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CNN Live Today

Five People Injured in Building Collapse; London Terror; Is New York Ready?

Aired July 14, 2005 - 11:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
Firefighters are searching through debris this hour after a partial building collapse on Manhattan's upper west side. It happened about two hours ago. At least five people are reported injured. That building once housed a supermarket and was undergoing construction at the time the collapse occurred.

And a man suspected in the kidnapping and murder of Egypt's top diplomat in Iraq, seen here, is now in custody. The U.S. military describes the suspect as a high-ranking member of al Qaeda with ties to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The military says a second suspected al Qaeda leader is also in custody.

Opening statements begin this hour in the nation's first Vioxx- related lawsuit. Merck and Company pulled the painkiller off the market last year after a study showed the drug could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. A widow blames Vioxx for her husband's sudden death in 2001. Merck's lawyers say Vioxx was not to blame.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist remains under observation in a Virginia hospital after complaining of a fever on Tuesday night. The 80-year-old has been battling thyroid cancer since October. Rehnquist's latest health problem has added to speculation that he could retire.

Let's go ahead and check the time around the country and the world.

Good morning. Welcome to CNN LIVE TODAY. It is just after 8:00 a.m. in Los Angeles; just after 4:00 p.m. in London; and just after 5:00 p.m. in Paris. This is, by the way, Bastille Day.

From CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan.

We get started this hour with a developing story from Manhattan's upper west side. Firefighters combing for possible victims after a partial building collapse at a construction site. It happened about 90 minutes ago.

At least five have already been taken to the hospital. I spoke last hour to a man who was almost caught up in the collapse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEFF ROSENTHAL, WITNESS: I was just walking under the scaffolding. I was on my way into a newsstand to get some coffee. And just right behind me, it must have been about three or four feet behind me, was the end of the scaffolding. I heard it start to rumble and my cell phone actually had rang. So I went to pick it up; at the same time I watched the whole thing collapse.

There was a woman behind me who was half trapped in and out of the rubble. So everybody came from around Broadway, just all the pedestrians, and we all pulled her out. She was kind of cut up, but she was screaming for her baby.

So at that point, we just started looking for her baby. Some paramedics came. They were right there within a minute or two, so they must have been off duty or just in the neighborhood.

They -- we watched them pull the baby out after about two or three minutes. And it just looked blue. They put it in the ambulance, and then a bunch of us jumped on top of the rubble and started pulling up rubble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Let's get more information now on this developing story. Our Deborah Feyerick on the scene on the upper west side of Manhattan.

Deb, what have you learned?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, we can tell you that that child, an infant, is in critical condition. The child was taken to one of the nearby hospitals. Right now, doctors trying to save it. It was one of five injured when this building collapsed.

And we're being told that this was a supermarket. It was being torn down so that a high-rise could be built. Right now we see hundreds of firefighters. They're trying to pick through the rubble.

We are told that this is no longer a search operation, which means firefighters believe that in fact everybody is out of the building. So they want to make sure, because they have not reached the basement just yet. So they want to make sure that nobody else is trapped inside that building.

But there is a lot of activity. We can tell you that as far as the victims go, we're not being told the nature of their injuries. Right now everyone's focus is on that child. A lot of concern as to whether that baby will pull through -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Deborah Feyerick live on the scene at 100th and Broadway. We'll be back to you with more information about the rescue effort and the victims. Thank you.

Right now we move on to late developments from London. Just minutes ago, Scotland Yard released a photo of the man they believe blew himself up on the number 30 bus a week ago today. The picture was taken by security cameras on the left. Police identified the man as Hasid Hussein (ph). They are asking anyone who saw him on the day of the attacks to please come forward.

And now to London. This city and others across Europe came to a standstill today in a striking display of unity. For two minutes citizens remembered the 52 people known killed in last week's terror attack.

Our International Correspondent Richard Quest joins me now from the British capital -- Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, a very different scene from the one you were just hearing and seeing a moment ago. Now Londoners getting ready for the early evening rush hour.

I want to, though, before we talk about the events today, just update you on what we've been hearing from Leeds, this northern English city that has become almost like the center, if you like, for the investigation. We now believe that a major operation is under way.

Two hundred homes have been evacuated, a school and a mosque. And police are continuing their searches.

Leeds is where it's believed four -- the four bombers, suicide bombers, for want of any better word, came from. They came down to London on last Thursday and then blew themselves up, along with three tube trains an one bus.

So a confusing picture, but clearly what is known is that these men, British born, but some of Pakistani origin from Leeds, were responsible for the bombings. Police believe they were suicide bombers, although they won't say so in as many words.

And now -- and this is the interesting bit, Daryn -- they believe that there is a fifth, a sixth or a seventh person involved, the so- called mastermind, the master bomber. They think that the actual bombers themselves were, if you like, the pawns in the game. They carried the bombs, they blew themselves up.

