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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Egypt Strikes ISIS; Terror in Copenhagen; Northeast Snow & Arctic Cold; NBA All-Stars Shine in New York

Aired February 16, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. It's top of the hour. EARLY START continues right now.

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ROMANS: Breaking overnight: Egypt launching airstrikes against ISIS after ISIS beheads Egyptian Christians in a barbaric video. Egypt's president had vowed to avenge their murders. Is this only the beginning?

Terror in Copenhagen. What caused a man to go on a shooting spree in Denmark in what is being called the country's worst case of terrorism in decades? A look at what authorities are learning. Very new breaking details ahead.

Bundle up. A deep freeze slamming the U.S., more snow -- more snow burying the Northeast. Is there any relief from this brutal winter in sight?

Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. John Berman has this Monday morning off. It is February 16th, it is Presidents Day, 5:00 a.m. in the East.

Egypt launching airstrikes against ISIS targets in Libya following the release of a video -- a video claiming to show the mass beheading of 21 Egyptian Chris Christians. Christians who are kidnapped in Libya. Egypt's president vowed to avenge these murders.

CNN's Ian Lee live for us in Cairo -- Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, we are hearing now from the Egyptian foreign ministry. We know the target, the city that was targeted by Egyptian F-16s early this morning, the city of Derna. This is the city that ISIS has controlled for some time. It's a city with a long history of sending militants off to fight in Iraq and Syria.

Under the cover of darkness, the F-16s struck warehouses, we're told. They struck arms depots, as well as ISIS training camps. This comes hours after the group released the horrific video of the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.

In the video, there was a militant who gave a warning in English to the Christians here in Egypt and the European Union. Libya is a country on Europe's door step. And note that city that the Egyptian government targeted is 200 miles from the Egyptian border -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Ian Lee for us this morning -- again, just a horrific video and response from the Egyptian government.

The White House also responding, condemning the beheadings of the Egyptians, issuing the statement, which reads in part, "This wanton killing of innocents is just the most vicious acts perpetrated by ISIL-affiliated terrorists against the people of the region, which only further galvanizes the international community to unite against ISIL.

The U.S.-led coalition stepping up the aerial bombings of those ISIS, or ISIL, as the U.S. government calls them, targets following the latest terror attack last week, targeting an Iraqi base that is home to U.S. troops. Now, there is concern the battlefield will widen. ISIS militants said to be gaining ground now in Anbar province. That's west of Baghdad.

Let's bring in CNN's Phil Black. He is live in Irbil, Iraq. And he's got the details of what's happening on the ground there -- Phil.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, good morning.

Some 1,400 Iraqi soldiers graduated basic and intermediate training with the help of the U.S. military personnel who helped devise and design that training plan. This is all part of the Iraqi government says will be the next step in combating ISIS, launching new offensive operations against them particularly here in the north of the country.

The prime minister has said a big plan is already underway to retake that ISIS stronghold in the city of Mosul, just to the West of where I am standing.

It could begin within a few months. But the timeframe will depend upon events on the ground. That training, rebuilding program, within the Iraqi military.

In the west of the country, Anbar province, a very different situation, because that is where ISIS remains on the front foot, and continues to claim ground. That is where last week they claimed the Iraqi town of al Baghdadi. And from there, launched attacks to the nearby air base Ayn al-Asad, which is housing more than 300 U.S. military personnel at this time. Now, efforts to retake al Baghdadi so far have not gone particularly well. The local Sunni fighters on the ground helping the Iraqi military need more international assistance to stop ISIS continuing its advance through the region -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Phil Black in Irbil for us in Iraq this morning -- thank you for that, Phil.

Now to Denmark, where police are investigating the attacks that killed two people in Copenhagen over the weekend, the first attack at a free speech forum. The other, hours later at a Jewish synagogue. The gunman was killed in a shootout with police on Sunday. We are learning more about this 22-year-old shooter who officials say was well known to police.

CNN's Karl Penhaul live for us this morning in Copenhagen. And we are learning new information by the minute about this 22-year-old suspect.

What can you tell us?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we just learned from Reuters and TV 2 here. He is named Omar Abdul Hamid El- Hussein.

The 22-year-old had recently been in jail for a violent stabbing attack on a train, on a passenger on a train, recently released from jail. We are learning from prosecutors and defense attorneys here about the two men arrested by police in Copenhagen yesterday.

