Return to Transcripts main page

Wolf

Deadly Terror Attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait; Obama to Deliver Eulogy for Slain Pastor; Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired June 26, 2015 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:31:55] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're following three terror attacks on three different continents today. In Tunisia, a popular beach front hotel full of tourists was the target. The Interior Ministry there reporting at least 37 people have been killed. One gunman is dead, another is being pursued.

In Kuwait, a bomb exploded at a mosque during Friday prayers. ISIS is claiming responsibility for what it calls a suicide bombing. Right now, the Interior Ministry in Kuwait says at least 25 people have been killed there, but that number expected to rise.

And in France, a decapitated body was found at the scene of an attack against the U.S. chemical factory near Lyon. Two men drove a car into the factory then explosions were heard. Police say the decapitated person was a local businessman. One suspect was arrested at the scene. Our CNN affiliate BFM TV citing a judicial source says a second suspect also has been arrested in connection with that terror attack.

Let's get some more now on the horrific attack in Tunisia where gunmen opened fire on a popular beach where a bunch of tourists were vacationing.

CNN's Robyn Kriel is covering the story for us.

Robyn, I understand you had a chance to speak with a witness. Tell us what you learned.

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as more people arrive at the scene you're really getting an idea of just how horrific the few minutes that these gunmen opened fire on people lying on sun beds must have been. We're seeing pictures of bloodied sun beds, of blood in the sand and, indeed, hearing eyewitness accounts like the woman we spoke to earlier today who described hearing about 30 seconds of rapid gunfire and then watching people running from that beach front, trying to get over fences, trying to get away in any form possible from these gunmen in what would have been a very happy day.

It would have been a humid Mediterranean day on the beach front. People enjoying themselves. There would have been children as well. Plenty of tourists from Europe and we know at least one Irishman is dead. That has been confirmed by the Irish Foreign Ministry. And then, of course, people trying to get away. So they were trying to barricade themselves in bathrooms, in hotel rooms and putting up mattresses just to try and stop the gunman from entering the hotel in any way possible.

BLITZER: Robyn, has anyone claimed responsibility for this horrific terror attack?

KRIEL: Not as far as we know. But, Wolf, there was a similar attack to this in March, you'll remember very well, at the Bardo Museum where 20 foreigners were killed. A very similar-style attack, gunmen walking in. These particular gunmen in this case, there are now -- we are now hearing reports that there were three gunmen in this beach resort attack but in the Bardo Museum as well, going into the museum, targeting tourists, targeting people who had no way of fighting back and then Tunisian police responding.

At the moment we do understand at least one gunman is still on the loose. One has been captured and one was been killed very early on in the attack. This is going to cause even more damage to Tunisia's already flailing tourism industry. It's 7 percent of its GDP, but it is still incredibly important and props up another -- a number of other businesses and, indeed, the economy as well.

[13:35:15] BLITZER: Robyn, we're just getting a statement in from the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, responding to these attacks on three continents in France, Kuwait, and Tunisia. He says, "Today's terrorists attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait are a reminder of the evolving global terrorist threats. We stand in support of the people of those countries and mourn the loss of those killed."

And then he says this. This is important for our viewers here in the United States. He says, "Particularly with the upcoming July 4th holiday here in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI continue to communicate with state and local law enforcement about what we know and see. We are encouraging all law enforcement to be vigilant and prepared. We also -- we will also adjust security measures seen and unseen as necessary to protect the American people."

He's specifically mentioning concern about the upcoming July 4th Independence Day holiday here, security obviously intensifying.

Robyn, thanks very much for that report. We'll get back to you. We'll have much more on all the breaking stories happening right now right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: President Obama leads Charleston, South Carolina, indeed the entire nation this afternoon in honoring the Reverend Clementa Pinckney. The president will deliver the eulogy at the funeral for Reverend Pinckney, the pastor and was also a state senator.

[13:40:10] He was killed by a racist gunmen along with eight other members of Mother Emanuel Church. The president personally knew State Senator Pinckney, but he's also expected to talk about the larger problems of lingering racism here in the United States.

