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CNN Sunday Morning

Terror Plot Against JFK Airport Foiled

Aired June 03, 2007 - 08:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everybody, from the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for being with us today. Well there is a lot of news happening this morning. So lets bring you up to speed on what is going on.

First, a chilling terror plot. The target, New York's JFK Airport. Right now, four suspects are charged, three in custody. Authorities say the alleged plot would have caused unthinkable destruction if they hadn't stopped it.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The chilling plot, according to officials was set to cause massive damage at JFK Airport by planning explosives and blowing up fuel supply tanks, pipelines and buildings. One official describes the four suspects linked to the plot as al Qaeda wannabes saying they don't have links to al Qaeda but referring to them as Muslim extremists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK MERSHON, FBI: One clear signature of this cell was its persistence. They consistently worked to refine their plot. They took extensive measures to seek expert advice, finances and explosives. The bottom line is that we believe that this threat has been fully contained.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Russell Defreitas a former cargo worker at JFK Airport is in custody in New York. Officials alleged he came up with the idea for the plot. Of the two men being held in Trinidad one is Abdul Kadir a former member of the Guyanan Parliament. CNN spoke to his wife by phone and she expressed disbelief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISHA KADIR, SUSPECT'S WIFE (via telephone): I was shocked because I you know, my husband, we are Muslims for 33 years. And no way, at no time we were ever involved in anything of bombing or any plot against America. We are not -- we are not a part of that. We have family, both of our family in America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Authorities say the plot was in its planning stages and that the suspects had not obtained explosives. They say they are worried not just about the fuel tanks at JFK but the 40-mile fuel pipeline for planes that stretches through to New Jersey.

HOLMES: Well the suspects in the alleged terror plot against JFK Airport described as a determined group. Authorities say they were persistent in their plans and according to the criminal complaint they were in contact with the network of Muslim extremists. We get more now from the suspects or on the suspects from CNN's Kathleen Koch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The apparent master mind of the alleged plot Russell Defreitas is 63, he came to the U.S. from Guyanan in the late 1960s and became a naturalized U.S. citizen about a year later, according to law enforcement official. Defreitas now retired worked for two companies handling cargo at JFK Airport the complaint released today quotes Defreitas boosting that he learned bomb making in Guyana. He said when he worked at the airport, "These things used to come into my brain. Well I could blow this place up. And I would sit and see a plane taxiing up the runway. And I would say, if I could get a rocket, then I could do a hit. By myself, I am thinking these things. But I had no connections with no Arabs or nobody."

At some point, Defreitas came in contact with suspect Abdul Kadir. Kadir was one time mayor of the city of Linden, Guyana the second largest city in the South American nation. He was also a member of the Guyana Parliament for five years until he left that position in 2006. His wife speaking by phone to CNN insists Kadir has no links to terrorism and can only imagine he's being framed.

I. KADIR: I was shocked. You know, my husband, we are Muslims for 33 years. And no way at no time we were ever involved in anything of plots of bombing, or any plots against America. We are not a part of that. We have family, both of us, family in America.

KOCH: Isha Karir said Defreitas came to visit her husband in Guyana for a week earlier this year. She confirmed her husband also knows the other two suspects. Kareem Ibrahim a citizen of Trinidad was currently in custody in that country with Kadir. And Abdel Nur of Guyana who is still at large.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable about your security. Ahead at 9:00 could the alleged terror plot have succeeded? Our Homeland Security correspondent Jeanne Meserve takes a closer look at this possibility.

NGUYEN: Want you to take a closer look at this, because a D.C. street festival turns tragic after a car plows into a crowd of people. Police say 35 people were injured and seven of them seriously. Two of the injured were police officers. The police chief was on the scene as well. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CATHY L. LANIER, DC METRO POLICE: Once the vehicle initially went out of control and started striking people, officers jumped on scooters and motorcycles and bicycles and tried to follow the vehicle. A couple of officers pulled in front of the vehicle to try and stop the vehicle. That's when the officers were struck.

