Return to Transcripts main page
NEW DAY
Egypt Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS in Libya; White House Slams Libya Beheadings; Two Charged with Helping Danish Shooter; Snowiest Month in Boston's History Continues; Snow Threat Grips Midwest, South
Aired February 16, 2015 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gruesome video shows the beheading of more than a dozen Egyptian Coptic Christians.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is just 200 miles from the southern shore of the European Union.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Could this latest brutality bring Egypt into the U.S.-led coalition?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This Islamic State is nothing like I have ever seen before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was shocked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bang, bang, bang. Very quickly we could understand that something was going on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We heard a lot of noise and we realized it was a shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we will do everything we can to protect the Jewish community in our country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay calm and stay focused. Stay off the roads. Stay indoors, stay safe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't see anything positive soon. I mean, it's going to be a tough week.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hit him and then someone else hit me and then someone else hit me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't see anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: There is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to NEW DAY. Breaking overnight, Egypt rocking ISIS targets in Libya. The country
launching airstrikes against the terrorists in revenge for a gut- wrenching video appearing to show the beheadings of more than a dozen Christians in Libya, Christians who, right before they were slaughtered, screamed "Oh, God. Oh, Jesus."
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Will this latest round of bloodshed pull Egypt into U.S.-led coalition? We have team coverage this morning, beginning with CNN's Ian Lee, live on the ground in Cairo. Ian.
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Alisyn, early this morning, we saw an Egyptian F-16s slip into the night sky under the cover of darkness. Their targets: ISIS training camps and weapons depots in the city of Derna in Libya. This morning, we've seen pictures on social media of the damage caused by that.
This comes just after these ISIS militants beheaded 21 Coptic Christian, Egyptians, on the beaches. A militant in the video gives out a warning to the Christian community here in Egypt, also the government and European Union. Libya is right on the doorsteps of Europe.
For the Egyptians, though, they are taking a firm stance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is calling for greater international intervention in Libya. This could be a continuous thing, continuous airstrikes against us. Egypt is already battling ISIS militants in the Sinai Peninsula. They have killed hundreds of security personnel so far, but this is another front for them and ISIS in Libya.
This video shows that they have a lot of control in certain areas of the country that they are expanding, taking advantage of the political and security void that has been Libya after the 2011 uprising that overthrew Moammar Gadhafi, an uprising that was backed by the west. Libyans inside the country are wondering, or complaining, that the west has abandoned them and that has created a ripe scenario for ISIS to take control of large parts of the country. Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: All right, Ian Lee, thank you so much for that background.
Back here at home, the Obama administration blasting ISIS for its latest round of bloodshed. Will the U.S. change course in the fight against the terrorist group? CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is live at the White House with more. What are they saying, Sunlen?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, the White House is calling this a heinous and cowardly act of murder, a very strong statement coming from the White House pressing is overnight reading in part, quote, "ISIL's barbarity knows no bounds. It is unconstrained by faith, sex or ethnicity. This wanton killing of innocents is just the most recent of the many vicious acts perpetrated by ISIL-affiliated terrorists against the people of the region, which only further galvanizes the international community to unite against ISIL.
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on the phone Sunday with the Egyptian foreign minister, extended the U.S.'s condolences, of course, but also offered to stay in close contact with Egypt as they make their response.
Now, I have to say this all comes and provides a poignant backdrop to the White House summit that they are hosting this week here in Washington, encountering violent extremism. Now, the White House says that it won't solely focus, of course, on Islamic extremism. But it can imagine, given, of course, this latest attack and a long line of others that it will largely dictate a good portion of the conversation -- Michaela.
PEREIRA: All right, Sunlen. We appreciate that.
We also have new details this morning for you about this weekend's shootings in Denmark. Police in Copenhagen are saying now the gunman who killed two people was born and raised in Denmark and that he had a history of violence and a connection to gangs.
Authorities have charged two other men now with hiding him before police killed that gunman in a shootout.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is live in Copenhagen with all the details -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela.
What we're learning about those two men have been charged with hiding him. This was something that had been pre-planned, according to the prosecutors. That it gives an indication that these two people now -- now charged had some foreknowledge, as well, of these gun attacks, that they were hiding the gunmen between the attacks. And we're now learning more details about this young gunman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): This morning, Copenhagen, the latest European city traumatized by an apparent act of terrorism.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am shocked, exactly.
ROBERTSON: As new details emerge about the 22-year-old gang member who killed two civilians and injured several police officers in a frightening attack over the weekend.