In Charleston for us, our CNN anchor Don Lemon, our political commentator Van Jones, they're outside the Mother Emanuel Church.

Don, this funeral that's taking place a few blocks away at the TD Arena at the College of Charleston. And they've packed several thousand people there, but thousands of others couldn't get in, is that right?

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, 4500 people got in and thousands of others were not able -- hundreds of others were not able to get in. And they reached that capacity very quickly, Wolf. People were lined up here starting at daybreak really before dawn to get inside that arena.

Van Jones is here with me. He witnessed it, I witnessed it. We saw the crowds, you know, going in and out. At least going in. And people walked up to us and said, you know what, I came all the way from Louisiana, I came all the way from New Jersey, and I couldn't get in. But as you see now from the pictures that you're looking at on your screen, friends of Clementa Pinckney are speaking out.

This is Kylon Middleton, he's a friend and also served with him in the fight for civil rights and for equal rights here. But it's a hot day here in Charleston, but a calm day and people are very aware of what's going on. Not only to pay -- the president is coming by the way, he just arrived, the motorcade just went by and we heard the cheers go up, Van. So they're excited about that but they're also excited with what's happening with rights around the country. Before I speak to Van, let's listen in for just a moment, Wolf.

REV. DR. KYLON MIDDLETON, REVEREND CLEMENTA PINCKNEY'S FRIEND: But you're going to make certain that I pass. I said, Pinckney, don't play that game, because I'm pretty tough. And so it was that he was in the class and he was not being studious, and I would take him aside and I said, "Pinckney, you need to spend some more time." And then we would go over and I would give him private tutorials and he would not put the time in, and I said, "You see me next summer." Amen. Amen.

But from that time the seminary, because of Pinckney, they changed the whole rules so no longer do you have to go through the summer intensive, now they offer it during the year. He had a passion for educational excellence which pushed him through the leadership of Bishop Williams to go to Wesley Theological Seminary where he will posthumously earn a Doctor of Ministry degree.

(APPLAUSE)

His parents were my parents. His mom, Mother Akins, he called me one day and he said, "Middleton, where are you?" And just so happened I happened to be in Charleston that day. He said, "I need you go to Red Lobster and get a table together because I'm going to bring my mom there because she received some very bad news from the doctor." But he said, "I want you to say nothing, I want you cheer her up." Because he knew I was just that way.

And so it was that when she came, we talked and laughed and we began to cheer her up not knowing that she only had a few weeks to live. But he loved his mother. He loved his father. When they would be traveling he said, "Middleton, we're coming through North Carolina. I want you to have a bed ready for me and dad." And so it was, I had a bed ready for him and dad. When they went up and when they came back.

And then he called me one day and he said, "Middleton, Jonetta is having some problems with one of those boys. I need you to take him because your son is like a soldier. And I told Jonetta, if anybody can do something with him, Middleton can do it." And so it was we met in a parking lot in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jonetta packed him up and I took him home, amen.

Our children were tied together just that way. Jennifer belonged to both of us. Pinckney would call me up and he would say, "Jennifer is having a conference in Myrtle Beach. I want you to take Jennifer out every day. Take her out to the conference and then lastly I'm going to come join you all at the end of the week and I'm going vacation at your house."

(LAUGHTER)

I took Jennifer every day to her conference and then he didn't know I was cooking for her because he didn't realize I cook, and we ate good meals and then when he came we went out. Amen.

(LAUGHTER)

And then one morning I'd given them the master bedroom suite downstairs and I was staying upstairs. He came to the bottom of the steps, and he said, "Middleton, Middleton, Middleton." And I'm like, "What on earth is wrong with you? I'm not cooking breakfast this morning." And he said, "Jennifer is pregnant." I said, "I did not do it."

(LAUGHTER)

[13:45:11] Because she was staying with me all week long. And he said, "No, I know you did not do it." And then he gave me a stick. I said, "What is this?" He said, "See? See? See?" And it was wet.