There is a lot of brave people here today. I heard three, four stories already of participants here that just reached out and grabbed people and pulled them out of the way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: A Maryland woman who was driving the car was charged with aggravated assault while armed. Police say blood tests are being conducted and more charges could come.

HOLMES: We want to turn to weather now and Bonnie Schneider who was keeping an eye on some severe weather and the watches and warnings popping up. Hello to you Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi T.J. and Betty.

We have two counties in North Carolina under a tornado warning right now. Pamlico County and Craven County, that is in eastern North Carolina, just to the north of the New Vern area where actually a tornado was indicated on Doppler radar. As we take a closer look at these storms, you will find a widespread area of moisture. This is all the remnants of what was tropical storm Barry, but as we zoom in we are getting some very strong thunderstorms right here in eastern North Carolina. Here is the latest picture, as you can see, areas in red indicating where we are getting the most powerful storms.

We are talking about a tropical system. Even the remnants of a tropical system, we almost always have tornadoes as a byproduct of the storms, the larger scale storm coming in. That's because the wind is coming in at different directions. There is a lot of wind sheer associated with tropical systems, meaning the winds are high and the upper levels of the atmosphere coming in different directions. Then you start having that rotation within the thunderstorms and fortunately, that's when tornadoes tend to development the problem is that in situation what we have is a rain-wrap tornado. If you hear your weather radio go off, take cover immediately. Even if you don't see the tornado coming because rain may really obscure your view.

Here is a look at the current winds on the larger scale out of the northeast coming in and then to the south where the storm is closer to the shoreline of South Carolina. We have stronger winds coming in sustained at about 30 miles per hour. Barry right now as we take a look at the satellite perspective is moving quickly up the southeastern seaboard. But once again as we get that wrap-around effect of moisture, as all this energy pushes off to the northeast. We are going to see the potential for severe weather and the threat for severe weather and possibly even flooding as we are getting heavy rain totals coming in from tropical storm Barry. Incidentally in West Palm Beach, seven inches of rain from the storm yesterday over three inch alone that did shatter a record there. We also had record-breaking rain in Brunswick, Georgia.

T.J., Betty.

NGUYEN: Thank you, Bonnie.

HOLMES: The Florida family this morning counting their blessings after tropical storm Barry swept through the Tampa area. Dawn Tallis (ph) of affiliate WSTS reports Barry dropped a big surprise on a sleeping family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAWN TALLIS (ph), WSTS: Looking at what's left of his bedroom, Ethan Tramel says it is hard to believe that he and his little sister Grace made it out alive.

ETHAN TRAMEL, BEDROOM HIT BY TREE: Pretty scary. Yeah.

TALLIS (ph): The 13-year-old was asleep on his bottom bunk this morning when this massive oak tree came crashing in. His 4-year-old sister was asleep on the floor. Did you see anything?

E. TRAMEL: I saw the branch coming through the top. And then I just got under my blanket and just sat there. I looked round. I was like freaked out kind of. I remember my sister was down there. I was trying to get out and the board was blocking me out from trying to get out.

RISA TRAMEL, HOME HIT BY TREE: Right down here where the blanket is sticking out is where our daughter was at.

TALLIS (ph): Risa Tramel says little Grace was buried under a mound of debris. Her 16-year-old daughter, Amanda was the one that found her.

R. TRAMEL: That's all she saw was her foot sticking out of the rubble. Because everything in the whole room had come down on top of her.

E. TRAMEL: Pulled the boards off and grabbed her foot and yanked her out of there. She ran out of the room. And while I was getting out I climbed out of the back of my bunk bed and pushed the ladder over and stuff.

TALLIS (ph): Ethan wasn't hurt. His little sister walked away with a tiny scratch on her face. Their mom calls it a miracle.

