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EARLY START

Students Injured in Stage Collapse; Deadly Drone Mistake; Hundreds Protest Freddie Gray's Death; Loretta Lynch Confirmed as Attorney General. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 24, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:27] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight: more than a dozen students fall in a really, really frightening stage collapse. Dramatic video ahead.

The White House apologizing after hostages are accidentally killed in a drone strike. We have team coverage breaking down the mistake and the global repercussions this morning.

And then a rally for answers in the death of a man mysteriously injured during his arrest. We have dramatic moments on the streets coming up this morning.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. It is Friday, April 24th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East. Christine Romans is off this morning.

And we have breaking news from Indiana. About two dozen students at Westfield High School were injured when the stage collapsed during a rock show. This is the video.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BERMAN: That really is frightening. Students standing close to the stage and those who jumped in to rescue the performers relayed what they saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What pieces of wood begun to collapse and then a falling of faces. I just saw this shock and look of shock and this moment of silence after it collapsed. A moment of confusion and then begun the screaming from parents and faculty and staff with a rush to the stage. I was in shock because I just watched approximately 20 to 30 people fall into a pit. It's still hitting me as to actually what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was one girl who had nails in her leg and taken out on a stretcher. There was another girl with a dislocated leg. It was bad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One woman, about my age, she had a lot of scrapes and cuts on her face. Honestly, it seems to be from nails from the stage. But I -- that was the first person I helped out. I talked to her dad. I got her out of there as soon as she could. And then I just stayed down there. I tried to comfort a woman who her daughter was down there and I think she's fine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That had to be terrifying.

Westfield police say that most of the injuries were minor. And one student initially described as critical will be OK.

Our affiliate WTHR reports the cause of the stage collapse is still under investigation.

All right. Developing this morning, the United States counterterrorism program is facing a potential serious fallout after the president's emotional announcement that two al Qaeda hostages, one of them American, were accidentally killed by a U.S. drone strike. Among those killed in the January attack on an al Qaeda compound in Afghanistan or the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. two aid workers, 73- year-old American Warren Weinstein, and an Italian Giovanni Lo Porto.

For the latest, let's turn to CNN's Saima Mohsin.

Saima, good morning.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

I have been speaking overnight to one of the men who was talking to the captors holding Warren Weinstein. And he told me of his sadness, he's been closely involved as an intermediary between the family and Warren Weinstein's captors, saying that the last proof of life that was given to them was a telephone call between Warren Weinstein and his wife, Elaine, last June 2014. And they were hopeful of another phone call in recent months and then they heard this drone strike killing Warren Weinstein and, of course, Giovanni Lo Porto, too.

Now, what we understand is over the course of the year since his abduction in 2011, the demand changed of captors, asking for money and then asking for hostage swaps.

This morning, too, John, I can report that the Pakistani government has finally responded to news of this drone strike and saying that this only highlights the risk and unintended consequences of such technology. Pakistan very publicly voiced, protesting against U.S. drone strikes. And, of course, the United States not always admitting to carrying out U.S. drone strikes, and here we have seen an apology from President Obama -- a very heartfelt one as you pointed out there, that this was an accidental drone strike.

[04:05:04] But, of course, once again, highlighting, as you mentioned, the serious fallout that despite weeks of searching and surveillance, they still got it wrong. And human rights activists and groups, John, telling me of their dismay.

CNN exclusively covered the U.N. special (INAUDIBLE) trip to Pakistan back in 2013. I was given access to the meetings with drone victims, Pakistani drone victims from the tribal areas and Reprieve, one of the groups that represents them, pointing out that this is the first time that the White House has admitted to a drone strike, killing innocent civilians. And the first time it apologized -- John.

BERMAN: Saima Mohsin for us. Obviously, the U.S. drone program controversial both in the United States and certainly abroad, especially in the India and Pakistan-Afghanistan region. Saima, thanks to you.

And the president says he does take full responsibility for the deaths of the two hostages. He offered his deepest apologies. But the White House also had to explain why it took until Thursday to publicly disclose the killings which happened back in January.

Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta picks up that part of the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John, President Obama says he authorized the disclosure of this operation as soon as his national security team was certain that these hostages were the accidental victims of this drone strike last January. The president personally apologized to the families of hostages, American Warren Weinstein and Italian aid worker Giovanni Lo Porto. Mr. Obama also made phone calls on Wednesday to Weinstein's widow and the Italian prime minister.

This all unfolded back in January when the CIA conducted a drone strike on a suspected al Qaeda compound near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. That strike was ordered by counterterrorism officials, not the president. After hundred of hours of surveillance, still after all of that, the White House said intelligence officials had no idea the hostages were there. After the operation, senior administration officials say they had indications Weinstein was dead back in February, but only confirmed his death within the last several days.

