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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Jordan Retaliates Against ISIS; Deadly Train Crash; Plane Crashes Into River: Search for Survivors

Aired February 04, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The breaking news this morning: Jordan retaliates against ISIS, executing two terrorists overnight, just hours after ISIS releases the shocking video showing a Jordanian hostage in a cage, burned alive. Barbarism. We have live team coverage ahead.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: investigators on the scene after a New York commuter train smashes into an SUV. Seven people dead. The very latest, ahead.

BERMAN: And dramatic video of a passenger plane crashing into a river, 58 people on board. Right now, the frantic search for survivors. We're live with the latest developments overnight. That is coming up.

Good morning, everyone. A lot going on this morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, February 4th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.

Breaking overnight, the kingdom of Jordan has executed two terrorists, one of them, the woman who ISIS tried to trade for the life of a captured Jordanian fighter pilot. Jordan hanging would-be suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi at dawn after ISIS released a horrific video that appeared to show the pilot, that Jordanian pilot, being burned alive in a cage.

CNN is not showing any part of the ISIS propaganda video. Jordanians outraged this morning. Demonstrating in the streets, demanding vengeance against ISIS. And the government there vowing to oblige. A government spokesman saying the pilot's blood will not be shed in vain.

Jordan's King Abdullah cutting short a visit to Washington to return home. He is expected to land there shortly.

CNN's Becky Anderson joins us now live.

Becky, what's the latest? BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the very latest

is this. That the father of the executed pilot spoke in the last few minutes and demanded the following. He wants revenge for the blood of his son. Executions of the would-be suicide or female suicide bomber, he said not enough, even though that, of course, happened at dawn today. Nothing short of annihilation of ISIS should be the plan, he said.

Well, if ISIS sees the latest evil, and it is evil, you're absolutely right, will cause the regional players in the U.S. fight against them to crack in their support, then they have seemingly miscalculated. You are absolutely correct to say that King Abdullah is due back from Washington in the next hour. And we are told that crowds now gathering at the airport to meet him there.

There's been a big push on social media to provide support for him as he arrives. And he has vowed punishment and revenge for the death of the pilot. The king described ISIS as a deviant criminal group. He is expected to visit the village near the south of the country to pay his condolences to the pilot's family and to members of the tribe there, incredibly important tribe.

They provide a lot of military personnel for the Jordanians, assets in the fight against ISIS. And just take a look at this message from the UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed said, and I quote, "This heinous and obscene act represents a brutal escalation by the terrorist group. It is the defining moment." Hold that thought. "The defining moment," he says.

It will be very interesting in the hours, days and weeks to come to see just how the Arab allied effort will either ratchet up or possibly it has to be said ratchet down or differently, but I think there are lots of decisions being made now in Jordan and in this region about what happens next. As I say, the foreign minister here calling the execution, the brutal execution, of this pilot a defining moment.

ROMANS: Becky Anderson in the UAE, thank you so much. The United States president calling the organization bankrupt, saying this just proves the bankruptcy of ISIS. Thank you.

BERMAN: Simply an obscene act and is prompting outrage around the world. But as that outrage comes in, this terror group, ISIS, continuing the attack in Iraq this time. They've launched an offensive in Kirkuk. Iraqi forces, along with the Kurdish Peshmerga are fighting back.

Standing by for us just a few miles from that front, international correspondent Phil Black with the latest -- Phil.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, across this region of northern Iraq, a combination of Kurdish fighters on the ground and international air power have significantly slowed down and contained ISIS attempts to keep advancing, as they did when they first charged across this region last year. But there is still daily fighting on a number of fronts, and their presence here is still sustained. It is significant. Just to the west of where I'm standing is the Iraqi city of Mosul, the country's second biggest city, firmly under Iraqi control.

Around that city, that is where Kurdish fighters are trying to cut it off, to choke it off, to encircle and separate it from ISIS-controlled territory just across the boarder in Syria. That's the goal, and they've made some progress towards achieving that. Yet despite that pressure, ISIS has still shown that it can lash out. As you mentioned, in Kirkuk, that southern city significant because south of where I'm standing I should say significant because of its significant oil reserves. That is where ISIS has launched a new operation to try and claim new territory, and seemingly to try and claim that city and the oil reserves surrounding it.