R. TRAMEL: It truly was absolutely the grace of god. That's it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: We are getting word this morning that seven American soldiers have been killed in Iraq this weekend. The military says most were killed in separate bomb blasts in and around Baghdad. And in the Yellow Province, north of the capital, now the deaths bring the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq since the war began to 3,487.

HOLMES: Finally, protests in Germany, more than 145 German police officers have been injured in clashes with bottle throwing protesters. Clashes touched off by this weeks upcoming G-8 Summit hosted by Germany. Leaders of the world's richest nations will meet on everything from global warming to trade. Protests are planned all week long by various groups.

A rare appearance by Fidel Castro, new video of the Cuban president being shown on Cuban television. It is the first time we have seen him in four months. He's wearing his now trademark track suit, Castro met with the head of the communist party, 80-year-old Castro has been out of the public eye since undergoing intestinal surgery last July.

NGUYEN: Well China this morning coping after a major earthquake. It struck in the Yunnan Province in the southwestern part of the country. It was a strong magnitude 6.2 quake. Early pictures show some damage to buildings. China's Shinwan News Agency (ph) reports homes have collapsed, communication disrupted and there are reports of hundreds injured. Tens of thousands forced from their homes and at least three deaths.

Stuffing your face at the dinner table is a no-no. But it is required if you want to win this contest. How many hot dogs did one man eat to break a world record that answer may make your stomach churn?

HOLMES: Hopefully the Democrats won't make your stomach churn this evening in their debate. Tonight the candidates go head-to-head in New Hampshire on issues that do affect you. But last night, they were in Iowa working the crowd there. A look back and a look ahead that is next.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN: And a look at the debates on line. How are the candidates preparing? How can you prepare? We are going to take a look at all of that next from the dotcom desk.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well your chance to see all the candidates in one place coming up in the Democratic debate live from Manchester, New Hampshire it starts at 7:00 pm tonight. But be sure to join us two hours earlier for a complete pre game coverage. The Republican candidates get their chance Tuesday night, also going to be at 7:00 pm Eastern Time.

Not all the Democrats will be in New Hampshire for the big debate tonight but many spent last night in Iowa.

NGUYEN: Yes they did and they were at a key Iowa Democratic Party dinner. Iowa is another of those early states along with New Hampshire that can make or break a campaign. CNN's Dana Bash joins us now live from Cedar Rapids. Dana the excitement is just building. DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It definitely is. Especially since we had most of the Democratic candidates here in Iowa last night, as you said, they were attending a Hall of Fame dinner. That's what the Iowa Democrats call it. It is officially a fundraiser to raise money to put on the first of the nation caucuses here, which will take place in January. But it's also a chance for the most influential Democratic activists in the state of Iowa to size up the candidates for president. That's exactly what happened last night.

In fact, most of the candidates thought that this was such a must attend event that they started out the day in New Hampshire. Flew here just for their ten-minute speeches. And then flew back to New Hampshire for the debate tonight. What they did in these quick speeches is essentially mix up serious policy, some self-deprecating humor and good old-fashioned red meat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are you ready for change? Are you ready for universal health care? Quality, affordable health cares for every single American? Are you ready for a serious energy policy that tackles our dependence on foreign oil and begins to deal with global warming?

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I call on the Congress before their summer vacation, their summer recess, to deauthorize this war on Article 1 on grounds of the War Powers Act.

SEN. CHRIS DODD, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: To give people like me a chance to be heard. Out here in Iowa you got an awful habit over the years of sort of doing what you think is best when caucus time arrives. I hear you have a habit of trying to prove the pundits wrong.