What the prosecutors are saying is that these two men had a prior arrangement with the gunman so apparent prior knowledge of at least one of the attacks. Prior arrangement with a gunman, prosecutors say, to hide him after the first attack and before the second attack and before he went back for the fatal shootout with police.

So, a number of new details emerging here. The police described the 22-year-old as a gang member, a violent man, a man who has possession of weapons illegally. Somebody they also fear may have been inspired by the attacks in Paris and by radical ISIS propaganda, they say.

ROMANS: Nic Robertson. I'm sorry. I called you Karl Penhaul. We had you with Karl Penhaul in our rundown.

Nic, thank you for being on the scene there for us this morning. And just quickly, one thing that is troubling to people in Denmark, this is the most violent episode they had in some couple of decades, really. They are worried and they're on high alert. They are worried there could be other lone wolves or radicalized in prison, people who might not be on their radar.

They are very concerned there, aren't they?

ROBERTSON: That's, it's a very big concern. I mean, you have the issue of a copycat-type of attack. So, that is a major concern. The police feel they have two accomplices here who were not directly involved in the attack, but had prior knowledge. The concern is, were there other people waiting for some other part of this plan to emerge and take part in terrorist type activities. So, that's a concern as well.

But, you know, what worries the community here is it has been relatively peaceful. They had a high number. One of the highest per capita rates of young men going to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria and is. Officially, about 110 people had from this small country here to go and join that fight, a number of them come back from the fight.

The concern is how do you handle them? Are they being truthful when they come back and enter into this sort of de-radicalization program? The concern going forward now is, you know, are they going to see more of this? Christine?

ROMANS: All right. Nic Robertson for us in Copenhagen -- thank you for that, Nic.

The French government is condemning the desecration of hundreds of Jewish graves at the cemetery in eastern France. These gravestones were defaced with swastikas and Nazi slogans.

CNN's Jim Bittermann live for us this morning in this story in Paris.

Good morning, Jim.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

This took place in an isolated area, a town, a very small town between place in eastern France. A Jewish cemetery which has been targeted in the past, back in 1988 and in 2001. Something similar happened, but nothing of this magnitude. There are over 300 tombstones turned over and broken. The investigators are going through the cemetery this morning trying to find any forensic clues who might have done this.

It took place somewhere in the evenings of either Friday or Saturday night of this weekend. Officials say that they only discovered this late yesterday. They are really unsure about who would have done it. It must have been a fairly large group or at least several people. Turnover so many heavy grave stones would have taken a number of people.

It is clearly seen here as an anti-Semitic attack, and a number of people have spoken out and condemned this, including President Hollande himself, who said this morning, this evening requires the strongest reaction, nothing will be tolerated and nothing will be less than that reaction. It is a wake-up call for the nation -- Christine.

ROMANS: You know, the French prime minister saying it is an insult to memory. Does it feel -- is the feeling in France that the anti- Semitism is rising in France?

BITTERMANN: Well, according to the Jewish agency which takes care of security in the Jewish community, the number of anti-Semitic attacks, last night, 2014, doubled over 2013. It really has put a lot of the numbers in the Jewish community here on edge, given the fact we had the terrorist attacks here back in January and the number of sort of other incidents that have taken place, and as well the Copenhagen attack. There is a great number of Jewish families moving to Israel now because of the fact that they feel insecure in France. So, yes, I would say yes.

ROMANS: All right. Jim Bittermann, thank you for that.

And as you mentioned, families moving to Israel. The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for a mass immigration of Jews from Europe to Israel. His comments follow the fatal shooting of a Jewish guard at a Copenhagen synagogue. They echo the remarks he made last month after the attack on the kosher market in Paris. Netanyahu's message to European Jews: Israel is your home.

Ten minutes past the hour.

It may be the first crack in the fragile Ukraine cease-fire. Reports of battles between Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian separatists in Mariupol after the cease-fire went into effect at midnight on Sunday.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen live for us in Ukraine this morning.

And it's a young and fragile truce. How's it holding, Fred?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly is getting more and more cracks, as you say, Christine. So far, the Ukrainian forces are telling us that there had been over 100 infringements of this new ceasefire in the first 24 hours. They say that only yesterday, five Ukrainian forces were killed here in the region where I am in Mariupol, in shelling in an outskirt of Mariupol. What's also apparently going on is that in other places further north, there seems to be some shelling as well.