But Daryn, they still believe, the authorities, that there's probably the master bomber out there, the one who planned and put it into place.

KAGAN: And Richard, I know there's still a lot of shock in this community of Leeds where so many of the suicide bombers came from. Tell us more about Leeds. I understand you have a personal connection to the city.

QUEST: Yes, I lived in Leeds from age 10 to 21. And I went to university there. And so I know the area extremely well.

Leeds is a good, old-fashioned Yorkshire mill town. It sort of grew to prominence and riches back in previous centuries, during the wool and cotton boom and industrial revolution.

Now, of course, it's much more modern. It has got a lot of high- tech companies. But substantially, you have pockets of extreme poverty.

You also have -- and this is interesting -- huge immigrant populations, particularly around Burnley, Dewsury, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, where large numbers of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshis came in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. So those are the tension, if you like.

Now, Daryn, one other thing to just bring to your attention. This morning we talked to Mayor Ken Livingston. This was after the two-minute silence here in the British capital, and, indeed, around Europe. And Mayor Livingston was very firm that what we saw today when people came out of their offices, out of their homes, out of their shops, onto the streets to stand quietly, was a firm message.

KAGAN: And the message of unity that the terrorists will not win.

QUEST: Absolutely. And tonight there will be a rally, when that same message will be given by political leaders here in -- here in Trafalgar Square.

KAGAN: Richard Quest live from London. Richard, thank you.

Now on to our "Security Watch." One expert contending New York is not prepared for a London-style attack. The city could be, he argues, if only.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick investigates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK (voice-over): The death toll in London was high. If a similar attack happened in New York City, it could be much higher.

NICHOLAS CASALE, SECURITY EXPERT: We did studies that would estimate about 19,000 casualties.

FEYERICK: Nicholas Casale is a former cop. Two years ago he was one of those in charge of security for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA is a state agency that runs most of the city's trains and subways.

CASALE: Should terrorists breach the underwater terminal, it would be a total collapse. That failure would allow billions of gallons of water to come rushing in. There would be no way to stop this.

FEYERICK: Casale says it's a vulnerability that should have and could have been fixed by now. He accuse the MTA of ignoring recommendations developed by the Army to reinforce tunnels and install floodgates and sensors.

CASALE: The federal government and state give them $600 million in aid to secure the system. Let them explain to New Yorkers and all Americans how the most vital infrastructure is unprotected. FEYERICK: That $600 million was allotted after 9/11. So far, less than 10 percent has been spent. But the MTA defends its efforts, saying it has spent $200 million of its own money to hire 200 police, install surveillance cameras and bio-chem detectors.

Ron Masciana is deputy chief in charge of MTA's security.

RON MASCIANA, DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF, MTA: I guarantee you that we're doing everything humanly possible to ensure the safety and security of our customers, of our employees, and of our infrastructure.

FEYERICK: Casale is no longer with the MTA. He was fired after he uncovered corruption at the agency. He's suing for wrongful termination. An MTA spokesman refused to comment on that matter.

(on camera): Is it fair to say that the MTA feels that you acted as quickly as possible in terms of assessing how that of $600 million should be spent?

BRIAN DOLAN, MTA SPOKESMAN: Yes, we acted wisely, prudently and as aggressively as possible.

FEYERICK (voice-over): The Army, which developed the original security plan, signed a contract last June to help the MTA. An Army engineer says that it's yet to be given the go-ahead.

ANTHONY ANANIA, U.S. ARMY ENGINEER: I can't say specifically why we weren't engaged more fully other than the fact that there are some differences in the way the military or the DOD acts.

FEYERICK: Without given details, the MTA says it plans to begin spending the bulk of the $600 million and improve tunnel infrastructure by the end of the year, plans that could still take years to complete.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Just one day after announcing a major department shakeup, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is presenting his new strategy for fighting terror to the House Homeland Security Committee. Chertoff says the agency will focus on catastrophic threats and cited the dangers of a nuclear attack.

He also announced the creation of new high-level positions, including a chief intelligence officer. And Chertoff cited the need to improve technology to secure the borders.

Among changes for first-time visitors coming to the U.S., they will now have to provide prints from all 10 fingers instead of just two.

All terminals are up and running at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. One had to be evacuated late Wednesday. Bomb-sniffing dogs detected explosives at a pair of vending machines, but the bomb squad found nothing. An airport spokesman says the dog could have reacted to something as simple as 4th of July fireworks residue perhaps left on the machines by a holiday merrymaker.

CNN "Security Watch" keeps you up to date on safety. CNN -- we encourage you to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

The battle over stem cell research is heating up on Capitol Hill. One of the Senate's most visible supporters of the controversial research will join me to explain why he thinks it's needed.