JOHN EDWARDS, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I still believe in America where you come from absolutely nothing to spending $400 on a haircut.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want John Edwards to know I wish my hair was worth $400. I tell you what. I wish it was worth it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: In fairness to Senator Biden, most of his speech was a serious one. It was about the war in Iraq. You may have noticed there was one high-profile candidate that was not in those series of speeches, Barack Obama he declined the invitation to speak at the event. He said he had a scheduling conflict it turns out that was a series of fundraisers in northern California there were several -- many actually disappointed Democratic activists here were pretty upset that he didn't come. The Obama campaign, though, Betty insists he does take Iowa very seriously. He has been here nine times, visited 22 counties. We will see if his decision not to come last night hurts him with these very important activists that were in the room last night.

NGUYEN: That will be interesting to watch how that plays out. Dana let me ask you this. How were the candidates on a whole received in Iowa?

BASH: On a whole very well. It is interesting to talk to activist hear and back when I was in New Hampshire. Pretty much they are happy with the crop that they have to pick from and in the 2008 field. They say that they have pretty much an embarrassment of riches. That's their point of view. In terms of who got the most applause, Hillary Clinton actually got the most applause. The tables were filled with people holding signs. Saying Hillary in Iowa.

To be fair to the other candidates, the way it went is that about 50 percent of the tables were bought by the campaigns. Most of those were actually bought by Hillary Clinton's supporters. There was certainly a lot of applause for most of the candidates. Bill Richardson got a big round of applause; John Edwards who did very well here in 2004 also got applause. But Hillary Clinton's essentially stacked the audience with some of her supporters, more supporters than the other candidates did.

NGUYEN: All right. Dana Bash. We thank you for that. Join the best political team on television for a pre-game lineup of all the players, their weaknesses and who is expected to shine. It begins at 5:00 Eastern, then at 7:00 Eastern Democratic candidates square off for the first time. They take questions from voters, then immediately following those debates, who scored, who stumbled. We will look into that. You can join Larry King, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, John Roberts and the Democratic candidates themselves live for raw politics, a post debate breakdown. It starts here at 5:00 Eastern.

HOLMES: CNN.com has everything you need to get you ready for tonight's Democratic debate. Veronica De La Cruz the third member of our lady in red crew this morning.

NGUYEN: You just want to do a three time with the red suits.

HOLMES: I didn't know Dana Bash.

DE LA CRUZ: Dana got the memo, too.

HOLMES: Red suit.

DE LA CRUZ: By the way --

NGUYEN: Where is your red suit?

HOLMES: I have a red tie. Tune in at 9:00. I don't have a red suit.

DE LA CRUZ: We have to wait until 9:00. Let's talk about CNN.com. I want to start with this video. Dana was in eye watch let's go to New Hampshire. This is time-lapse video of the stage being built. The entire process has been condensed down to 20 seconds. It is cool to watch. It was shot by our New Hampshire affiliate WMUR who is the co-sponsor of tonight's debate. You can find a link to this video on CNN.com politics.

A reminder that things get cranked up tonight on CNN beginning at 5:00 Eastern. Until then you can head over to CNN.com/election. One great feature that you will find there is the path to the presidency. It brings up a calendar of all the key dates and locations for both Republicans and Democrats. Leading up to next November. I know it is so far away, it is 17 months away. Check this out. It is very user friendly. Also click through the states to watch. Starting with New Hampshire, the granite state is considered a must have-win for Hillary Clinton. If she doesn't win it could throw the Democratic race wide open. It is also considered crucial for the Republicans especially for the campaigns of New Englander Mitt Romney and the 2000 New Hampshire primary winner John McCain. Don't forget that the debates also will be free tonight on CNN pipeline starting at 6:00 pm and they last through Tuesday. You will find the debate pipe 2 up to the minutes analysis with Huffington and Mike Murphy. On pipe 3, check this out a live meter read of audience reaction. Maybe somewhere on there is the countdown clock, hopefully.

NGUYEN: We were looking at that. It is 10:39 away to those debates. We will be watching, thank you Veronica.