His name, Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein, according to Reuters. El- Hussein recently served time in jail after being convicted of a knife attack on board a commuter train. According to the police, there were no known ties of Islamic extremism, and they believe he didn't travel to Syria or Iraq.
The chilling moment the gunmen opened fire Saturday afternoon in the middle of a free-speech debate, obtained by the BBC.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The turning point is "but." Why do we still say "but" when we...
(GUN SHOTS) (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: You can hear more than 20 shots fired through the cafe windows, the suspect killing 55-year-old filmmaker Finn Norgaard and injuring three officers before escaping. CNN is unable authenticate the recording. The assumed target, Lars Vilks, a controversial cartoonist on al Qaeda's most wanted list for his satirical drawings of the Prophet Mohammed
LARS VILKS, CARTOONIST (via phone): The bodyguards, they immediately became active, and they rushed onto the scene and took me and threw me into a storage room.
ROBERTSON: Hours later, the same suspect attacked a synagogue three miles south, the gunman killing Dan Uzan, a guard providing security for a bat mitzvah party.
HELE THORNING-SCHMIDT, DANISH PRIME MINISTER: We will do everything we can to protect the Jewish community in our country.
ROBERTSON: The terror-filled weekend ending Sunday outside these apartments, when the police killed the 22-year-old in the third gun battle in less than 24 hours.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: And these, the police operations still not over. Security is very high in Copenhagen. The concern possibly more accomplices, possibly a copycat-type attack -- Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: OK, Nic Robertson. Thank you for all of that. So for more on these attacks in Copenhagen, we want to bring in Martin Lidegaard. He is the minister for northern affairs of Denmark.
Mr. Lidegaard, thanks for being here. We're so sorry for what your country has been going through this weekend. Do you believe that these attacks are an illustration of extremism on the rise in Denmark?
MARTIN LIDEGAARD, DENMARK MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: It is difficult to say right now. We know as much that this guy, who's expected to be responsible, is not a member of any terror cell or something like that. He has been a gang member. He's criminal. But until now, not connected to the more Islamist groups in Denmark.
We know there has been an increase of Islamists in Denmark. But we are not sure that this specific event can't be linked to that.
CAMEROTA: The Danish intelligent service in December said Denmark faced a, quote, "significant threat" from radicalized citizens returning home from Syria and Iraq. In fact, Denmark has the highest number of citizens per capita who have joined the fight in Syria and Iraq and then attempted to come home. So what is Denmark doing about that?
LIDEGAARD: Well, actually, this problem started back when we had a big cartoon case, as you might remember, in 2005. And since that, there has been extremist groups in Denmark.
We are countering that by all means, both professionally (ph) by means where we try to get into these environment, trying to, so to speak, catch these young people, take them out of the Islamist environment, giving them alternatives, education, jobs, things like that. But, of course, we have also increased our more hot (ph) methods when it comes to actually infiltrating these environments, trying to do whatever we can, also by law and to jail them and to put them to court whenever they are trying to do things that are illegal.
CAMEROTA: But Mr. Lidegaard, there is a third thing that Denmark is doing. And it's quite unconventional. Rather than, as we understand it, rather than locking up some of these so-called extremists or terrorists when they come back, Denmark is attempting a program of rehabilitation. You've begun offering counseling, admissions to schools, outreach. Can you say with confidence today that the rehabilitation program is working?
LIDEGAARD: I think, definitely, it is working. I think it's fair to say that we have been able to catch many people who have been to Syria. We actually also are implementing this in other countries, because we have tried it. In the Middle East. We're doing it in North Africa, and it is working.
But it's, of course, no guarantee that you will not still have people.
But as you just said, the assumption right now is that the guy who is responsible for what has just happened in Copenhagen, it's not a foreign fighter. As far as we know, he has not been to Syria or Iraq. And he has not been connected to any terrorist environment in Denmark so far.
So, of course, it's not a guarantee that you have good rehabilitation programs and that you have more, you know, locked up. We just have to face that so-called lone wolves, they are extremely, extremely difficult to catch before they -- they come out with their brutal activities.
CAMEROTA: Mr. Lidegaard, let me play for you something that the Danish prime minister said about the foreign fighters. I'll tell you what he [SIC] said about the foreign fighter threat. He [SIC] basically said, "We're concerned about people going to Syria and Iraq to fight. And in the very near future, we will come up with new suggestion regarding resources. We will also look for new tools that our authorities can use to combat these kinds of people."
