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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Jakarta Terror Attacks; Record Lottery Details; Preparations for Tonight's GOP Debates; Democratic Candidates Campaigns. Aired 4- 4:30a ET

Aired January 14, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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

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[04:00:17] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The breaking news, a deadly terror attack apparently targeting westerners, a series of explosions, that a gun battle rocking Jakarta. Look at these pictures we're live with new developments.

Good morning every one, welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: It's a Thursday, January 14th, that's 4:00 a.m. in the east. I'm Christine Romans. We welcome all of out viewers here in the U.S. and around the world.

Let's begin with this breaking news this morning. A series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks in the heart of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta overnight. Seven people at least -- seven people dead. Officials say they include five attackers, one policeman and foreigner of unidentified nationality. Officials say ten others were injured.

So far, there has been no claim of responsibility, but suspicion is naturally falling on ISIS, a terror group that has long sought Indonesia for expansion. I want to get to CNN's Kathy Quiano in Jakarta for us. She joins us now with the very latest, what can you tell us Kathy?

KATHY QUIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Christine, the Security Minister told reporters just less than an hour ago near the explosion -- the site of the explosion, as you said, five suspects were killed in the operation and two civilians were killed. He did clarified though that the policeman who had been reported killed earlier was only injured in different attack that was launched by the suspects. At a police post in a very, very busy intersection at the heart of the city.

And across that was a Starbucks cafe and an office building, also the site of an explosion. He said there were about five explosions that happened and a gun fight.

At one point there was one armed suspect who fled into the building, armed men, very heavily armed police forces went into the building and after that, we were told that all five suspects were killed and brought to a -- and the bodies brought to a police hospital.

They did say though that there a manhunt for more suspect is still going on. Christine.

ROMANS: A manhunt for more suspects is still going on. This was multiple locations and this appeared to be coordinated. Is that right, Kathy?

QUIANO: It was coordinated. But it's basically one area. It was a very -- it's a very busy intersection and this -- in Central Jakarta, where you have office buildings and commercial establishments. You have a McDonald's and Starbucks there as well. Many of the shops are open 24 hours. So, it's busy anytime of the day, perhaps a very good target if they wanted to shock the city which has been a target of attacks before, you know, the J.W. Marriott was attacked twice. A few years back, so was the Australian Embassy here in Jakarta.

But no one expected believe that another attack would happen now. The threat of the terror attack was deemed blow after the Jemaah Islamiyah network which was linked to Al Qaeda was weakened by police forces here. Very, very capable counterterrorism efforts here, but of course, there was a concern of smaller groups like the East Indonesia Mujahidin that is based out of Central Sulawesi that has pledged allegiance to ISIS and suddenly authorities are looking into that angle. Christine.

ROMANS: OK, thank you, Kathy. We'll get to you, I'll let you get back to work in your sources, bring us any new details when you get them Kathy. Thank you.

BERMAN: All right, Christian Hubel works in a skyscraper and had a clear view of these attacks. He watched them. He joins us on the phone now from Jakarta. Christian, if you witness, describe what you saw?

CHRISTIAN HUBEL, JAKARTA INDONESIA WITNESS: Yeah, this morning, around 11:00, we heard a loud bang outside of the building. And we thought first they look like in under construction next to our building. Then we realized there is 500 meters away from our it's a huge smoke cloud and we had to look and we said, "OK, there must be something wrong."

And then we -- then there were all like five or six other another explosions or gunshots. And it was really -- then we really realized that there is something really serious going on. And we have clear -- we're seeing on the 20th level so we have a quite good view to that and then -- in Central Jakarta. But then we just saw the whole streets has closed been closed down. Our office building has been closed down so nobody can leave or enter the building. And we had to stay inside, of course, and yeah, that's what we saw and then like a few hours later, it's still like lot of police cars on the street, a lot of military over there. And yeah, nobody really know what's going on here.

BERMAN: How long did the shooting itself, and the explosions go on for?

