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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Hundreds Drown When Boat Capsizes; ISIS Massacres Christians on Camera; U.S. Terror Arrests. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired April 20, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:28] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds dead after a boat packed with migrants capsizes in the Mediterranean. Search crews going through the waters overnight. We'll have the very latest ahead.
A new massacre by ISIS. Terrorists releasing videos showing dozens of Christians killed. We're live.
And the FBI busting what they call an ISIS-inspired plot here in the U.S. We have the details ahead.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. It's Monday, April 20th, 4:00 a.m. in the East. Christine Romans is off this morning.
Happening now: ships in the Mediterranean recovering scores of bodies this morning. They were among the hundreds of migrants from Libya who died when the ship that were packed into ship capsized. One survivor tells officials that many who died were locked inside the boat by smugglers.
Senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman following the international recovery effort from Sicily -- Ben.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, we are in the port of Catania in Sicily, where we are awaiting the Italian coast guard ship Gregoretti where it docked and unloaded the bodies of 24 people who died in this tragedy at sea.
Now, they will be coming, the ship will be coming here later today with 28 survivors. That's what the Italian authorities are saying, is the number of people who they were able to rescue from the sea.
Now, as far as the Maltese authorities, they say as many as 50 people survived.
Now, last night, the Italian authorities issued a statement in which they said had questioned a Bangladeshi survivor from the tragedy who said as many as 950 people may have been on board that ship. A much larger number than the original 650 that Italian authorities were quoting. They also said that this Bangladeshi survivor said during the course
of this disaster, that many of the people who were on the lower decks of the ship were not able to escape because the human traffickers had actually locked them in. As far as those traffickers go, the Italian authorities say they are conducting a widespread investigation of people involved in this tragic business of human trafficking. They have detained an unknown number of individuals from Sub-Saharan Africa. This investigation is conducted in Rome and Milan as well -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE0)
BERMAN: Ben Wedeman, potentially hundreds of people killed there.
New this morning: U.S. officials are condemning the apparent ISIS beheading of two groups of prisoners, the captives, you can see them wearing orange jump suits in a new ISIS video, are believed to be Ethiopian Christians. National Security Council officials are calling the killings a mass murder. A spokeswoman says the beheadings are, quote, "an attempt to sow discord amongst religious communities."
Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now.
Nic, what's the latest?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, you have here is ISIS putting together a 30-minute propaganda video which ostensibly tells Christian how to live under the rule of ISIS, that if they pay a non-Muslim tax, then they're going to be protective by ISIS. But what this video actually it does, it shows ISIS' brutality. Here, they killed two groups of people they say are Ethiopian Christians, killed in two separate locations in Libya.
And that's part of what's interesting here, because they beheaded a group of 15 on the Mediterranean coast, right in the north of Libya. The other group of 15 Ethiopian Christians were murdered by gunshot. But they were shot in the very southwest of Libya.
What ISIS is trying to do here is to create the impression it has control and sway over large parts of Libya, which is absolutely incorrect. There are other Islamist group there. ISIS is relatively small in Libya. They have done this in conjunction with ISIS in Iraq and ISIS in Syria. They used the same media organization to put together the video. They use the example of Christians in northern Iraq to show how Christians can live under ISIS rule.
[04:05:01] The bottom line: another absolutely brutal murderous video by ISIS -- John.
BERMAN: Trying to portray the image of coordination.
Nic Robertson for us in London -- thanks so much, Nic.
The FBI has arrested at least six men in Minneapolis and San Diego in connection with an ISIS-inspired terror plot. New details expected at a news conference later today. We do know the plot involved young people traveling to Syria or trying to in order to join up with ISIS. Authorities say there was never any direct threat to the public.
Nuclear talks with Iran resume this week in Vienna. Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slammed the U.S. on Sunday. He accused the White House of creating a myth about his country's nuclear intentions. But so far, he is still backing the negotiations.
Later today, President Obama will host the crowned prince of the United Arab Emirates to discuss the framework of the deal that has been reached with Iran. A tsunami advisory has been lifted in the Sea of Japan after a powerful earthquake at sea. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the waters east of Taiwan in south of Okinawa costs buildings to sway in Taipei, forced residents in several cities to seek higher ground. The tsunami advisory was lifted about an hour after it was issued. Right now, there are no reports of serious damage or injuries.
We'll get an early start now on your money. CNN Money correspondent Cristina Alesci here with us this morning.
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
A little bit of a rough ride in the markets. Asia shares are tumbling, but that doesn't seem to be impacting U.S. futures yet. Here, there are higher after a rough end to the week last week. Remember, on Friday, markets fell across the board. The Dow shed 279 points, or 1.5 percent. The NASDAQ was down the similar percentage. The S&P also down over 1 percent. And that was largely due to the Chinese government announcing regulations on trading. Today, the Chinese central bank launched stimulus measures to kick start the economy. A lot of people there seem to be thinking that the economy needs more stimulus. Now the Chinese central bank said the amount of money banks have on reserve there is lower.