Well take a look at this. Amazing video out of Wisconsin after a house explodes. Yes, the cause, well, it is coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

DR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Back to Sanjay Gupta from Denver, Colorado for a very special edition of "House Call." Behind me the Atlanta lawyer who gained attention for traveling while infected with the deadly Tuberculosis strain. He's being treated at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. He's being kept in isolation. Infused with strong antibiotics that doctors hope will kill the drug resistant strain that infects him. We will talk to a surgeon who has more experience treating these kinds of illnesses then perhaps any other doctor in the country.

We are also going to look at the type of Tuberculosis that's such a concern for public health officials. All of that and much more coming up on "House Call" at 8:30.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Your best workout partner may be the one with four legs, your dog. Tiffany combines her cardio workout with canine companionship and runs with Rino, her Labrador.

TIFFANY CARRINGTON, DOG OWNER: She loves it. She gets her exercise and makes her more relaxed and she just loves to be out here in nature. It is also great exercise for me and gives us a chance to bond and together.

COSTELLO: Border collie mixes Haley and Coter motivate their mom Robyn to exercise outdoors.

ROBYN HORTON, DOG OWNER: When I first got Haley I lost five pounds because I was hiking and walking all the time. So it really forced me to get out and be more active.

COSTELLO: The Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Hills Pet Nutrition Company conducted that people and pets exercising together study and found that after one year of exercising and watching their diets, dogs shed an average of 15 percent of their body weight and their owners shed 5 percent of theirs.

DR. JOAN BEAULIEU, VETERINARIAN: Dogs get a lot of exercise, which they need to keep them healthy, physically but also mentally. I think it is real healthy for people and their animals to run together.

COSTELLO: For some people, keeping fit with Fido involves multitasking.

Carol Costello, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHNEIDER: I'm CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. We are tracking severe weather in Texas. We have a tornado warning for northeastern Wise County. Law enforcement actually spotted a tornado near the town of Alvord that is in Texas, and you can see it here. We are getting frequent lightning strike as well. Now this tornado warning will expire at 7:30 am Central Time, and the movement of the storm system is to the southeast at 30 miles per hour. You can see its relation to Dallas, Texas as we take a closer look at the region. Some very heavy rain wrapping around the system and the tornado was spotted by law enforcement. That mean's it is a serious situation for Wise County in Texas. That's to the northwest of Dallas, it is something we are tracking very closely here in the Weather Center and we will keep you posted when we get new developments.

Betty, T.J..

HOLMES: Bonnie, thank you so much.

Looking for answers in Wisconsin this morning. Investigators trying to figure out what caused an explosion that leveled this house. You can't see much of a house there anymore. An elderly woman was killed. Glass scattered debris as far as two blocks away. Investigators say the suspect, natural gas is the culprit.

Progress is in tracking airline passengers who travel with the wandering TB patients. Officials say they contacted 160 of the 292 U.S. citizens who flew from Atlanta to Paris on the same flight with Andrew Speaker. That count includes all of those that sat near Speaker and is considered the greatest risk. The CDC has recommended they undergo skin tests for TB and then they get a retest at later date.

NGUYEN: Well the Paris Hilton watch is on right now. At the county jail in California, right outside Los Angeles. Hilton is supposed to turn herself in there by Tuesday night. But there's speculation that she may check in early to avoid some of the media frenzy. Hilton was sentenced to 45 days for violating her probation on a reckless driving case. But she's expected to serve only about half of that.

From Paris to hot dogs. All of it totally unrelated. But we want to show you this video because Joey Chestnut is now the number one hot dog eater in the world. Check out the technique there. He broke the world record at a contest in Phoenix. Chestnut ate 59 1/2 hot dogs and buns that breaks the old record of by almost six wieners. Why do we care? He now holds eight eating records. Among them, grilled cheese sandwiches and barbecued ribs. Just in case you were wondering.

HOLMES: Yes, we were Betty. Thank you. Thank you for the details.

A British boy in search of a pen pal now has a relationship with royalty. The accidental meeting that is next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

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