That sounds as though there might be a shift in tactics. What does he [SIC] mean by that?
LIDEGAARD: Well, it is true, that after we had the serious conflicts in Syria, and we have seen that around 100 things has taken to Syria and has been fighting there, we have agreed in the Danish parliament to pass through some new initiatives.
One is that we make it possible to confiscate passports if we get the idea that people actually are on the way out. If we can prove that they are going to Syria to be foreign fighters, we can confiscate their passport.
Right now we are looked at, well, it is possible also that people should seek permission to travel to these countries. It is difficult to do by law. We are looking at this for the moment.
Then, of course, we are also looking at if we can do anything else in order to be even more sharp on how to deal with these things. But we have taken many initiatives. I have a feeling that we have already a very, very good effort in this regard. But you can never make a guarantee. That's also our experience.
CAMEROTA: Yes, of course, that is the tragic truth. Mr. Martin Lidegaard, thanks for taking time to be on NEW DAY. We're thinking of your country this morning.
LIDEGAARD: Thank you very much.
CAMEROTA: Let's go over to Michaela.
PEREIRA: All right, Alisyn.
Breaking overnight, several Ukrainian forces have been killed, dozens more wounded since a ceasefire with pro-Russian separatists went into effect over the weekend. Meanwhile, European leaders have agreed to continue to broker talks on a longer-term peace plan. Additional sanctions against rebels and their supporters are due to go into effect today.
CAMEROTA: Exchanges are being given to nearly half a million people to sign up for Obamacare after a last-minute glitch stifled the website. The issue prevented some people from getting their income verified to enroll on Healthcare.org and other state exchanges. The websites were up and running smoothly by Saturday evening as the deadline approached.
PEREIRA: Conan O'Brien goes to Cuba. The late-night star was spotted shooting material over the weekend in Havana for his late-night show on our sister network, TBS. The segment is scheduled to air March 4. It's supposed to give us a rare look at daily life in Cuba. Conan is the first late-night host to film there since the U.S. embargo took effect in 1962. I think it will get a lot of people watching.
CAMEROTA: Absolutely. Interesting. I can't wait to look at that.
Well, this is the winter that will not quit.
PEREIRA: I know.
CAMEROTA: Boston was slapped with another round of brutal weather. Records are being broken, it seems, daily. Now the bitter chill sets in. So we're live with the details for you on this cold snap.
PEREIRA: House Republicans threatening to stop funding the homeland security Department. It comes down to the immigration battle. John King will discuss it all. He is here in studio for "Inside Politics."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: You might as well just put on your mittens and hats right now, even if you're inside. Because if you are along the East Coast, it is extremely cold, life-threatening temperatures settling over tens of millions of Americans this morning after snow records were set in Boston.
We are barely halfway through February, and it is already the snowiest month in the city's recorded history. So we are following the extreme weather all across the country for you. We begin with Ryan Young, who is braving the elements for us live in Boston.
How's it looking, Ryan?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, so far the sun is coming out. But I can tell you, it's still very cold, negative 25 with the wind chill. We are looking at this mound right here. And just to give you a perspective, this is taller than a city bus with all the snow that's been left behind.
This snow is just light and fluffy. It's all over the city. In fact, as we sit out here, we've seen trucks, big dump trucks, trying to get this out of the city. It's very tough, because obviously, they've been dealing with this for quite some time. Sixteen inches fell just yesterday.
I can tell you, while we were out, we saw a darkening (ph) snow covering our faces as we were trying to drive through the city. It was very difficult to get around.
That's what everyone is talking about, the roadways, trying to make sure everybody can get to work in the morning. You can see crews now working back in this direction, trying to clear this mall area so people can get around the sidewalks.
But I can tell you, over and over people are saying they are just tired of the snow hitting the city. And they're hoping it stops sometime soon. They've already spent over $30 million trying to clear these streets.
PEREIRA: And that's the problem. It is so expensive, all that snow removal, getting those roads back open. It's such a priority. All right, Ryan. Thanks. We'll check back with you.
We know that Boston is not the only city seeing record snowfall. Worcester, Mass., actually the snowiest city in the nation, racking up a whopping 103 inches of snow so far.
CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh.
PEREIRA: We have the city's mayor. Hopefully, he's unburied himself. Joseph Petty on the phone with us this morning. Mayor Petty, how are you faring?