Also, Robert Ernst was a former aerobics instructor who completed a marathon bike race shortly before he died. We're going to look at why one of America's largest drug companies is on trial, being sued by the man's wife.

And the Golden Bear of Scotland. Later, we'll look at Jack Nicklaus' final bid for a British open title.

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(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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KAGAN: Opening statements begin this hour in the first Vioxx- related wrongful death lawsuit. Carol Ernst of Texas is suing Merck, the maker of the prescription painkiller. She blames Vioxx for the sudden death of her husband, Robert.

He died in 2001 before the drug was pulled off the market. Merck says its drug is not responsible for that death.

Our Allan Chernoff has more on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Robert Ernst, the former aerobics instructor. Ernst enjoyed running, cycling, even finished a 60-mile bike race with his wife Carol in April 2001, eight days before he suddenly died in his sleep at age 59.

CAROL ERNST, SUING MERCK: He was in far better shape than most men his age.

CHERNOFF: Carol was devastated. She wondered why, how could it have happened? Bob had quit smoking more than 15 years ago and he hardly drank.

ERNST: I knew he'd been taking the Vioxx for a while, and I knew he didn't take any other medications. So I thought, I wonder if there was something in that that we missed.

I got on the Internet and just typed in "Vioxx," and the first Web site it pulls up was an article about 11 deaths in the United Kingdom related to cardiac problems with Vioxx. And I was just numb.

CHERTOFF: That was four years ago. She consulted with lawyers, then sued Merck.

(on camera): What did you want to achieve with your lawsuit?

ERNST: My idea then was just take this stuff off the market, somebody make them stop selling it. Because this didn't have to happen.

CHERTOFF (voice-over): In September of 2004, Merck voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market after it said research data showed that Vioxx could raise the risk of heart attack or stroke.

(on camera): When Merck actually did pull Vioxx voluntarily off the market, did you feel, "I've won? No more need for a lawsuit?"

ERNST: People knew that this was going to happen, but they didn't care that -- for them, it was the bottom line.

CHERTOFF (voice-over): In his opening statement, attorney Mark Lanier plans to portray the case as a murder trial.

MARK LANIER, ATTORNEY FOR CAROL ERNST: Merck had the motive, Merck had the weapon, and Bob Ernst is the victim. The motive was money, the weapon was Vioxx, and those two came together to create an unfortunate tragedy in the death of Bob Ernst.

CHERTOFF (on camera): Vioxx is a weapon?

LANIER: Vioxx was the means by which Bob Ernst died. Absolutely.

CHERTOFF: Merck will have to defend itself here in a state where there's been plenty of negative publicity. On June 30, the Texas attorney general sued Merck for $168 million for all the Vioxx prescriptions paid by the Texas Medicaid program.

(voice-over): But Merck's attorneys maintain the evidence is clear and it's in their favor.

TED MAIER, ATTORNEY FOR MERCK: Sudden death is a tragedy in any family. But in this case, Vioxx had nothing to do with what happened to Mr. Ernst.

CHERTOFF: The autopsy of Robert Ernst revealed he died from cardiac arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, which the autopsy said came on top of a pre-existing condition, atherosclerosis, thickening and hardening of the arteries, a condition that can take years to develop. The clinical trial that led Merck to pull Vioxx said the drug could raise the heart attack or stroke, not cardiac arrhythmia.

MAIER: There is no evidence, therefore, that Vioxx was associated with Mr. Ernst's specific arrhythmia.

CHERTOFF: The trial also found Vioxx had that effect only after patients took the drug for 18 months. Robert Ernst had been using the drug for only six months. Merck also maintains it always acted responsibly in marketing and then voluntarily pulling Vioxx.

MAIER: I think it's certainly unfair for anyone to think that this company was anything other than a responsible corporate citizen.

CHERTOFF (on camera): This courthouse is only the beginning of a long legal road for Merck. By the company's latest count, there are nearly 4,000 Vioxx lawsuits and more are likely to follow. But Merck is hoping a few early victories, particularly one here during the first case, will halt that stampede of legal action.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, Angleton, Texas

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Some key sporting news to get to today. The Tour de France halfway done. Lance Armstrong is in the lead. He is going strong. Can he keep the rest at bay? The latest on the big cycling event after the break.

Plus, a bunch of housewives or one man trying to save the world in 24 hours? Find out. The rest of the Emmy nominations live from L.A. later in the show.

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KAGAN: Let's check in on weather and specifically Hurricane Emily. Here's Jill Brown.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Another force of nature to check on in France. He's still wearing the yellow jersey. Lance Armstrong, can he keep up the momentum? A Tour de France update coming up.

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