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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Shootings on Parliament Hill; U.S. on High Alert; Ebola Screenings Expanded

Aired October 23, 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: Breaking news overnight: Canada's prime minister calling for renewed strength in the battle against evil, after a man he calls a terrorist kills a soldier in cold blood.

On high alert. Even before this attack in Canada, jihadist chatter had raised official concerns in Canada and the U.S. We have all the details.

And the CDC now laying out new Ebola standards for passengers arriving in the United States. What hundreds of airline passengers, not to mention state officials around the country will now have to do.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START.

I'm John Berman. Christine Romans is on assignment today.

There is a lot going on. It is Thursday, October 23rd. 4:00 a.m. in the East.

And there is breaking news overnight on the shootings Wednesday by a man that Canada's prime minister is calling a terrorist. A gunman killed a soldier at the National War Memorial, wounding others and apparently ran into a nearby building on Parliament Hill where he was shot and killed by security officers.

We know more about this suspect, a gunman who apparently was a Muslim convert. A man who had his passport revoked over fears of dubious travel. A man who was in the last year had in fact traveled to the United States.

We know more about the victim, a soldier in his 20s with a 6-year-old son, a man who loved dogs and rescued stray animals. We now know more about the hero of the 58-year-old sergeant-at-arms who may have saved the lives of countless members of parliaments.

Wednesday night, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed that nation, calling for unity among Canadians, and with the country's allies in the fight against terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN HARPER, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: Attacks on our security personnel and on our institutions of governments are by their very nature attacks on our country, on our values, on our society, on us Canadians, as a free and democratic people who embrace dignity for all.

But let there be no misunderstanding. We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: CNN's Susan Candiotti is on the ground in Ottawa, up all night, following the very latest developments.

Good morning, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

In fact, more and more details are emerging and they are starting to paint a more complete picture of this man. Still, there are a lot of questions that remain.

Here is how much we know about him -- of course, as you know, the name Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. However, he was born Michael David Hall in Canada in 1982. And it was at some point along the way, he did convert to Islam.

But before that, we know he had a history of drug use and there are reports of drug arrests. For example, in 2004 for using PCP, a hallucinogen, and certainly one that can make you paranoid.

Fast forward to 2011, a charge for another petty crime initially for robbery, but that charge was dropped and ultimately he was convicted of uttering threats. We also know he did work reported as a miner and laborer and spent a lot of time in Vancouver, as well as in Montreal.

His parents divorced. His father a businessman. His mother is believed to work for and does work for Canadian immigration.

But what was he doing lately? We know that a friend of his is telling a newspaper that in fact he was at a mosque not long ago, within the last few weeks in Vancouver and talked about trying to travel overseas to study Islam. However, we have law enforcement sources telling us he was unable to travel there because he was considered a high travel risk, and in fact, his passport was, in effect, frozen, John. He wasn't able to travel over there.

Our sources telling us that they believe his intent was to go overseas to fight, and possibly to fight jihad.

So, these are some of the things that we are learning, including that he had been to the United States travel there, according to the our sources, at least four times, including most recently in 2013. However, there are no known links to any U.S. extremist groups that authorities are aware of.

Back to you, John.

BERMAN: Susan, so many questions. First, let's clear this up, because up until late last night, authorities in Ottawa said they were searching for more suspects.

Do they believe now that this man Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was a lone gunman?

CANDIOTTI: At this time, they do not think there were any other shooters involved. And part of the reason is remember, when all of these types of events occur -- of course, there are a number of witnesses out there to describe what they see. And once authorities drill down, at first, it appear that there was someone at the mall, and there was talk that there was someone else that was described. But when you get down to doing the interviews, sometimes that information changes as they gather more of it.

And that appears to be the case here. In talking to our sources, they were telling us, for example, the FBI did a study that looked at mass shootings over the past 10 years. And, usually, there are a lot of witnesses who at first describe multiple shooters, but when all is said and done, it turns out to be only one. And so far, they believe here there was a single shooter involved.

BERMAN: Susan, there was another incident in Canada, in the Quebec province, just a couple of days ago, where a soldier was killed, run down by someone in a car, a man that Canadian authorities say was radicalized, a Muslim. Did they see any connection now between these two incidents or at least, are they looking for such a connection?

CANDIOTTI: Well, it's certainly one of the things that they're looking at here, and it is a question that a lot of people have. There does some to be some crossover here and something to compare. Anyway, in that case, that person, the shooter in that matter, also had his passport frozen, seized and unable to travel overseas. That is what seems to be one similarity.

And the other is, of course, two things happening in the same week -- days apart from each other, although in different areas of Canada. But, of course, they are looking at everything they can to determine how this man may have become self-radicalized.

BERMAN: There are still so many question, Susan, because clearly, Canadian authorities did have their eye on this man if his passport was frozen. So, how was he then able to get as far as he did into the parliament building.

Finally, again, over the last few weeks in Canada and the United States, there's been talk of chatter, concerns, a heightened sense of there might be something going on.