And pro-Russian separatists are blaming Ukrainian forces for shelling their positions. So, both sides laying blame on each other. So, at this point, the cease-fire is still holding. At least that's what the Ukrainians are saying. However, it seems to becoming more and more difficult to have that cease-fire hold.

Now, what's supposed to happen today, Christine, is that both sides are supposed to start withdrawing heavy weapons from the line that separates them and so far, neither side is doing that. In fact, we're hearing from our sources, is that on the pro-Russian side, it seems as though there's more gear is moving in there. I have actually also seen Ukrainian forces fortify some of their positions. So, at this point in time, it is a very difficult situation here on the ground, Christine.

ROMANS: And we know, Fred, you will cover that for us and bring us any word on how that truce is holding. Thanks for that, Fred, in Ukraine.

Twelve minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money.

The stock market closed today for Presidents Day. But the S&P 500 sitting there at a record high after Friday's rally. The Dow is now back above 18,000.

Huge bank heist. This could be the biggest ever. Hackers reached in and stole about $1 billion. That's $1 billion right from the banks. That's according to Internet security firm Kaspersky lab.

OK. This heist covers more than 100 banks in 25 countries, including the U.S. Now, the firm is not naming the banks. Kaspersky says the attacks remain active. Here's how they're doing it. Hackers install spying software. They

learn how to mimic bank employee work flows. They actually watch the movements of people who are moving money into another bank account. Then they use that information after watching for a period of months to make transfers into their own bank accounts.

They are also taking millions of dollars of cash in ATMs. They are sending strongmen to ATMs and spewing cash out of them using computer code. The firm say the thieves are from Russia, China, Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe.

All right. Thirteen minutes past the hour. You are waking up to freezing cold temperatures today, freezing cold, as snow falls from the south to of the northeast. Everything you need to know ahead.

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ROMANS: All right. Welcome back.

The winter of 2015 one new Englanders will never forget. Up to 2 feet of snow falling in the latest storm, just the latest storm. Boston buried again, more than 16 inches falling there, the fourth major snowstorm in three weeks.

It is Boston's snowiest month on record. The total of 45.5 inches and bitter cold temperatures to deal with.

People in the Southeast and Deep South are getting their own winter wallop. They are bracing for snow and bitter cold.

CNN's Nick Valencia live for us in Nashville, Tennessee.

And we know when it is cold and snow down South, things really come to a halt.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Christine. This is not quite Boston, but pretty bad for the area. We have seen the freezing rain start to pick up and it's already accumulating here on the ground, as much as a quarter inch is predicted in the area.

We have seen people from the office of emergency management already out this morning, as early as 3:00 this morning, partially active to deal with this dangerous situation. Some weather models predicted between 3 and 7 inches of snow for the Nashville area.

That's why over the weekend, they did their best to prepare. Getting out there from Friday, all through Saturday and Sunday salting and brining those roads to prepare motorist who will ignore the mayor getting out of these roads. The mayor has asked everybody to stay indoors on the presidents day holiday.

But as you mentioned, here in the South, this is not really the standard weather conditions for this time of year. Last year, they had some moderate events, but this year, this is predicted to be pretty bad out there. For those who are in the Nashville area, watching in Tennessee, listen to officials and stay inside, try to safe as possible -- Christine.

ROMANS: OK. All right. And you, too. Stay safe. I know you will want to move around for the live shots. Be careful of the black ice.

Thanks so much. Nice to see you, Nick.

Pedram Javaheri has an early start on your forecast -- Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Christine.

Yes, absolutely, the south starting to feel winter -- at least wintry conditions from Kansas City towards Nashville, significant snow accumulations, possible, where more than 60 million people in this region under a winter weather advisory or winter weather warning. And take a look, the mix of wintry mess that is coming down across areas east of Oklahoma City. Really, the I-40 corridor is the most dangerous roadway across the country today, mainly across Little Rock, where ice accumulation a probability today, significant ice accumulations. North of that line, working your way through the I-70 and St. Louis region, significant snowfall across the area.

But talking about ice, anytime you get from .25 to .50 inch, tree limbs can come down. You exceed a half an inch, widespread damage to power lines occur across the area. And look at the color contours in Little Rock. This is half an inch, the three-quarters of an inch. That's an area of very dangerous conditions, and it stretches all the way east south of Nashville, eventually pushes in towards Charlotte with smaller accumulations of ice.