But let's keep it in perspective. We are close to record highs. The Dow just 2.5 percent away from its record, the NASDAQ and S&P even less than that.
Today, Wall Street will be looking ahead to a big week of earnings. We will hear from IBM and Morgan Stanley later today, two blue chip companies that are a gauge for the U.S. economy.
BERMAN: A sense of what is going on. Is it moving as quickly as we hope it will be?
Thanks, Cristina. Appreciate it.
Hillary Clinton heads to New Hampshire days after potential Republican rivals gather there to layout their case against her. We'll have the details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:10:57] BERMAN: Happening today, Hillary Clinton begins what her campaign says the first of many visits to New Hampshire. Candidate Clinton is continuing the small scale them. She begun in Iowa last week. This afternoon, she is set to tour a family-owned business that makes small scale furniture for kids.
Senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny who sits in big chairs is in New Hampshire with the latest -- Jeff.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton begins the second week of her presidential campaign here in New Hampshire. She'll be spending at least two days here, kind of retreading the visit that she started last week in Iowa. It's all small events meeting voters one on one in coffee shops and diners, trying to reconnect and reintroduce herself to what her campaign says are every day Americans.
Now, she is coming after a long weekend of Republican campaigning in New Hampshire. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, a long list of Republicans all trying to distinguish themselves against her. That's the environment she walks into, but she will be focusing on her own policies, and she had a few policies which we saw last week and we'll see if she defines those even more this week.
Same-sex marriage is a different view from eight years ago. She is not sure of the trade deal of Congress right now. Liberals oppose that, so -- forcefully.
So, that's the environment she is walking into as she comes into New Hampshire to campaign. She is going to have a meeting in Keene and Concord, and then do events across the state for at least the next two days. But she still will not have a big policy speech to roll out her big proposals until mid-May -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Jeff Zeleny for us in New Hampshire.
And as Jeff mentioned, on the Republican side, a parade of presidential candidates and potential contenders was in New Hampshire this weekend. They took turns taking shots at Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLY FIORINA, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CEO, HP: Hillary Clinton must not be president of the United States.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: This listening tour is something out of North Korea. Would you like to meet the dear leader and ask him anything you would like?
SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that her dereliction of duty, her not doing her job, her not providing security for forces for our diplomatic missions should forever preclude her from holding higher office.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: There are about 20 potential candidates in New Hampshire this week. One more could be joining them, Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich says he is seriously considering a presidential run. He is not officially ready to jump into the race yet.
The mayor of Baltimore is promising an investigation into the death of Freddie Gray. The 27-year-old Baltimore man died Sunday one week after being taken into custody by police. His family claims that police are involved in a cover up now. Videos from the shows Gray being dragged into a van by officers with hands behind his back. How he would up into a coma and died is unclear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY BATTS, BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER: I extend sympathy to his family. I have no words to offer that will ease the pain that resulted in this issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Baltimore police are not commenting on the case. Hundreds of people protested outside Baltimore precinct house over the weekend. And organizers will plan more demonstrations they say until the truth comes out.
The Tulsa County sheriff is expected to speak out on the training of Tulsa volunteer deputy Robert Bates. Seventy-three-year-old Bates is charged with manslaughter in a fatal shooting suspect he says he meant to subdue with his taser. The attorney for Bates over the weekend released records that he says show that Bates did meet all of the training required in Oklahoma to be a reserve deputy.
An Ohio police officer is being praised for holding his fire as a murder suspect rushed him. This harrowing confrontation was caught on the body camera of the officer. On the video, the suspect pleads with Officer Jesse Kidder to shoot him, Kidder refuses.
[04:15:04] Our national correspondent Polo Sandoval has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, good morning.
The Ohio officer's personal body camera captured that very confrontation that could have taken a deadly turn.
OFFICER: Get your hands up! Get your hands up right now! Get your hands up right now!
SUSPECT: Shoot me.
SANDOVAL: That guy you see in the frame, he is the suspect of a double murder according to CNN affiliate WLWT. Despite the New Richmond Officer Jesse Kidder's commands to get on the ground, he repeatedly runs toward the officer and asked him to shoot him. Kidder said the suspect was trying to commit suicide by cop. In fact, you see the officer back pedal so fast, he loses his footing and falls. He keeps his cool with the pistol sight on the suspect without pulling the trigger.
OFFICER JESSE KIDDER, NEW RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT: Law enforcement officers all across the national deal with split second decisions that may mean life or death. I wanted to be sure before I used deadly force.
SANDOVAL: We should mention, there has been criticism about the way Kidder handle handled it. Some former law enforcement officials say he should have opened fire the very moment the suspect rushed him.
New Richmond police Chief Randy Harvey says he would stand by his officer if deadly force was used.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For him to make the judgment call that he did shows great restraint and maturity. The video footage eliminate all doubt that this officer would have been justified if in fact it came to a shooting.
SANDOVAL: The Chief Harvey goes on says he is working to secure funding to make sure all of his officers have similar body cameras. You see the one that was used to capture was purchased by Kidder's family, John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Polo Sandoval covering that for us -- thanks so much, Polo.
