Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

ISIS Video Shows Pilot Burned Alive; World Reacts With Outrage to ISIS Murder; Deadly Train Crash in Westchester; TransAsia Plane Crashes into Taiwan River

Aired February 04, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news overnight, Jordan fights back, executing two terrorists hours after ISIS releases shocking new video showing a Jordanian hostage burned alive. Live team coverage tracking the new developments overnight. That's ahead.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, investigators on the scene after a New York passenger train smashes into an SUV killing seven people, 12 injured. New developments overnight.

BERMAN: Dramatic video, just unbelievable, capturing the moment when a plane with 58 people on board crashes into a river. Right now this morning, there is a frantic search for survivors. We're live ahead.

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

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's 30 minutes past the hour. We welcome our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. 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, hanging her at dawn after ISIS released a horrific video, a video that appeared to show their pilot, the Jordanian pilot, being burned alive in a cage.

CNN will not show any part of this ISIS propaganda video. It is propaganda. It is manufactured for the utmost terror, to instill terror and to inspire people to join its cause.

Jordanians, though, are outraged this morning. They are demonstrating in the streets. They are demanding vengeance against is, and the Jordanian government is vowing to oblige. A government spokesman saying, quote, "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 be landing there any moment now. CNN's Becky Anderson joins us now live.

Becky, has he arrived yet, and what do we think the next steps will be of this government, a government that has vowed to get revenge for the killing of their pilot? BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's going to be the interesting next step, isn't it? Listen, he is expected to arrive any time soon and crowds at the airport anticipating the king's arrival.

At this hour, at least I have to say that if ISIS thinks that this latest evil, the video that they cut, this 22-minute video of the pilot being burned alive will cause any of these regional players including Jordan in the U.S. fight against ISIS to crack in their support, then they have seemingly miscalculated.

The kingdom has already vowed, and I quote, "punishment and revenge for the pilot's death." The king is describing ISIS simply as a deviant criminal group.

Now, our sources tell us that he will make a short statement to the nation after his arrival, expected, as I say, pretty much now. And then will travel south to the village in the south of the country to pay his condolences to the pilot's family and to members of the tribe, an incredibly important strategic tribe.

The tribe is important to the military effort. They provide a lot of manpower to the effort for Jordan in the fight against ISIS. The mourning for the young pilot will be held there in the very same spot where just six months ago the pilot got married. His father spoke earlier this morning, and this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAFI AL-KASASBEH, FATHER OF JORDANIAN PILOT (through translator): These were criminals and there is no comparison between them. His blood is more value than Rishawi. I demand that revenge should be bigger than executing prisoners. I demand that this criminal organization should be annihilated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Demanding that ISIS be annihilated. Regionally, the UAE's foreign minister, where we're broadcasting from, quote, "This heinous and obscene act represents a brutal escalation by the terrorist group." It is the defining moment, a very strong and unequivocal statement being heard from both outside of Jordan and inside of the kingdom.

I guess the question is simply this. Exactly how does this U.N.-led coalition ratchet up action against these militants in Iraq and in Syria? Behind closed doors, just how much continued support does th U.S. have regionally here?

For Obama's current policy of airstrikes only, but no commitment to boots on the ground, at least not from those aside from local buy-in, as it were, and much criticism that military action is not and will not work in isolation.

So what is the next step if this is to be the defining moment? Expect to hear more from King Abdullah when he arrives in Jordan, but also from these regional players in the hours, days and weeks ahead.

ROMANS: Should be a fascinating response, ISIS turning a new page, a new page of barbarity, and how will the rest of the world respond? Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, thank you.

BERMAN: King Abdullah is expected to arrive back in Jordan any minute right now. We've seen pictures of crowds gathering to meet him at the airport when he does land there. It is a nation now united in mourning and also galvanized in opposition to ISIS.

Our Atika Shubert is on the ground now in Amman at a prayer service for the murdered pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh. Good morning, Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. That prayer service has just concluded and I can't begin to tell you the palpable emotion on the streets here, even coming from the airport we saw hundreds of people gathering to greet the king, to express their support for him, and their anger at what has happened.