Here's what the president had to say about this operation.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is a cruel and bitter truth that in the fog of war generally and our fight against terrorists specifically, mistakes --sometimes deadly mistakes -- can occur. But one of the things that sets America apart from many other nations, one of the things that makes us exceptional is our willingness to confront squarely our imperfections and to learn from our mistakes.

ACOSTA: The White House is not using the word drones in talking about this operation. Aides are defending these kinds of air assaults, noting that two American terrorists, Ahmed Farouq, a leader from al Qaeda, the Indian subcontinent and Adam Gadahn, were killed in these strikes. The president has ordered a review of the operation. But we also understand, the CIA's inspector general is also expected to be on the case, as well as the intelligence committee in both the House and Senate. And the White House confirmed the families of the hostages will be offered compensation from the U.S. government for their losses -- John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Jim Acosta at the White House.

The family of Warren Weinstein says they never gave up hope that he would be released during his four years as an al Qaeda hostage. Gunmen abducted the aid worker, the development worker from his home in Lahore, Pakistan. They posed as neighbors bringing over food.

His family spent years since working to secure his release, appearing on television, lobbying government officials. After Thursday's grim news, Warren's wife Elaine released a statement that said we were so hopeful that those in the U.S. and Pakistani governments with the power to take action and secure his release would have done everything possible to do so. And there are no words to do justice to the disappointment and heart break we are going through.

Elaine Weinstein called for an independent investigation into the hostage deaths. Tragic.

Breaking overnight: a convoy of nine Iranian ships believed to be carrying weapons to Houthis rebels in Yemen has reversed course at least for now. The Pentagon confirms that the vessels are now headed back in the direction of Iran. For the time being, this averts a showdown with the U.S. ships that are stationed off Yemen and the Arabian Sea. Among those ships, the aircraft carrier Roosevelt, which is monitoring the convoy from 200-mile distance with some 5,000 personnel on board and 60 war planes.

Attorney General Eric Holder can finally clean out his desk. The Senate on Thursday voted 56-43 to confirm his successor Loretta Lynch and this ends the process that began nearly six months ago. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and nine other Republicans joined with Democrats in support for her nomination. McConnell vote was something of a surprise. Lynch will be sworn in on Monday, becoming the first African-American woman to lead the Justice Department.

The Pentagon is unveiling a new strategy for deterring and defeating hackers. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says that on the president's command, advanced cyber tools will be deployed to disrupt any adversary's command and control networks, as well as their military- related infrastructure and weapons capabilities.

[04:10:09] The White House says it wants to be more transparent about the Pentagon cyber activities in the face of foreign adversaries ramping up their cyber warfare programs.

The House committee investigating the 2012 Benghazi attacks wants to hear from Hillary Clinton twice. The Republican chairman is asking the former secretary of state and the current Democratic presidential candidate to testify at two separate public hearings. The first in May would address her use of private e-mail while at the State Department. The second hearing in June would cover specifically the issue surrounding Benghazi. Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is dismissing a claim that he has

softened his views on gay marriage. Cruz spoke to a small group at a home of two prominent gay hotel owners in New York. He said same-sex marriage should be left up to the states.

Now, "The New York Times" reported that the conservative Republican did not mention that he is against gay marriage specifically. Cruz is now strongly denying that, saying in a statement he was clear about his position. The senator did not challenge "Times'" reporting that he also told the crowd he would not love his daughters any less if one of them were gay, but he is saying, quote, "it speaks volumes that 'The New York Times' considers it news worthy that he would love his daughters unconditionally."

Time for an early start on your money. Alison Kosik is here with that.

Good morning.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.

Looks like we are talking records. You know, it took 15 years and a lot of help from Apple. But the NASDAQ has topped its record high that was set back in March of 2000. Yesterday, the NASDAQ climbed to 5,056. That's a major milestone, and what it means is that NASDAQ has finally gotten over the dot-com bubble.

So, it begs questions, does the record signal another bubble? Not likely. During the dot-com era, people were buying stocks that didn't make anything. They didn't make a profit, they didn't have a proven business model. And now, the companies in the NASDAQ are more well- established, companies Apple and Google and Facebook. They've got a lot of cash on hand.

Also, today's NASDAQ is not all about tech. It's more diversified index. It's home to some of the best performing health care and biotech stocks. The stock diversity that kind of adds that a little more stability, little more credibility.

BERMAN: It's not your father's NASDAQ.

KOSIK: Not your -- no, no.

BERMAN: All right, Alison. Thanks so much.

Dramatic moments in the streets of Baltimore. Protesters clashing with police over the mysterious death of the man injured during his arrest weeks ago. We have new details, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:15:035] BERMAN: New clashes between police and protesters in Baltimore who are demanding answers in the case of the Freddie Gray who died in police custody after suffering a severe spinal injury. At least two people were arrested during the demonstrations. You can see in the image of Brian Todd, our correspondent, who has been in the middle of those protests.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, very angry protests on the streets of Baltimore tonight. We are in front of the west precinct of the Baltimore police department where the crowds have been very, very spirited, angry but largely peaceful. It seems like this pretty commonplace throughout the evening. You've got protesters talking to police, sometimes yelling at police, very angry at police and the police officers just being very stoic, listening to them, sometimes nodding their heads.