(LAUGHTER)

So she found out she was pregnant right in my house. You remember that? Jennifer belonged to both of us. That's why it was no secret that when Eliana was born, when he said, push, I was saying push, too. Amen. We were together. And it was not a secret or strange when she call me that Wednesday night when I was stepping out of bible study and I could not even discern or understand what she was saying but she said the one thing I could understand that she said on the phone, "I need you to get to Charleston right now."

And because Jennifer called and said those words, I don't know how I got from Georgetown to Charleston, I broke every speed law but the Lord held back every state trooper.

(LAUGHTER)

And we were able to get together and we've been taking care of them ever since. He took great care even when it was time to name his children. We would talk, Jennifer, Pinckney and I. And he said he wanted Eliana's name to be Eliana Yvette because it had a meaning and he had a particular meaning. Malana's name, Malanna Elise, because it had a particular meaning.

He loved to eat. We had movie nights. We had a movie night schedule. He was a man of purpose, a man of conviction, a man of compassion. He was a man of God. Mica 6 and 8 says, "He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

And so as I take my seat, I'm here to let you know that my brother loved God, acted justly, loved mercy and continued to walk humbly with God until his last day. Amen.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the people of God shall say amen. We thank those who have come thus far and the two remaining reflections we ask that you come now and share with us as we continue in this ongoing celebration worship experience. So come, let us hear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to say good day to all. I'm here to say a few words of remembrance concerning my cousin, Brother Clementa Pinckney. When I first looked at the program I looked down and I heard all these speakers, and I said to myself, "Why did they put all these preachers ahead of me?"

(LAUGHTER)

And my wife looked and said, "Well, you're a deacon." And I said, "But I'm Baptist. These are AMEs." But anyway, we're going try to do what thus says the Lord. And then I got consolation in knowing after they was saying so many good things about him and what he meant to them. But then I started thinking, I said, you know, they got Clementa when he was ripe. We had him when he was raw.

(LAUGHTER)

You see, we saw him grow in to what he became and we love him dearly. And we never will forget that beautiful smile he had. You see, he got that smile from his mother and he got that heavy voice from his daddy. You know, as he was growing, I remembered him as a little baby and I -- his mother used to sing lullabies to him to put him to sleep. He didn't cry much or anything like that, he just looked around at his environment as if he was trying to say, "Who am I and where did I come from and where and who all of these people."

[13:50:15] When he was just a little toddler lying quietly on his mother's chest at the old home spot and all of us would gather at Grandma's house. As we sat around at Grandma's kitchen table waiting for whatever she pulled off the stove, pulled out of the oven, and she turned to his mother Theopia and said, Theopia, that's a fine baby. And he's such a good child. Then, Grandma began to sing a song that sing to define his life. She would sing this song so eloquently. I want to live so God can use me anywhere. LEMON: "I want to live so God can use me." These are friends of

loved ones of the Reverend Dr. Clementa Pinckney speaking about him now. Anytime someone says you know you got him when he was right and we knew him when he was wrong, that's someone who goes way back with you.

We're going to continue to listen to those friends and loved ones. And we're going to take a quick break as we await the president of the United States who has arrived here in Charleston, South Carolina, and he will speak and give the eulogy in just moments. A quick break. We're back with our breaking news in Charleston, South Carolina.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:55:09] BLITZER: Very significant day unfolding right now in Charleston, South Carolina. Let's go back to our CNN anchor Don Lemon. He's outside the Mother Emanuel AME Church, only a few blocks away, Don, as we've been pointing out to the thousands who have gathered for this funeral of the Reverend Clementa Pinckney who was together with eight others brutally murdered a week or so ago.

LEMON: Yes, absolutely. And really just maybe a block away. I mean, we can actually see the crowd from the facility here, the TV arena. And it's just the church is right -- just in the shadow, just behind it.