Now, Kurdish fighters have fought back. They are now trading, fighting on a daily basis there. They've managed to take back some of that ground that ISIS first advanced upon. But what it shows, perhaps increasingly, that this isn't just an attempt by ISIS to distract Kurdish forces from their efforts around Mosul. It does appear to be a sustained effort to try and take the city. A sign that this organization can still lash out, go on the offensive despite the significant pressure that it is under on other fronts, both on the ground and from the air, John.

BERMAN: There's a new pressure coming their way soon, too, as well.

Phil Black for us in Erbil, thanks so much, Phil.

ROMANS: Before leaving Washington, Jordan's king met with President Obama at the White House. The president said that if the video, if authentic, confirms the depravity of ISIS, Jordan says it believes the pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh had been dead for weeks by the time ISIS began negotiating for his life. Officials think he was killed on January 3rd.

For the latest on U.S. diplomatic and intelligence efforts, I want to bring in Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: John, Christine, if the claim the pilot was killed back on January 3rd is true, that's a very specific date. How would anybody know that? The U.S. intelligence community looking for any clues it had some intelligence, officials say, but nothing corroborated about when all of this took place. There might be two ways that they might eventually know.

Intercepts of ISIS communications or perhaps the Jordanian intelligence services had some trusted agents on the ground that gave them some information about all of this. But as the Jordanians react in horror and vow revenge, President Obama also very strongly issuing a statement saying that the U.S. stands with Jordan.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think we'll redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of a global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated.

STARR: And again, that horrifying video being scrutinized frame by frame by the U.S. intelligence community for any clues about the perpetrators -- John, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Our thanks to Barbara Starr for that.

We do have more breaking news this morning. NTSB investigators on their way right now after seven people were killed north of New York City when a commuter train slammed into a Jeep on the tracks during the evening commute.

Officials say the gates at the crossing near Valhalla came down on top of this Jeep which had stopped on the tracks. The driver apparently got out to look at the car and attempted to drive forward before the car was hit by the oncoming train. The Jeep's driver was killed along with six people on the train. The train burst into smoke and flames. The impact sent the electrified third rail through the entire front car and shoved the SUV the length of ten train cars.

Passengers described a horrifying scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIE WALLACE, PASSENGER: There was smoke in the head car, and we saw a couple of flames. Somebody called for a fire extinguisher, which we were able to get out of the second car. We were trying to pass that forward. We could not get the front car open. We were trying to break the glass and then a bunch of us realized we needed to evacuate.

DEVON CHAMPAGNE, PASSENGER: A car caught on fire, and the first car caught on fire and the second one, but we were able to get off in time. But it was scary.

FRED BOUNOCORE, PASSENGER: The train went silent. You could tell there was panic going on towards the front of the train. Like "Walk back! Walk back! Walk back!"

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Seven people were killed. It's amazing there were that many survivors, they were able to exit through the back of the train. Hundreds of people riding this train, this busy commuter line during the rush hour. Some of the people who did flee, they took shelter in an indoor rock climbing park that my kids go to.

ROMANS: Wow.

BERMAN: This was the deadliest accident in the history of the Metro North Line. A lot of questions about this, this morning.

ROMANS: Harrowing, those passengers trying to break into that first car that was on fire. People trapped. The fatalities were the people trapped in the first car. So sad.

BERMAN: We have still more breaking news this morning. The frantic search for survivors after a passenger jet with 58 people on board crashes into a river. Stunning video. We're live right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The breaking news this morning, Jordan has hanged two terrorists, one of them, the would-be suicide bomber whom ISIS wanted in exchange for sparingly a life of a Jordanian air force pilot. The execution in Jordan this morning comes after video surfaced apparently ISIS murdering this pilot, just barbaric images of militants burning Muath al-Kaseasbeh alive.