But here's the culprit. It brings in some snow showers across the Deep South, eventually pushes up the Eastern Seaboard by Tuesday morning. Guess what, Christine, more wintry weather is possible this time from Washington, Baltimore and Philly and then New York, and maybe even Boston by the middle portion of the week there. So, we'll follow this throughout the week.

ROMANS: All right. Pedram Javaheri, how many weeks until spring? Maybe a couple more months.

Nineteen minutes past the hour.

Breaking news overnight at Dulles Airport outside Washington. Arrivals and departures slow down after a pipe burst inside the control tower. Workers were evacuated and for a brief period no planes were leaving. The tower has now reopened. Officials say they are working to restore full operations.

Transportation officials in Hawaii say seven people were hurt when turbulence hit a United Airlines flight from Newark to Honolulu. Most of the people hurt were members the crew. A teenage passenger was also taken to the hospital with a head injury.

The FAA this morning laying out its proposed new rules for the commercial use of drones. Operators will have to pass a knowledge test and background check, but they would not need a pilot's license. The guidelines are designed to cover small drones, less than 55 pounds use for business purposes. Meantime, the White House says federal agencies will be required for the first time to publicly disclose where they fly drones and what they do with the data collected from aerial surveillance.

All right. The stars were out in New York. Not just for "SNL's" big 40th bash, but the NBA all-star game at Madison Square Garden. Andy Scholes with the latest in the "Bleacher Report", next.

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ROMANS: All right. The NBA's biggest stars putting on a show last night at Madison Square Garden.

We are pleased because Andy Scholes is here. He was at the all-star game. He has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Nice to see you here.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, great to be here, Christine.

ROMANS: You did not get much sleep.

SCHOLES: I did not get much sleep.

But there was a lot of fun, very cold outside, walking the Madison Square Garden. I don't think I've ever been in that cold in my life. But getting inside the game, so much fun. It's great night of basketball. Definitely did not disappoint.

We had a first in last night's all-star game. Pau and Marc Gasol, first brothers to start in the all-star game, Pau and Marc Gasol first brothers to ever start an all-star game. They jumped against one another in the opening tip, and the elder Paul winning like (INAUDIBLE) did everything. The two growing up in Spain as kids.

Now, the West at one point, they jumped to an early 20-point lead. Thanks to this guy right there, the Thunder's Russell Westbrook. He scored 27 points in the first half alone. That was an all star record.

LeBron kept the East in it. Here is with the reverse slam on the alley-hoop. He had 30 points in the game.

The teams combined 48 three-pointers in the game. The West came out on top, 163-158. It was the highest scoring all-star game ever. Westbrook was the MVP after 41 points, which was just one shy of Wilt Chamberlain's all star game record.

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RUSSELL WESTBROOK, ALL-STAR GAME MVP: You never want to take no games for granted, especially an all-star game, to get a chance to go out and show your talents. I'm blessed to be able to play the game that I love and definitely happy we got the win. LEBRON JAMES, PASSED MICHAEL JORDAN IN ASG SCORING: It don't get no

better man than playing in the Garden in front of these fans that know the game of basketball and to be able to go out and represent my team and represent this league at the highest level, it means everything.

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SCHOLES: The game was record-setting and so is the weekend. The dunk contest had become stale, we've pretty much seen it all. But Zach LaVine brought it back to life Saturday night. His first two dunks, Christine, had the crowd in Brooklyn going absolutely nuts. People are saying this was best dunk performance since Vince Carter's legendary showing back in 2000. I definitely agree with that.

After watching the contest, LeBron said he regrets never doing the dunk contest. LaVine said he would take down LeBron anyways. Pretty confident 19-year-old right there, Christine.

The three-point contest also lived up to all the hype. It was billed as the best three-point field of all time. And in the end, it was the flash brothers going against one another, Steph Curry against his teammate Klay Thompson. And the fourth time ended up being the charm for Curry. He was 0-3 in the combination, but he had 13 in a row at one point, bringing home the trophy. He is the three-point champion.

ROMANS: Thirteen threes in a row?

SCHOLES: Thirteen at one point. He had the crowd going nuts. Saturday night was entertaining out there at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and then last night as well. It was a great weekend altogether. If it just a little warmer, it would have been a little nice.

ROMANS: Look at you with the great beat complaining about the weather.

Andy Scholes, nice to see you, thanks.

Twenty-seven minutes past the hour.

Our top story this morning, Egypt launching air strikes against ISIS after ISIS killed Christians in a horrific new video. Will this be the tipping point to bring more countries to fight against the terror group?

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