[04:05:08] HUBEL: As far as we thought is we feel like everything was maybe in 30 minutes, but the whole scene was really empty for at least two hours so even the police did not go to the crime scenes. So, there must be probably, still -- there must be still something going on. And we -- it looks like there is still may be one person with a gun or something like that. So nobody was really, was really close to the scene, but two hours later, only now, everybody is there like a lot of police and rescue cars and everything like that. So but the whole explosions and everything was maybe like 30 minutes.

BERMAN: Describe to me this Square. We know we just saw a picture of the explosion happening not far from the Starbucks and there was a Burger King, there are these office building, there was that police stand there. What goes on in this Square? Is this an area where if you wanted to target westerners you would go?

HUBEL: This is one of the main roads in Jakarta. So, it's like some one of the central lines which goes from the north to the south. And it's -- we're like in the middle of Jakarta because we are at the most central point here. But, I mean, there are a lot of like Starbucks and McDonald's, but also other restaurants and office buildings. So it's not clearly only foreigners are there, it's really like a crowded place with a lot of cars and yeah, office people are walking by. So, it's really like mixed area but very crowded because Jakarta has a lot of traffic every day. It is pretty crowded all day, so this is one of the main roads, so, although, at that time, of course, there were lot of cars and lot of traffic.

ROMANS: Tell us a bit, Christian, about the level of security in general in Jakarta. We just heard from our reporter there Kathy Quiano, there have been attack before the J.W. Marriott springs to mind that was a deadly terror attack. You know, how concerned are expatriates and business people and travelers and residents? How on alert are you normally for danger?

HUBEL: To be honest, normally we feel pretty safe here, I mean, there were some bombings like a few years back, OK, but like in all the expensive buildings, the office buildings, there's in every entrance, there's normally a security. They check luggage, they check the cars which are driving on the main floor or something. And also when you walk here on the street, it feels like OK, I'm not worried when I walk to your home, for example, but of course, there was some happenings a few years back. But to be honest, the last few weeks and months, it feels like pretty OK here.

BERMAN: And now going forward, just I don't know if you are still in the office building. But the last time you looked. What is the scene there at the site of these attacks?

HUBEL: Yeah, I'm still in the office and still can look at it, though it is -- there are a lot of police cars now and a lot of military still. But it seems like some cars are passing starting passing by quite soon, apparently. And -- or, I mean, I don't know when I can leave the building. I get it's still be open soon again, so it gets normal, I think, but of course, it's like massive police cars and military police everywhere.

BERMAN: All right. Christian Hubel, we are glad you are safe. Thank you so much for your insights describing the scene at that site now in Central Jakarta. You can see the explosion there. Seven people killed in the explosion and a gunfire that ensued afterwards. We are getting more details here every minute.

ROMANS: All right, we're going to continue to follow the terror attack in Jakarta all morning long with those new details. But first, sharp words in the race for president, as Republicans get ready to take the debate stage.

Plus breaking overnight, there are at least three big Powerball winner, splitting a record $1.6 billion, we'll take you live to our one of those lucky tickets were sold.

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[04:12:32] ROMANS: Breaking news right now, officials in Jakarta Indonesia, say at least seven people are dead including five terrorists and one foreigner in a series of coordinated gun and bomb attack, ten others injured. Among the targets, a police station, a central shopping mall and a Starbucks.

A United Nations official who works in the area found himself right in the middle of the action. Jeremy Douglas spoke to CNN by phone a short time ago.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JEREMY DOUGLAS, WITNESS: I was in the car when it first happened and we got a call, our driver got a call from our security asking where we were, they said that bombing gone off from the building but we were actually luckily pulling to the front of -- in the back of the building, excuse me.

We pulled up and got out of the car, there's a little bit of chaos because people weren't quite sure what was going on. And then a second bomb went off as we were getting out of the car and we -- as we rushed into the building.

Then a third bomb went off, we went up to our office on the 10th floor and now we're on lock down in the 10th floor in our office building.

And then a fourth and a fifth and a sixth bomb went off and then we heard small arms fire in the street in front of the building.