Jordan's King Abdullah cut short a visit to Washington, flying home. He is due in Amman very shortly. There says to be large crowds waiting for his arrival in Jordan. Now, before he left, the king met with President Obama who offered U.S. condolences on the pilot's death and strong support from the U.S.

ROMANS: All right. Another big story this morning, spectacular video of a TransAsia turboprop plane crash landing overnight into a river in Taiwan. Unbelievable. The final seconds captured on dash cam video courtesy of Taiwan affiliate TVBS.

Fifty-eight passengers and crew were on board. At least 13 people were killed. Many more still unaccounted for this morning.

I want to bring in David McKenzie. He's monitoring the rescue effort for us live from Beijing.

And what's happening this hour? The video is just -- is just stunning. We know that there are fatalities. What about the missing?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, there are several missing, and yes, that video is both stunning and horrific. You see that turboprop plane flipping over, cart-wheeling just after takeoff in Taipei, smashing into the barrier of an elevator, and ditching into a river right near the city. Frantic search efforts under way, more than 100 first responders on the scene trying to get people out of that plane, which was upside down.

Miraculously, they managed to pull out a number of people with injuries, alive from the fuselage which is partially submerged. Still no word exactly on how this happened. Of course, they have taken the flight data recorders from the scene, Christine.

And the CEO of the TransAsia Company saying, quote, "I would like to express our deep apologies to the victims and our crews. Again, we express our deep apologies."

This is not the first crash of its kind for this airline. Just seven months ago, some 48 people were killed when they crashed into an outlying island off Taiwan -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. David McKenzie, the pictures of the rescue, too, you see a man standing there with a child, just so frightening. We wish them the best as they continue their recovery efforts this morning. Thank you, David. BERMAN: To think there are survivors. When you see the video of that plane coming down over that roadway, to think there are people who came out of that plane alive is a miracle to say the least.

We have some other news this morning.

President Obama's immigration action front and center at the White House today. He is expected to meet with young undocumented immigrants from across the United States who were shielded from deportation because of executive orders that the president implemented. This is part of the White House plan to promote immigration reforms that could prevent millions of immigrants in the United States from being illegally -- mainly in the United States right now from being deported. Republicans in Congress are mounting their own campaign to undo these reforms.

ROMANS: The Environmental Protection Agency says the recent drop in global oil prices could spark increased development of Canada's oil sands if the Keystone oil pipeline is approved. And that would increase greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA review could influence President Obama's long-awaited decision on this proposed 1,200-mile pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. The president has said one of his chief concerns is the potential impact on the environment.

BERMAN: A bill to repeal to Obamacare, it has zero chance to becoming law, but it still passed the House Tuesday by a vote of 239-186. This is the latest effort by Republican leaders to dismantle President Obama's signature health care law. The Senate is expected to vote on a repeal measure this week as well. The president is going to veto anything like this that gets to his desk.

ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money this morning.

Oil prices are rising. Oil is up and so are stocks. U.S. stock futures really not right now a little blah.

But let's talk about yesterday. Stocks posted very big gains. The Dow climbed -- look at that, John -- 305 points. After a terrible January, the Dow is up more than 500 points in the first two trading days of February -- the energy sector, the biggest winner there.

Energy stocks up 3 percent yesterday because oil, for the first time in months, oil has stopped plunging. It looks as though it has found the floor here. Oil prices have been falling for seven months. They sank to a six-year low last week.

Since then, prices are up 20 percent, the biggest three-day spike since 2009. Oil producers starting to address the supply glut by canceling projects and reducing their investment and more drilling rigs are standing idle.

So, what happens with oil prices as they stop some of these investments? Oil prices get a boost. Also, the first large-scale refinery strike in 35 years, another thing causing some concern.

BERMAN: Wall Street likes it when you are paying more at the pump. Wall Street likes it when your gas prices are beginning to rise.

ROMANS: I will say gas prices are rising only a little, tiny bit right here. And that plunge in oil prices became destabilizing. And it also became a sign perhaps of very weak conditions around the world. And that became -- that makes everyone nervous.

