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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Deadly Shootings In Denmark; Egypt Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS In Libya; Fragile Truce In Ukraine; Northeast Snow and Arctic Cold; SNL Celebrates 40 Years

Aired February 16, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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

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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, Egypt attacking ISIS targets after the militant group beheaded Egyptian Christians in a vicious new video. Will the barbaric actions of ISIS encourage more countries to fight against them?

Denmark on edge after the country's worst case of terrorism in years, was the man who went on a shooting spree in Copenhagen inspired by the "Charlie Hebdo" attacks in France?

Deep freeze, the brutal winter getting worse with arctic temperatures has more misery piles on the northeast.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. John Berman has the morning off. It is 31 minutes past the hour this Presidents' Day, holiday.

Breaking news overnight, Egypt launching air strikes against ISIS targets in Libya following the release of the video claiming to show the mass beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians, Christians who were kidnapped in Libya. Egypt's president had vowed to avenge those murders.

CNN's Ian Lee live for us in Cairo. It is really another horrific chapter in what brutal, brutal story of ISIS.

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Christine. There are a lot of messages we're taking away from the latest video. Watching the high production quality and similar to what we have seen in Iraq and Syria. These men are taken out onto the beach and then beheaded.

In the video, a militant gives a speech in English. It warns the Coptic Christian community here in Egypt. He also talks to the Egyptian government and Europe. Libya is right on Europe's door step.

For Egypt, though, President Sisi was under a lot of pressure to react and to react quickly. Last night, he gave a speech on state TV talking about that he reserves the right to strike out. Early this morning, we saw Egyptian F-16s striking targets in Durna hitting ISIS places as well as weapon depots -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Ian Lee for us in Cairo this morning. Thank you for that. Disturbing developments, airstrikes now from the Egyptian government against ISIS positions.

New developments overnight in Denmark, two men charged as accomplices in the deadly Copenhagen attacks pleading not guilty in court. The alleged gunman was well known to police. He was killed in a shootout after those two attacks.

The first attack was at a free speech forum and the second attack hours later at a Jewish synagogue. CNN's Nic Robertson live for in Copenhagen.

We are learning that Reuters are putting the name of this suspect. Police telling us indeed they knew of him, but not for terrorist activities. He was a violent criminal who had been in prison.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Omar Abdul Hamid Al-Hussein is who the police or at least Reuters is saying on TV2 Danish channel here according to police saying, the police have not gone public with this yet.

Now that he is named, it obviously brings a lot more information to light about him. One of those details is that he had served time in jail for violent attack on a commuter train and unprovoked stabbing on a passenger.

The police also say that he has got ties to gangs here so he has a violent past. Possibly he was inspired to attack by what he saw in Paris. They say possibly inspired by radical Islamist teachings online by ISIS.

But they say they don't believe that he'd actually been to Iraq and Syria and what we are hearing as well the two men arrested by the police yesterday interestingly what the prosecutor is saying that they helped the gunman between the attacks by prior agreement.

That's what the prosecutor is saying, which means in effect these men were in some part accomplices and may have had details and knowledge about the shootings in advance.

So the situation here still heightened security and still concern that there could be other accomplices or copy-cat attacks -- Christine.

ROMANS: Nic, you said that there has been concern in Denmark because of the number of mostly young men who have been going to the battlefield in Iraq and Syria and coming back.

It raises a lot of questions for Denmark about how they repatriate these young men. At the same time, this particular gentleman looks as though what happened to him was something it happened in prison perhaps. We don't know if he was ever on the battlefield.

ROBERTSON: Yes, and this is a growing concern across Europe and the United States as well that young men who have sort of a pre- disposition perhaps to be radicalized. When they go to jail, it is becoming a sort of breeding ground.

We saw this in France with the attack on the kosher supermarket there. The attacker there had been to a degree radicalized in jail. So it's a similar concern or worry is emerging here. Again the details of what happened in jail. His mental framework when he came out of jail quite recently is unclear.

But there was a transition from somebody who was sort of a gang member to someone who is acting up in a very sort of stereo typical radical Islamist propaganda agenda here. What happened in jail that is a question?

ROMANS: All right, Nic Robertson, we are learning new details by the minute, really, of the suspect in the Denmark attack. Let's stay so the Denmark story. Let's get some analysis on this, on the news out of Denmark from Haras Rafiq this morning.