You can see here the amount of people that have gathered for these prayers. They were chanting things like "ISIS are mercenaries." Also one man yelling out "May God make the Jordanian -- give the Jordanian army victory over the mercenaries of ISIS."

So very real anger here on the streets and just a few minutes ago, saw these fighter jets from the Jordanian Air Force flying overhead, a huge cheer behind us.

And I think it just goes to show -- in fact, we may get some more planes flying overhead just now -- it just goes to show that if ISIS's objective was to divide opinion in Jordan that does not seem to be working, at least not what we can see -- John.

BERMAN: You see that opinion, united right now in opposition to ISIS. Are the people there at the prayer service on the streets now, Atika, are you getting any sense of how far they're willing to go with this anger? What do they want to see implemented right now, more of a directed military effort against ISIS?

SHUBERT: I think what many people here are voicing is simply the fact that ISIS has become a full-fledged enemy of Jordan and they want -- the way they've described ISIS as killers, murderers, mercenaries, and they want to see a full military force really take the fight to ISIS.

Now, the question, of course, is what are the logistics involved in that? Of course, ISIS has been pounded by airstrikes, but what's really need is boots on the ground.

So the big question is now will this anger translate into a ground -- more of a ground offensive that brings the fight to ISIS in Syria and Iraq?

BERMAN: It's really interesting to see the collective mourning going on behind you, Atika. In some ways ISIS doing what the United States and the west could not, which is to build Arab opposition, strong opposition to is throughout that region. Atika Shubert for us on the ground in Amman and we'll go back there as soon as King Abdullah arrives. Thanks, Atika.

ROMANS: That is a really good point, John. The brutality of the ISIS murder of the pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh is prompting outrage. The terror group has also launched a new attack against the city of Kirkuk in Iraq.

Iraqi forces along with the Kurdish Peshmerga are fighting back. Standing by live for us just miles from the front line in that fight is international correspondent, Phil Black, with the latest on this advance. Hi, Phil.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine. Yes, here on the ground, the Kurdish officials in this Kurdish region of Iraq tell that you everyone in the international coalition against is here in Northern Iraq must do more.

And that is because every day there is evidence that ISIS remains a potent fighting force. Despite the fact they have been slowed down in some cases, even driven back across some of the territory that they claimed so rapidly when they first advanced through Northern Iraq last year.

They still hold Mosul, Iraq's second largest city. They hold it firmly. Around that city, that is where Kurdish forces are trying to circle the city, choke it off, and cut it off from the Syrian border.

And in doing so, cut it off from ISIS-controlled territory. But despite that, despite that pressure that remains and really is increasing upon ISIS in this region, the organization has shown that it is still capable of lashing out as it has done so around the city of Kirkuk.

Significant, strategic because of its location, because of its oil wealth, it is a city on the main road to the capital, Baghdad and that is where ISIS fighters made a sudden lurch for new territory just over the last week.

Kurdish fighters have repelled that to some degree, but they believe strongly that ISIS is simply regrouping and getting ready for yet another offensive.

What it all shows here on the ground is that ISIS is still able to go on the offensive despite the fact that Kurdish forces show great determination in slowing them down, even driving them back, and despite the fact that the international coalition is still hitting them significantly from the air -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Phil Black for us this morning in Iraq, thanks, Phil.

BERMAN: We have more breaking news this morning close to home, very close to home for some of us. NTSB investigators on their way after seven people were killed north of New York City when a commuter train slammed into a jeep on the tracks right in the middle of the evening commute.

Officials say the gates at the crossing near Valhalla came down on top of a jeep, which had stopped on the tracks. Now, the driver apparently got out to look at the car, attempted to drive forward before being hit head on by the oncoming train.

The jeep's driver was killed along with six people on the train, which burst into smoke and flames. The impact sent the electrified third rail through the entire front car of the train and shoved the SUV the length of ten train cars. Passengers described what was a terrifying ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVON CHAMPAGNE, PASSENGER: There was a passenger that ran past me. He had blood on his face and people were pulling the windows off, trying to get out through the emergency window.