Joining me now is Van Jones, our political commentator, who's joining us on CNN. And then the president has to give the eulogy in just a short time. And so I think that, you know, everyone is saying this is going to be -- this is an important week for his presidency.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

LEMON: Everyone is going to be paying attention for this. This could be -- this could change his legacy. It's not an easy speech, I don't think, to give. He's given this speech.

JONES: Yes.

LEMON: But not the exact same speech, a number of times.

JONES: This speech is also especially difficult. He's come to the end of this big week. It'd be great for him to give a great speech. And at the same time, the last time you and I were outside and it was this hot, we were in Ferguson, a tragedy that torn a community apart. This tragedy is actually bringing the community together.

How does the president come in, take us through tough emotional subject matter, racism, et cetera, without making it worse? It is very, very difficult to come into a community that's actually moving in the right direction and actually propel it forward. See, the healing is beginning to happen. He needs to be able to deal with the tough issues and, at the same time, leave us even higher.

LEMON: But he can do it.

JONES: But it's a challenge.

LEMON: Well, I'm -- I'm going to differ with you a little bit because I think the things that have happened over just the last couple of days with health care and just the last hours with same-sex marriage, I think that helps propel him in the right direction to be able to bring the nation together.

JONES: There is a wind at his back right now and, at the same time, once you get here, as you know, the emotionality here is all over the place. People want to feel the healing.

LEMON: Yes.

JONES: They want their pain spoken to but they want their pain spoken to in a way that leaves us higher. If anybody can do it, this president can do it. But I don't want to underestimate the difficulty of this speech. The way when you come off of a week this big.

LEMON: Right.

JONES: You don't want to drop the -- to drop it at the time right at the end.

LEMON: Yes.

JONES: A lot of pressure on this president to do well today.

LEMON: And I'd say -- you know, I'd say it's going to be tough, in my estimation, to follow the families.

JONES: Yes.

LEMON: Because the families have really led in teaching people, I think, how one should react in the most positive way that one can in the most difficult situation.

JONES: In some ways, the families have been the moral leaders of the country.

LEMON: Of the world right now.

JONES: Of the world. Often when you have an act of terrorism, and I call this an act of terrorism. It was a politically motivated act. This is a political assassination. Again this is not just a murder of nine people. That is true and a tragedy.

LEMON: Yes.

JONES: On top of that is a political assassination. From my point of view, this was an act of terror.

LEMON: Right.

JONES: Usually after an act of terror you say we want vengeance. This community says we want grace, healing, we want justice but we want grace and mercy. LEMON: It's amazing.

JONES: So the president gets a chance to speak to a very different kind of a listening today.

LEMON: Yes.

JONES: I think the president and the country will.

LEMON: And the president has arrived here, Wolf, and he's going to be speaking in just a short time. Of course, we're going to carry it live on CNN and you and I will be reporting throughout the day here as the president makes his way here to speak. Is he here -- he's here now. And then as he does it and then as he leaves and what he says and what it all means after that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: It's a really powerful moment, as you know, Don and Van. Not only for the president, the first lady, of course, is with him, the vice president of the United States is with him as well. This is going to be a very powerful speech on one of the most sensitive subjects that the president has to deliver. Unfortunately, he's had to deliver this speech too many times so far in his six-plus years as president of the United States.

I know he's worked hard on the speech. And we're told by his aides that it's largely been drafted by him. Speechwriters have helped. But there you see only moments ago the president and the first lady arriving aboard Air Force One in Charleston, South Carolina. Certainly a speech the president did not want to have to deliver but since he knew the Reverend Pinckney and he's familiar with the community, he knows the horrendous nature of what happened, the white supremacist, a racist goes out there, goes to a church, spends an hour or so in a bible study session with the minister and other wonderful people and then takes out a weapon and kills those people, it's just a horrendous situation.

We'll have complete coverage of the president as he gets ready to speak. So please stay with us for that. Don is going to be with us, of course, throughout the day. I'll be back 5:00 p.m. Eastern in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

"NEWSROOM" with Brooke Baldwin picks up our coverage right now.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN, I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for joining me here on this Friday. We will take you back to that funeral service for the pastor in Charleston in just a moment.