He is the managing director of the Quilliam Foundation. I also want to ask him about Egypt striking those ISIS positions in Libya, but let's start with the conversation, Harris, that we were having with Nic Robertson there.

This brand of Jihad, this Jihad adventure that is somehow -- it is somehow inspiring these Danish citizens and French citizens. It is interesting because the prime minister of Denmark said this is not a battle between Islam and the west.

It's not a battle between Muslims and non-Muslims. It's a battle between the values of freedom for the individual and a dark ideology. What is it about that dark ideology that it's appealing to these men?

HARAS RAFIQ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION: Well, first of all, I'm very disappointed that he did not name that dark ideology. That dark ideology is Islamism. It's a politicized warped interpretation of the faith that I practice which is Islam.

It's very attractive. It's very appealing. It deals with grievances, impartial grievances and gives youngster and people who may not feel that they fit into society or maybe looking for a home or looking to belong to a particular group of people. It gives them a hold. It gives them something to aim for. It gives

them something to fight for. It gives them adventure and it also gives them a theological justification to say that not only will you be Muslim if you actually do this and go down this path. You will be rewarded by God as well.

It really is about a very appealing ideology that links into people who have some problems and issues and grievances and partial grievances. It attracts them to these pathways that lead them to wanting to fight and kill.

ROMANS: What's interesting about this, one of the many things that's interesting about the Danish suspect here is that he had been known to police for gang activity. When you look at the narrative of gang membership and narrative of ISIS ideology, there are a lot of similarities.

RAFIQ: Absolutely. Let's not also forget that this guy probably may well have been motivated and inspired by al Qaeda, ISIL and Muslim Brotherhood. They all the same types of ideology and this ideology really as you mentioned, the gangs.

It is really something that -- the good way to look at this is grooming. The way that young particular individuals will be inspired and pulled into particular groups, the same way there may be gangs and same way there may be cults or any other sort of particular family almost gang that gives people hope is something that is used by Islamist recruiters.

Almost like salesmanship actually, they use sales techniques, they use various tactics to recruit these youngsters and people who are prone to particular type of lifestyle are people that are more susceptible to going down this path than others.

ROMANS: The big story we're following this morning as well. The Egyptian government launching air strikes against ISIS positions in Libya after this just horrific video, 21 Coptic Christians killed, an English speaking Jihadi talking about the blood of Christians flowing. What do you make of this? What do you make of the fact these men were targeted for their religion?

RAFIQ: First of all, one of the things that is very interesting is that they are using British accent again. They are trying to keep this brand going, the so-called Jihadi John going with the brand.

Secondly, they are running out of western hostages so they have to look for other hostages if they want to carry on with their barbaric activities. The other -- third thing is very important to recognize is that the feeding of the crusade the narrative.

They mentioned rogue within this particular video that they actually had, this horrendous and horrific video. They are trying to create this so-called clash of civilizations. This almost inevitable war with Islam and other faiths and other Muslims that are different from them as well.

So a number of things, sort of continuing on from the brand that they used within Syria and Iraq and also they are trying to expand the territory, trying to inspire other people around the world to buy into ISIL, who other Jihadists will see as men of action. This is something that's quite worrying and quite disturbing.

ROMANS: Haras Rafiq, Quilliam Foundation, thank you so much, really interesting analysis, thank you.

It's 41 minutes past the hour. All eyes on Ukraine this morning, a shaky truth there, it is holding between rebels and government forces. We'll give you the very latest on whether this ceasefire can hold.

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ROMANS: Welcome back this Monday morning. Is the Ukraine ceasefire already in danger? Reports of battles with Ukrainian Security Forces and pro-Russian separatists after the truce took effect this weekend.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen is live for us in Mariupol, Ukraine. Fred, what's the latest. Is it holding? FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is holding in most places, Christine. However, there is fighting going on and you're absolutely right. It is in danger and it is a very fragile truth. I think right now is really a very divisive time here in the ceasefire.

Because now is the time when both sides are actually supposed to start pulling heavy weapons away from the frontline that separates the two. It seems as though neither side has actually started doing that.