CANDIOTTI: And in fact, that is what led heightened state of alert here at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa. And so, because of that chatter, we believe that is why that happened. However, there seems to be no linkage between that and what happened here this day, at least at this point. That's what we are hearing from authorities.

BERMAN: Susan Candiotti, thank you so much for your work on the ground in Ottawa. We'll check back in with you in a little bit. Now, there was a victim here. Friends are remembering that victim in the Ottawa shooting as a proud army reservist, a great guy with an even bigger heart. Corporal Nathan Cirillo shot dead while standing guard in a ceremonial uniform at the National War Memorial.

Now, this was a posting that wasn't honor. It was not supposed to be a risk. Cirillo's social media page says he leaves behind a son who started kindergarten just this fall, that he loved dogs, rescue dogs, he actually rescued stray animals according to Canadian papers. Friends online remembering him as a caring and funny person who put his life on the line for his country. What a loss.

As we talked with Susan, even before the Parliament Hill attack, and a similar one in Quebec earlier this week that we discussed, jihadist chatter had already heightened official concerns in Canada and in the United States. Administration and law enforcement sources say that the U.S. tightened security in Ottawa in the embassy and other consulates in Canada after Wednesday's shooting, the U.S. embassy was on lockdown.

In this country, the security was tightened at the Tomb of the Unknowns outside Washington, as well as around the Canadian consulate in New York.

President Obama did speak with the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Wednesday afternoon and later told reporters, quote, "Obviously, we are all shaken by the shooting."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We don't yet have all of the information about whether this was part of a broader network or plan or whether this was an individual or series of individuals who decide to take these actions. But it emphasizes the degree to which we have to remain vigilant when it comes to dealing with these kinds of acts of senseless violence or terrorism. And I pledge, as always, to make sure that our national security teams are coordinating closely given not only as Canada, one of our closest allies in the world, but they're our neighbors and our friends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: We are tracking these developments on the attacks in Ottawa all morning. Obviously, the developments coming in all morning.

But there is other news.

Israeli authorities calling a hit-and-run attack in Jerusalem that killed a 3-month-old baby a terrorist attack. A Palestinian driver slammed into a group of pedestrians at a tram stop on Wednesday. Police shot the 20-year-old driver as he tried to flee the scene. The infant victim is believed to be American. At least seven other people were injured.

A new fence jumper at the White House, but this time, the Secret Service a little more ready. This is new video of the jumper taken down on the White House lawn by two dogs from the Secret Service K-9 unit. He has been identified, the man as Dominic Adesenya. Police say he was not armed and charges against him are pending. Now, the dogs suffered injuries and taken to a vet for treatment.

This is the second fence jumping incident. Just a little over a month, you will recall that Omar Gonzalez sprinted across the line and actually made it inside the White House. He was carrying a knife.

After being routed in game one of the World Series, the Kansas City Royals, well, they return the favor. They beat the Giants 7-2 to tie the World Series at a game a piece. This was a hostile game, tempers flared, just how you want to see it. They exploded for five runs in the sixth inning breaking a 2-2 tie. The series now goes back to San Francisco for games three, four, and five. It is the 2-3-2 format which I think stinks. Tell me if you think I'm wrong. But game 3 Friday night.

Time now for an early start on your money. Alison Kosik is here for that today.

Good morning, Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Asian stocks closed lower after the Chinese manufacturing data came out. European markets also opened lower.

Here in the U.S., futures -- they are higher after yesterday's sharp drop. Investors are taking profits off the table. Stocks did lower across the board. The S&P 500 snapping a four-day winning streak, just a day after its biggest jump in a year.

A couple of stocks we're keeping our eye on. Two big names falling overnight after delivering disappointing earnings, shares of AT&T are currently down about 1.5 percent. The telecom giant lowered its outlook for the year, largely because customers signed up for new plans with their old phones instead of buying new ones.

Also suffering from weak yearly outlook, Yelp. Shares for the online review company plummeting 13 percent overnight. But investors seemed to be worried about is Yelp was expanding into other countries, but investors saying, how is that going to translate into dollars, that's causing some concerns.

BERMAN: Got to monetize that whole Web thing.

KOSIK: That's right.

BERMAN: All right. Alison, thanks so much.

Twelve minutes after the hour.

We're going to have more out of Ottawa and the murder of the Canadian soldier throughout the morning.

Also ahead, some major news on the Ebola front. New guidelines for passengers, maybe hundreds, perhaps thousands, coming into the U.S. from some of the hardest hit areas in the three West Africa nations. New extended monitoring that may have some flyers just deciding not to bother coming here at all. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: New major measures now to battle Ebola or the possibility of Ebola coming to the United States. This as President Obama says he is cautiously more optimistic that the U.S. maybe turning a corner in the battle against Ebola.

But the CDC is taking news measures, announcing every airline passenger who arrives in the United States from one of the three West African nations hardest hit by Ebola will be monitored by state and local health authorities for 21 days. There are 80 people, 250 people who come to the United States from these three countries every day. So, any one time, there could be up 3,000 or so of these people who need to be monitored daily. That is a major effort.