FRED BOUNOCORE, PASSENGER: The car caught on fire, and the first car was on fire and the second one, but we were able to get off in time. It was scary.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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: Hundreds of passengers in other cars, they fled through the back of the train. It was a cold, cold night. They took shelter at nearby businesses including a climbing facility that kids from all around the area use. This is the deadliest accident in the history of the Metro North train line.

ROMANS: All right, breaking news this morning, the death toll rising as rescuers search for survivors of this deadly plane crash. We're live with new information next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Spectacular video of a TransAsia turboprop plane crash landing overnight, crash landing into a river in Taiwan. This is dashcam video. It's just remarkable, the final seconds of this captured here. We've got it courtesy of Taiwan affiliate TVBS.

Fifty eight passengers and crew were on board at least 21 people killed. Many more still unaccounted for this morning. I want to bring in David McKenzie monitoring the rescue effort live from Beijing.

David, in the rescue, you can see there are a couple little children, a baby, sort of stunned passengers being led out of the tilted-over body of this plane. And we know there are fatalities.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know there are fatalities, at least 21, extraordinary that anyone survived this horrible crash which happened, as you say, in Taipei just after takeoff. This turboprop plane was due to have about a one-hour flight, mostly packed with tourists including more than 30 from the Chinese mainland.

This is a very popular route for Chinese when it came crashing down, slamming into a highway, flipping over essentially and landing into a river near Taipei. And so certainly as they rushed to the scene in their boats and any other means necessary to get at the people.

They were able to rescue at least 16 people with varying degrees of injury. Incredible they made it out and still the search goes on as nightfall hits Taipei. Obviously family members are very distraught.

Many of them angry, saying that the airline didn't give them enough information about what was happening. The airline itself is apologizing to both the passengers and the crew. And this is the second deadly crash of TransAsia airline in just about seven months -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, David McKenzie for us in Beijing monitoring that rescue effort of that flight, that TransAsia flight -- John.

BERMAN: All right, growing concerns this morning on the threat of ISIS here in the United States. The FBI opens up to CNN about possible sleeper cells. 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 response to a heinous, brutal new ISIS video.

That video which CNN will not air shows the apparent burning alive of Jordanian fighter pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh. King Abdullah of Jordan on his way back to his country after cutting short a visit to Washington.

Crowds of people outraged and grieving in Jordan have gathered at the airport to welcome him home. The king did meet with President Obama who condemned what he called the viciousness and barbarity of ISIS and expressed solidarity with the people of Jordan.

BERMAN: There are concerns in the United States about the growth and reach of ISIS in this country. A top FBI official says that terror groups are successfully usually social media to target and recruit teenagers around the world including in the United States.

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

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.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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

MICHAEL STEINBACH, HEAD OF THE 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Steinbach also says there is a growing trend of is 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 in 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 combatting this problem -- John and Christine.

ROMANS: All the other things you have to worry about with your kids online, you know, this is the cool that ISIS and extremists are using is social media.

All right, oil prices on their way back up, bad news for drivers, sorry. Good news for your portfolio. An EARLY START on your money is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: All right, let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning. Oil prices are climbing and Wall Street loves it. The Dow climbed 305 points yesterday, the sixth day in a row of triple-digit moves. It's been crazy.

Energy stocks led the way up. Oil prices seem to have found a floor for now. It's been an oil market crash frankly for months, but now prices are finally rising. Oil producers are canceling projects, reducing investments, which should reduce supply and then boost prices. That's how the cycle goes.

So does that mean the end of $2 gas? Definitely not yet but prices are rising. The average is now $2.11 this morning, up 5 cents from yesterday, the biggest increase in a couple years.

Gas prices ended a record 123-day slide last week. They're expected to keep climbing into the spring. Still much less than they were a year ago or even two years ago. That is money in consumers' pockets.

BERMAN: Oil prices keep going up.

ROMANS: Yes.

BERMAN: Meanwhile, a big news morning, a frantic search for survivors after a passenger plane with dozens on board crashes into a river. "NEW DAY" starts right now.