You couldn't get much more central in Jakarta if you tried. It's basically right smacked out in the central business area, so you got major international hotel chains all over the place and you got the U.N., the Japanese Embassy is down the street.

So, there's a big diplomatic -- there's a big business community right here. So if you wanted to make an impact, you wanted to get some visibility for what you're trying to do, this is the place to do it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

ROMANS: So far no group has claimed responsibility but experts say it has some of the hallmarks of an ISIS attack.

BERMAN: Right breaking overnight, the suspense is over, at least three winning Powerball tickets were sold, one in Tennessee, one in Florida and one at a 7-Eleven in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

Lottery officials confirmed the tickets sold there matched all five numbers plus the Powerball. Good for a piece, just a piece though, the record shattering $1.6 billion jackpot.

CNN's Sara Sidner, she got the exciting call in the middle of the night. Go to the 7-Eleven in Chico California where one of those tickets was sold, quite a scene Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, I have to say -- I mean there were dozens and dozens of people here. But let me you show why they're gone. That just changed, that's the new Powerball. You only get 40 million. Some change compared to the 1.5 plus billion that three people have officially won, we don't know who that is.

[04:15:05] But we do know is there's a winner in here that we were able to talk to, the owners of this 7-Eleven get a million dollars and here's what they had to say about their winnings.

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SIDNER: What do you think about the crowd that just showed up here?

BALBIR ATWAL, STORE OWNER: Well, I just love them and they love me.

SIDNER: What does this selling the winning ticket mean for you and your store?

ATWAL: It's feeling really, really good. And whoever is the lucky person comes here, I'm thankful for their prize.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Mr. Atwal has owned the store for 24 years. He had a couple other 7-Eleven franchises. He said he's doing well but he is so excited because so many people showed up. They literally filled the store and there were dozens of people who came outside. And they were just here cheering, they were cheering for their hometown in Chino Hills and they were cheering for the store owners who got to share in the proceeds. John.

BERMAN: Glad he gets something out of it. That is always nice to see the excitement there and there are a lot of people for whom this will be very, very life changing. Sara Sidner, you were always a winner. Thanks Sara.

ROMANS: Always a winner. Republicans running for President, one of them wants to be a winner, taking the debate stage in just hours. Sharp words as the polls tighten in early voting states. We got that next.

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[04:20:21] BERMAN: Updating the breaking news this morning. Seven people are dead, one them a foreigner. Series of terror attacks in the heart of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. Ten people wounded as well, authorities say, five attackers were killed. The attacks targeted a police station, a shopping center, and a high-rise with the Starbucks' at street level. As of now, no claims of responsibility, but obviously right now, authorities are looking into whether or not this has any ISIS connections.

ROMANS: All right to politics, now this morning, Republican presidential candidates are preparing for tonight's debate in North Charleston, South Carolina on the main stage at 9:00 Eastern.

Donald Trump in the center flanks by Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and John Kasich. At 6:00 p.m. the undercard debate with Carly Fiorina, Mike Hucakbee, and Rick Santorum. Rand Paul, qualify for the undercard but he decline to participate unless he is invited on to the main stage.

Donald Trump in Florida once they hinted his sharp words over rival Ted Cruz' citizenship might spill over into tonight's debate. CNN's Jeff Zeleny was there.

JEFF ZELENY, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Donald Trump is heading to Charleston, South Carolina for yet another Republican debate. That was fairly on his mind here on Wednesday night in Pensacola, Florida.

He packed thousands upon thousands of people in the Pensacola Bay Center, officials said, maybe up to 12,000 people.

Now Donald Trump, gave a typical rally, he feeds of his crowds. He feeds of the energy from these crowds but he also gave a bit of preview of what he may say at the debate on Thursday night in South Carolina.

Of course he picked his favorite target, Ted Cruz, still raising questions about his Canadian citizenship. Even though Ted Cruz says, he is a natural born citizen because his mother was a U.S. citizen. Listen to what Donald Trump had to say.