JOSEPH PETTY, MAYOR OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS (via phone): I'm doing OK here. We received about 7.5 feet of snow in the last three weeks. Like you just said, 103 inches since the beginning of season. So it's been challenging. Those streets are a little bit narrower than what they have in the past.
And we're dealing with the cold weather now. Right now, it's minus 30 with the wind chill factor today.
PEREIRA: Mr. Mayor, you say we -- we got 7 feet of snow in the most casual way. Are you just at a point where you're so stunned, you can -- you can barely stand it? How are the city's citizens managing?
PETTY: It's been frustrating in the sense that when the plows go back on the streets and replow, widen the streets, and put the snow back on the sidewalks and driveways. I think you have a large elderly population. So it's difficult for them to come back out and re-shovel the driveway and the sidewalks.
But in just getting out, it's been opened. But the city has been open. DPW has done a great job here in the city of Worcester, doing that for the blizzard a week and a half ago. And the city was operational the next day, and we picked up garbage every day but one day in the last three weeks.
PEREIRA: Oh, my goodness. So you talk about some of the city's services. It's amazing that you're business as usual, with an asterisk, I suppose. How about schools? I imagine you're concerned about the number of snow days your students are having to have?
PETTY: Yes. That's -- we're going to have to address that over the next couple of weeks. We've got about nine or ten days left, weekdays, a holiday, and this week kids have off. So it gives time for the DPW crews to get out there and widen the streets. And we're working with the governor's office closely, and they provide some services to us, as well, every night since Wednesday widening the intersection of the inner city of Worcester.
PEREIRA: yes, I imagine your city is going to need a land from the state. What are your priorities today? What's the biggest concern for you for the next 24 hours?
PETTY: Right now, it's the wind chill. It's below 32. So we have a homeless population. We have to make sure that they seek indoor facilities in the city of Worcester. Also, like I said, we're going to be widening the streets all day today before we get ready for the next storm that's coming in on Wednesday.
PEREIRA: Well, yes, just add insult to injury. You've got another one on the way.
I want to show you the tweet that your governor put out yesterday, declaring this week Valentine's Week. I think we can pull that up. Obviously, it's going to have a real impact on your local businesses and restaurants if you're having this kind of string of bad weather preventing them from having business as usual.
That is a real concern. PETTY: It is a concern. Of course, the snowstorm occurred on
Valentine's night here in the city of Worcester and throughout the state. So a lot of reservations were cancelled. And over the last three weeks the restaurants have been hurting, especially with parking situations. The roads are narrow. It's hard for people to park close to the restaurant. Something we have to deal with, and I think the governor made a good decision, trying to get the retail business.
PEREIRA: Sure.
PETTY: People to go and visit the stores and stuff and spend some money.
PEREIRA: We're seeing images of all over the state, how the snow is affecting homes and businesses.
Just for a little context for those of us at home who don't know what 103 inches really looks like, we have a little graphic here. That's taller than Shaquille O'Neal, people. That's how much snow. Shaquille O'Neill is 88 inches tall in his 7' 1." So just to give you an idea how much snow the brave folks of Worcester are dealing with, Alisyn.
Our thanks to Mayor Joseph Petty for joining us. We appreciate it. Keep us posted...
PETTY: Thank you.
PEREIRA: ... on how things go there in your city. OK?
PETTY: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
CAMEROTA: Is it two Danny DeVitos?
PEREIRA: It's two Danny DeVitos and maybe a quarter of Shaq.
It's bad. It's a lot of snow.
CAMEROTA: I've never seen measurements like that in the weather field. But I like them.
The next major storm hitting parts of Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee with snow, ice and freezing rain. CNN's Nick Valencia is live in Nashville, where people are being told to stay inside. What's the problem? Why does everybody have to stay inside there, Nick?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just look around me right now, Alisyn. You see the snow-covered streets right now, a thin layer of ice, I should say, about a quarter inch of ice. This is Broadway, the main drag in Nashville. That's where all the music and entertainment happens, and these streets are virtually empty. Because so many officials have told the residents here to stay inside.
We've seen that precipitation start earlier this morning, around 3 a.m. And it's been pretty persistent. About three-to-seven inches of snow predicted for this area, not as bad as what we're seeing in New England. But certainly for this area, an odd winter event nevertheless.
We've already also heard reports of accidents on those interstates. So if you are watching us in the Tennessee area, be sure to keep in mind what your mayor has told you, to stay inside. Already some bad conditions out there on the roads.