I was actually on the phone with some Ukrainian commanders earlier and they say they have plans to pull back heavy weapons. However, they say they are not going to put those plans in place until the ceasefire holds in all places, at least, in this part of the frontline where we are right now.

This is the city of Mariupol and what we've had going on here, Christine, is that there have been battles going on in the outskirts apparently today. There was a lot of mortar fire going on. The Ukrainian forces saying that in the past 24 hours, they lost five men, which is of course, in the timeframe of the ceasefire.

By and large, however, both sides say there have been infringements. Both sides say neither side is pulling back heavy weapons. But both sides also say they think by and large the ceasefire is holding. That doesn't mean however that the ceasefire will last -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Fred, thanks for that this morning in Ukraine.

It's 46 minutes past the hour. Let's look at what is coming up on "NEW DAY." Alisyn Camerota joins us now. A lot going on overnight.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": There sure are, it's a big breaking news day, Christine. Thanks so much. Egypt launching new air strikes on ISIS after a video showing executions of more than 20 Christians in Libya so lots of questions this morning.

Will Egypt join the U.S.-led coalition? Will the U.S. ramp up its airstrikes and what's next for ISIS after taking brutality to yet another new level?

Also, developments overnight in Denmark, new details emerging about the shooter. Who was he and why did police already know about him? All that and more when Michaela and I see you on "NEW DAY" at the top of the hour.

ROMANS: Thanks, Alisyn. "Saturday Night Live" marks its 40th anniversary with a bang. Who is that locking lips with Betty White? This is one of the shows most talked about moments.

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ROMANS: All right, 51 minutes past the hour. The fourth winter storm to hit the northeast in less than three weeks dumping as much as 2 feet more of snow in parts of New England. Boston, yes, they got another 16 inches. Boston had the snowiest month on record, 45.5 inches of snow in February. There is still the bitter cold to deal with, windchills down as low as 20 below zero in many places.

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 plane's crew. A teen female passenger was also taken to the hospital with a head injury. This happened Saturday when parts of Hawaii were under a high wind warning.

Breaking news overnight at Dulles Airport outside Washington, arrivals and departures slow down after a pipe burst inside the control tower. Workers had to evacuate for a brief period. No planes were leaving Dulles. The tower has now reopened we are told and officials say they are working to restore full operations.

"Saturday Night Live" stars past and present gathering to mark the sketch comedy's 40-year anniversary. The special got started with the dynamic comedy duo of Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake reminiscing true wraps.

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ROMANS: As always the show had topical jokes including Jerry Seinfeld took a swipe at the "NBC Nightly News" scandal.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just found out one of the original cast members in 1975 was Brian Williams. I don't know if that's true, but I never heard that. It doesn't sound true. It might not be.

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ROMANS: There were so many A-listers and buzz-worthy moments. This is one of my favorites, a passionate kiss between Betty White and Bradley Cooper. This special event even resurrected its version of "Jeopardy" between Will Ferrell with the dig on Bill Cosby.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's hear what this celebrity has to say about his favorite cocktail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no. Dear God, no. We filmed that in June. I'm very sorry.

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ROMANS: It wouldn't be complete without music. Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, and Kanye West, all performed, pretty good show.

.Fifty Shades Of Green. One movie dominates the weekend box office, smashing Valentine's Day records, details when we get an EARLY START on your money next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: All right, let's get an EARLY START on your money this Monday morning. The stock market is closed for Presidents Day, but the Dow and the S&P are at the highest levels of the year. These are the gains so far for 2015. Dow up more than 1 percent, Nasdaq is the winner so far up more than 3 percent. The S&P 500 is up 1.8 percent this year.

"Fifty Shades Of Grey" sets records at the box office this weekend. It brought in an astounding $81.6 million over three days, the biggest opening weekend ever on a combined Valentine's Day Presidents Day weekend.

The $80 million total crushed the previous record holder, that was the 2010 comedy, "Valentine's Day." "Fifty Shades" also broke the Valentine's Day record. A few million dollars shy of posting the best February open of all time. That belongs to a very different sort of movie "The Passion of the Christ" opened into theaters in 2004.

A lot of news to get to including Egypt launching airstrikes against ISIS after ISIS killed more than 20 Egyptian Christians. "NEW DAY" is following that story and all of the latest development in Denmark starting right now.