BERMAN: But you're interests are not always in line with investors' interests. Not always, at least.

All right. Some weather news.

Plus, growing concerns this morning on the threat of ISIS in the United States. The FBI opens up to CNN about possible sleeper cells in this country. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking overnight, Jordan has executed two terrorists, including a would-be suicide bomber who ISIS had been trying to get released from death row. The hanging of Sajida al Rishawi was Jordan's outraged response to a new ISIS video, a video which CNN will not air. It shows the apparent burning alive of Jordanian fighter pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh.

King Abdullah on his way back to Amman, expected to land very soon, after cutting short his visit to Washington. The king met with President Obama who condemned what he called the viciousness and barbarity of ISIS and expressed solidarity with the people of Jordan.

BERMAN: Big concerns this morning about possible terror threats in the United States. A top FBI official says that terror groups such as ISIS are successfully using social media to target and recruit teenagers around the world including in the United States.

Our justice correspondent Pamela Brown spoke with the head of the FBI's counterterrorism division about young, homegrown extremists.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine.

We had the rare opportunity to do an exclusive interview with the head of the FBI's counterterrorism division, Michael Steinbach. We discussed a range of threats facing Americans. And he was very candid. He said it's been a struggle keeping up with all the Americans coming and going to Syria and that he would be lying if he said the FBI has not lost track of some Americans, citing the sheer volume of travelers and the ease of travel to Syria as just a couple of reasons why.

And one of the key questions we wanted an answer to is whether there are sleeper cells in the U.S. here's what he said.

Have you seen people in the U.S. coordinating to launch an attack?

MICHAEL STEINBACH, FBI'S COUNTERTERRORISM DIVISION: We have seen individuals collaborate, of course.

BROWN: In the U.S.?

STEINBACH: Yes.

BROWN: So, are there ISIS cells in the U.S.?

STEINBACH: There are individuals that have been in communication with groups like ISIL who have a desire to conduct an attack, yes.

BROWN: That are living in the U.S. right now?

STEINBACH: Correct.

BROWN: Steinbach also says there is a growing trend of ISIS recruiting young U.S. teens as young as 15 years old. He says ISIS has been successful at pushing out a false PR narrative on social media, and that narrative is being sucked up by kids the U.S. he says there have been several cases where they've been able to stop teens from getting to Syria. But he can't say with certainty American teens haven't made it over there. He says the FBI needs parents' help combating this problem -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Wow, stunning testimony from Zacarias Moussaoui, the so- called 20th 9/11 hijacker. Moussaoui claims high-profile members of the Saudi royal family supported al Qaeda financially in the late 1990s. He says he discussed a plan to shoot down Air Force One with a stinger missile with a staff member at the Saudi embassy in Washington. Moussaoui's statements were taken in October at his prison in Colorado. They're being submitted as evidence in a civil suit filed by 9/11 families against the Saudis.

BERMAN: The Aaron Hernandez murder trial resumes this morning in Massachusetts with a new juror in place. A female juror was dismissed Tuesday after the judge found she discussed evidence and formed an opinion about the case. You can't do that. In court, the girlfriend of Odin Lloyd, the man that Hernandez is accused of killing, she will be back on the stand today. Prosecutors are expected to finish questioning Jenkins, and the defense will begin cross-examining her.

ROMANS: Bobbi Kristina Brown is surrounded by family and fighting for her life this morning in a hospital in Atlanta. Whitney Houston's daughter was found face down and unconscious in a bathtub over the weekend. Now her father, Bobby Brown, says there's something that needs to be cleared up, announcing his daughter is not married to Nick Gordon even though she's been referring to Gordon as her husband for more than a year.

BERMAN: Breaking news this morning: Jordan retaliates against ISIS, executing two terrorists overnight. This comes after the brutal video, the ISIS execution of this man, Jordanian pilot Muath al- Kaseasbeh, burned alive in a cage. There is outrage this morning all around the world, major implications in the battle against ISIS, when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)