But the crews were hard at work this weekend, salting and brining those roads to make them as -- as best as possible. We've seen the buses have not stopped service. That's a good sign out here. But this is expected to continue into Tuesday. So prepare for more here in Nashville -- Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: Oh my goodness, Nick. All right. Thanks so much for that. Stay warm.
PEREIRA: Salting and brining, it sounds like you're in the kitchen. But no. It's the needed tools...
CAMEROTA: The streets.
PEREIRA: ... the needed tools for our outside streets. So this next stop for that next storm system: the already snow-battered northeast. Sixty-seven million people are under a wind chill advisory or warning. That spans from Virginia up to Michigan and to Maine.
Let's turn to meteorologist Derek van Dam. He is making his NEW DAY debut. So we decided to send him right out into the elements outside our studio. Welcome to NEW DAY, Derek.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thank you very much, Michaela.
And nothing better than seeing a weatherman freeze out in the conditions. Right?
PEREIRA: Right.
VAN DAM: I love seeing that stuff.
But in all honesty, I'm just part of hundreds and thousands of New Yorkers braving the elements this morning. Normal temperature 42 degrees in Central Park. Today, right at this moment, it's 4 degrees Fahrenheit. So we're running 30-35 degrees below where we should be this time of year.
That raises concerns of hypothermia, all kind of problems that people need to be well aware of.
Now, we have talked about this nor'easter that came through. Chad has been discussing it. Look at the clear skies behind me. Think about this. If I can use an analogy, it's like wrapping up in a nice warm blanket all might long, keeping all toasty warm and the heat right next to your body, and then having that blanket ripped rip off of you. All the warmness that you kind of held up next to your body just radiates right back into the atmosphere. That's what's happening behind us. That is why temperatures have so cold today. The cloud cover, non-existent. The blanket, the analogy, not there to
keep us all warm here in New York City and across the eastern half of the United States.
So it's no doubt that we have a very cold day ahead of us. And we are just going to continue to do our brisk walk to and from the subway systems and to our offices to keep warm -- as warm as possible.
PEREIRA: You made a mistake. You left a digit. You said 4. I think you must be new to CNN. We add digits to our cold weather forecast.
VAN DAM: One, two, three, four. I've got it on my head. That how warm it is.
CAMEROTA: Wow, Michaela is having a hard time getting past that number.
PEREIRA: I'm Canadian, and I'm upset about 4 degrees.
VAN DAM: I have studio envy, guys. I want to be with you.
PEREIRA: Come on inside.
CAMEROTA: Come inside.
PEREIRA: Come inside.
VAN DAM: Good. Thanks.
CAMEROTA: All right. Great job.
VAN DAM: Nice being here, guys.
PEREIRA: Oh, my goodness.
CAMEROTA: All right. Remember when Barbara Bush famously said that there had been enough Bushes already in the Oval Office? Now a possible change in tone from the former first lady. Does Jeb have his mom's blessing to run? We go "Inside Politics" with John King next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: Egypt launching airstrikes against ISIS and Libya following a gruesome video appearing to show the beheadings of more than a dozen Coptic Christians. CNN has learned F-16 jets took off early this morning, bombing the terrorists' camps and training areas. It is not clear how much damage was caused yet.
PEREIRA: Danish police have charged two men with helping hide the shooter after two deadly weekend attacks in Copenhagen. Police have now identified the gunman as 22-year-old Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein. He apparently had ties to gangs, had a history of violence. But they say they don't believe he ever was on the radar for Islamic extremism. That shooter was killed in a shoot-out with police after targeting a free-speech event and a synagogue. CAMEROTA: A father-son sailing duo who set sail during this weekend's
storm had to be rescued south of Nantucket. They sent out a distress call Sunday, saying their 43-foot boat lost power, and its sails were torn. The men were airlifted to safety through low visibility and near-hurricane-force winds. What a rescue.
PEREIRA: My goodness.
I want to show you this. An unaltered photo of super model Cindy Crawford has the Internet abuzz. "Marie Claire" magazine says this photo was actually a leaked image from a shoot back in December 2013 for a cover story. The magazine says the image is real, it's honest and gorgeous. The photo has sparked, as you can imagine, quite a discussion online about how women are portrayed in the media. Most women praised the 48-year-old and called for changes to America's beauty standards.
I'm very proud of her. That's impressive and bold.
CAMEROTA: And brave. She looks great.
PEREIRA: She looks amazing.
CAMEROTA: All right, let's get to Inside Politics on NEW DAY with John King.