There is some good news to report in the Dallas struggle. The Dallas nurse, Amber Vinson, diagnosed as having the virus a week ago, is now said to be Ebola-free. That's wonderful. Her family made the announcement Wednesday, saying she will be transferred out of isolation.

We are now hearing from another survivor, NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo, in an interview on "NBC Nightly News". He said he is not able to pinpoint exactly when he was infected.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASHOKA MUKPO, EBOLA SURVIVOR: I mean, that's a million dollar question. And, unfortunately, there is not a satisfactory answer for it. The best thing that I can say is that there was a period of time of about a week that I was working with various news groups. And in the course of that week, I was at Ebola treatment units, I was following burial teams. I was with ambulance drivers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Even more encouraging news, the second Dallas nurse fighting Ebola, Nina Pham, was upgraded Wednesday to good condition. That is wonderful news.

A suspected serial killer who police say confessed to killing at least seven women in Indiana, appears in court, but refuses to speak to the judge which caused his arraignment to be postponed. After 43-year-old Darren Vann refused to swear under oath, the frustrated judge said Vann will stay in jail, quote, "for the rest of his life" until the hearing takes place. Authorities say his alleged killing spree could extend to other states and could extend back decades.

A new night in unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. Protests erupted following leaks of more information in the Michael Brown shooting. Two people were arrested outside a police station. Sources now confirm to CNN that the autopsy shows a gunshot wound in the hand at close range. Many suggest that this finding supports Officer Darren Wilson's account.

But speaking with CNN's Erin Burnett, an attorney for Brown's family just dismissed that suggestion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY GRAY, MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY ATTORNEY: We always said from the very beginning, there are two separate distinct events that occurred that day -- one at the vehicle and one away from the car. So, I don't see how any evaluation or any assessment as to what happened at the car bears on what happened outside of the car almost 100 feet away, which is the point in which we all stated was the moment that Darren Wilson broke the law when he killed an unarmed Mike Brown Jr.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The Attorney General Eric Holder has weighed in, telling Justice Department lawyers he is, quote, "exasperated at the leaks coming out of Ferguson".

Jeffrey Fowle will be waking up at home in Ohio this morning, for the first time in five months. Fowle had an emotional reunion with this family Wednesday after his release by North Korea. He was arrested for leaving a Bible at a club. A family spokesman acknowledged two other Americans are still being held by North Korea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM TEPE, FOWLE FAMILY SPOKESMAN: We are overjoyed that Jeff's return home. We are mindful that Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller continue to be detained in DPRK, and understand the disappointment their families are experiencing today that their loved ones did not return home with Jeff. Jeff would like to you know he was treated well by the government of the DPRK and that he's in currently in good health.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The spokesman thanked the State Department, the Swedish government and others for helping secure Fowle's release.

Coming up, ISIS with a new push toward Baghdad. Iraqi military and tribal forces fighting to repel the attack, but how much longer can they hold back the militant group? We are live from Baghdad, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: ISIS fighters with a new push this morning, bringing them ever closer to Baghdad. These Islamic militants are attempting to take a town south of Fallujah, which is fairly near Baghdad, just off a major road.

Iraqi military and tribal forces are fighting to repel this attack. Iraqi officials encountered six suicide bombings, more than 70 mortar attacks against the government forces.

Live for us now in Baghdad, senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman.

Good morning, Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, John.

Yes. All of the action is in Amriyat al Falluja, which is back 25 miles to the west of Baghdad, where we understand that ISIS has been building up its forces. And now, the government seems to be taking a somewhat sort of proactive approach with the situation there. Iraqi army troops along with tribal forces, Sunni tribal forces, have been mustered to the area around the city to try to stop ISIS from moving forward.

Of course, it's not only close to the city itself, it's also not too far from the Baghdad airport, which of course is a strategic location not only for the Iraqi government, but the U.S. as well, where there are U.S. Apache helicopters. The coalition has focused air power on the area around Amriyat al Falluja as well to back up the Iraqis.

So, it doesn't appear at this point that ISIS is going to be able to break out of Amriyat al Falluja at the moment. But we have seen in the past, they are good at changing tactics and moving from a more standard regular army movements, to guerilla activities which are harder for the coalition aircraft to stop and for the Iraqi military and its tribal allies to confront -- John.

BERMAN: If nothing else, this shows they have not let up on their activity in Iraq or Syria.

Ben Wedeman for us in Baghdad, thank you so much.

A Syrian opposition group says 553 people have been killed in Syria in airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition since they started on September 23rd. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that total includes 32 civilians and 57 militants connected with the al Qaeda affiliated al Nusra Front. But the vast majority, 464 of those killed were ISIS fighters.

We do have breaking news from Canada this morning. The latest details in the coldblooded killing of a Canadian soldier and the Canadian prime minister calls that man a terrorist. We have details about the suspect, the victim and the hero, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)