It is Patriots Day in Massachusetts, as I like to call it, the best day of the year. We're just hours away from the start of the 119th Boston marathon. Security is tight for the Boston marathon. This is the second since the marathon bombing.
Thirty thousand runners will take part. Millions of spectators will line the route which will end on Boylston Street. Safety should not be a concern.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMMISSIONER BILL EVANS, BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: There is no intelligence to say there is any threat to this marathon. So, I want to encourage everyone, don't be intimidated. Our presence is going to be very low key.
MAYOR MARTIN WALSH, BOSTON: Commissioner Evans has a great plan in place. Pretty much similar to last year's plan, just making sure there'll be security checkpoints coming in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The marathon is taking place just a day before the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev jury reconvenes to determine if the convicted marathon bomber will get life in prison or the death penalty.
The letter carrier who landed his gyrocopter on the U.S. Capitol lawn is under house arrest in Florida starting today. Sixty-one-year-old Doug Hughes had hope to raise awareness about the influence of big money in politics by deliberately breaking the law to deliver 535 letters, one for each member of Congress. Now, Hughes is now expressing frustration that his message isn't really getting through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUG HUGHES, LANDED GYROCOPTER NEAR U.S. CAPITOL: I did not see the reaction that I had expected, OK? The police who took me in to custody were very professional all the way through, even early on when their adrenaline was running and I respect them for that. They treated me professionally all the way through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Hughes is facing federal charges for violating national defense air space and operating an unregistered aircraft. Right now, he has to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet until a court hearing in Washington next month.
Following trees, power lines down, homes and buildings torn apart, this is the damage inflicted by severe storms that rolled through thing south over the weekend. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings across counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. At least one EF-1 tornado touched down in Alabama where train cars were overturned. Thousands are without power. And at least one Ohio woman was killed after a tree crashed on top of a car she was driving.
More of that severe weather is on tap in the East today. Pedram Javaheri is tracking the threat of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes -- Pedram.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, John. Good seeing you.
And, yes, look at the scenes across the United States over the past 24 to 48 hours. Saturday into Sunday, 400 severe storm related reports across the southern U.S., about 15 tornadoes, the vast majority related to hail and wind, high pressure trying to establish itself over some of the hardest hit regions, the severe weather now displaced off to the eastern U.S. across to Delmarva, down towards the Carolinas, as a very active weather pattern here pushes through the northeast.
So, heavy rain showers in and around New York City already this morning. It will persist in the afternoon hours. And yes, winter- like conditions at least in regard for cooler weather returning for this kind of year comes back in the forecast as we head to the latter portion of the week.
Look at the winds, 40 miles to 50 miles per hour at times early this morning, into the afternoon hours around New York and also Boston.
[04:20:04] Of course, the Boston marathon in place, the temperatures far from ideal. You would think with the 40s in the forecast and rain showers increasing, but believe it or not, John, some numbers indicating the best temperatures for men to run marathons, 48 Fahrenheit, for women for performance, about 52. Pretty close.
BERMAN: Our thanks to Pedram.
My experience is, there is no temperature which is good to run a marathon. But the 40 not so bad. The rain, though, could be a big problem.
Twenty minutes after the hour right now. The civil war deepens in Yemen. The rebel leader vowing resistance to the Saudi-led air strikes and humanitarian crisis grows to new dangerous levels. That's next.
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BERMAN: New violence in Yemen this morning. It has been more than three weeks since Saudi Arabia started a campaign of air strikes against the Houthis rebels there. The leader of the Houthis defiantly appeared on television, calling the Saudi mission doomed.
Let's get the latest from CNN international correspondent Nima Elbagir -- Nima.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
Well, there had been some hope that with former President Ali Abdul Saleh's comments on his Web site, that he was interested in sitting down at the table and negotiating that this impasse between Yemen's Houthi forces and Saleh's alliance would actually sit down and negotiate.
[04:25:06] But with Houthi leader's statements, his defiance, and his appearance to blame the United States for the situation in Yemen, that now seems to be off the table. All this as Saudi airstrikes continue to intensify. The Saudis are claiming victory. They say that they hit at a number of armament depots. But obviously we can't confirm that.
What we know through aid agencies is the situation from a humanitarian perspective, that continues to deteriorate. The U.N. has revised up its figures for those displaced from their homes by this fighting. They moved it up to 150,000 people. They say 7.5 million people are now caught in what they're calling a humanitarian disaster, and all the while, al Qaeda's hold on the town and the third largest airport in Yemen, that seems to still be unbroken.
BERMAN: Nima Elbagir, what a mess and still seems to be getting worse at this point. Nima Elbagir, thanks so much.
Hundreds of people appear drowned when their boat capsizes in the Mediterranean, one of the worst disasters in history. Immigration crisis growing. We'll tell you all about it, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BERMAN: Search crews in the water right now, where hundreds are feared killed when their boat capsizes in the Mediterranean. An immigration crisis spiraling out of control. We'll have the new details ahead.
