, Jones says at that moment, he was reaching into his backpack to explain why they did have ID. He had been ticketed for not paying an insurance.

I mean, whatever the reasons there were, that's scary to see. That's a frightening video.

ROMANS: Yes. And now, there's a lawsuit.

BERMAN: Yes.

ROMANS: All right. Twenty-seven minutes past the hour.

Coming up on EARLY START, the FBI is asking you to help identify an ISIS militant, this man, they say could be an American.

BERMAN: And it has been a week since the first case of Ebola was diagnosed in the U.S. So, what has changed since then? How are the treatments going? We have a new update.

Stay with us.

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