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DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He can't be born in Canada. You can't be a Canadian citizen and I hope it works out to him, I really do. Because every time I have a meeting with the press, the first question they are asking me is this, if he got to be able to run. So I'm not going to get into it, tonight we shall just get into to tomorrow night. But it's going to be like some of the greatest lawyers from Harvard, a very good lawyer, right? Laurence Tribe said, "It's not a settled matter."

Supposing he runs and everybody's banking on him and then the court's rule that he can't run? That's not so good. What do you do, concede the election to Hillary Clinton or crazy Bernie?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Of course, Donald Trump is saying that if Republicans don't do something to stop Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders or even Hillary Clinton could be elected.

Now we'll see how much that actually comes up at the debate. We have seen time and time again, Donald Trump has raised something in rallies in the days leading up to it. And then, when it becomes debate time, biting time he leaves the gloves on.

But of course the voting is coming so much closer in Iowa and then get in New Hampshire. So Thursday night in South Carolina could be the most important Republican debate yet. John and Christine.

BERMAN: Every new one is the most important. Hillary Clinton on the other side is stepping up for attacks on Bernie Sanders this morning, as he edges closer in National Polls, when Iowa Poll has him out in front.

But the criticism of Sanders healthcare and gun control proposals, there's some side that may be doing more harm than good to the Clinton campaign. The Washington Post reports that that Sanders campaign claims to be seeing huge service in donations, four times the pace they say at the end of last year. And they claim that somehow they can tell us a direct result of the attention he is getting from Clinton.

A spokesperson for Sanders puts it this way, "Thanks, Team Clinton." Hillary Clinton is also doing some interview, she appeared overnight on Lifetime.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I really believe we need more love and kindness and nurturing in our country and in the world. And I don't mean this to be, you know real gushy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Airy fairy.

CLINTON: Yeah. I really -- I mean it seriously. And I'm not saying that this is only about women. But I think we do have a history of trying to figure out how you get people to get along, maybe even just in a big old family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That was Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton are about both out on the campaign trail as well.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty was with the former president in New Hampshire. She has the latest.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning John and Christine. Will Bill Clinton hitting the campaign trail here in New Hampshire comes at a key time. This race has taken on a much more sharp and much more combative tone on the campaign trail.

Hillary Clinton and her campaign really ratcheting up the attacks, really lays her focus now on drawing policy distinctions with Bernie Sanders. And CNN spoke with Bill Clinton here in New Hampshire about that and about this turn that the campaign has shortly taken. Here is what he had to say.

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[04:25:08]UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about your wife and Senator Bernie Sanders?

BILL CLINTON: Well, you mean when he went to New York and criticized her and all that? He's been doing that some time. All they are doing now, as they should be doing is talking about the differences in their positions. That's good. That's healthy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about the polls standings? Does it surprise you?

CLINTION: No. I am surprised it didn't happen 60 days ago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And Hillary Clinton continues to insist that she's not getting nervous about her standing in the polls of state of these rates right now. Even though her rhetoric and her laser focus in on Bernie Sanders really sends a much different message. John and Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Sunlen Serfaty. Thank you, Sunlen. Time for an EARLY START on your money this morning, Futures is slightly higher, potentially breaking the bearish mood that's spread around the world started here, went all around the world, you can see even to Europe. It is caused by the crashing oil and certainty over China's slowing economy and its weakening currency. A lot of eyes, on the move, China is making with this currency to weaken it.

Right now, more than half of all the stocks in the S&P 500, half of them are in a bear market. They have fallen at least 20 percent from their highest point over the past year. It is not just oil companies are those with exposure to China. Walmart down 31 percent from its recent peak, Apple one of the most widely held stocks out there is about 27 percent, Goldman Sachs 27percent, Netflix, John, this was best performing stock last year in the S&P 500 had a great year, last year. Boom, this year, down 20 percent.

BERMAN: Yeah, I mean this year, for everyone just ugly so far maybe hopefully sometimes...

ROMANS: If you're looking for some sales, there are some stocks on sale.

BERMAN: During commercial, all right. The breaking news this morning, a deadly terror attack seeming to target westerners in Indonesia.

Right now, it looks like at least seven people dead. We are live with new details next.

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