But by and large, this has been a very, very peaceful crowd. Earlier, we did see some confrontation between protesters and the police. When the police arrested two people and tried to take them into police vans.

Some of the marchers who are on the streets then rushed to police. There was a lot of jostling around. We got knocked around a little bit. Some objects were thrown. Everybody was OK, though, and the crowd eventually kind of calmed down. Police got between themselves and other officers who are trying to make the arrests.

That was the flashpoint of today. But, again, this crowd has been self policing. Whenever people started to throw things, or really get more confrontational with police, some of the protest leaders have appealed to them to tamp it down, not to throw objects, not to get violent. So, that has led to the spirit of maybe some anger and some passion.

But at least so far tonight, John, no violence. John, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Brian Todd for that.

Dash cam video shows an officer in Palm Beach County, Florida, apparently shooting an unarmed black man. This took place about two years ago, but the video just surfacing now. The victim Dontrell Stephens getting off his back and walking toward the deputy when Stephens reenters the frame, he is shot four times. The deputy here was cleared of wrongdoing. Stephens was left paralyzed and has now filed a civil suit. Attorneys for Stephens set to hold a news conference this afternoon.

When the penalty phase of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial resumes on Monday, the defense will take its turn trying to convince jurors to spare Tsarnaev from the death penalty. Prosecutors rested their case with emotional testimony from survivors of the bombings.

Let's get more from CNN national correspondent Alexandra Field.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, Martin Richard's family stated they support life in prison but no chance of release and chance of appeals for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. They did not testify for the prosecution in the penalty phase of the trial. But prosecutors did call a witness who described just how close the 8-year-old boy was standing to the bomb when it detonated.

An FBI photographer demonstrated to the jury that Martin was just 3 1/2 feet away from the pressure cooker bomb. Steve Woolfenden lost a leg in the blast. He said he could hear Denise Richard trying to comfort her dying son on the sidewalk next to him. His own three- year-old boy Leo is seen in this iconic photo being rescued by Boston police officer.

Survivors Heather Abbott and Marc Fucarile also called to testify about how they fought for their lives in the agony of the bombings. She has endured more than 60 surgeries. The prosecutors spent fewer than three days making their case for the death sentence. Next week, the defense will call their own witnesses as they argue for the jury to sentence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to life in prison -- John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Alexandra Field, thank you so much.

So, he is not going to prison, but a federal judge hit retired general and former CIA director David Petraeus harder than was spilled out in his sentencing agreement. Petraeus received two years probation and $100,000 fine for sharing classified information with his biographer and former lover Paula Broadwell. After his sentencing in Charlotte, Petraeus was apologetic and said he looked forward to moving on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: Today marks the end of a 2 1/2-year ordeal that resulted in mistakes that I made. As I did in the past, I apologized to those closest to me and many others, including those with whom I was privileged to serve in government and in the military over the years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Prosecutors says their investigation is still ongoing, suggesting now they may be targeting Paula Broadwell.

[04:20:00] Minnesota is now the second state to declare an emergency over a fast-spreading outbreak of bird flu. Wisconsin issued a state of emergency on Monday. The H5N2 strain of avian flu has been found in 46 Minnesota farming, spanning 16 counties. More than 7 million chickens nationwide have been killed so far. Health officials are now fast tracking Tamiflu prescriptions for workers who have been in direct contact with the infected flocks.

Thousands evacuated as a huge volcano erupts. Look at these pictures filling the sky with this remarkable and dangerous smoke, ash clouds. Wow, look at that. We'll have the details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BERMAN: Thousands of people have been evacuated from a small town in southern Chile where a volcano has already erupted twice and could blow again. Look at the ash cloud from the Calbuco Volcano. It is nine miles high. It is already disrupting air travel covering much of Chile and parts of neighboring Argentina, and up to two feet of ash. Again, stunning pictures.

European leaders meeting in Brussels are announcing plans to triple funding for search and rescue operations to try to deal with the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. They are looking at ways to capture and destroy smugglers boats and place immigrant officers in now E.U. nations.

[04:25:06] More than 35,000 people have fled the Middle East and Africa for Europe this year with more than 1,700 of them dying during that journey.

BERMAN: Secretary of State John Kerry is warning Russia to withdraw its forces from eastern Ukraine. The secretary called Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday urging him to order pro-Russian rebels in the region to abide by a cease-fire that has been placed since February. Pentagon officials are concerned about a Russian troop buildup along the border with Ukraine.

Twenty-five minutes after the hour.

At least a dozen students injured when their high school concert stage suddenly collapses. Look at that dramatic video. We'll tell you what happened next, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Breaking overnight -- look at that -- students injured when their high school concert stage suddenly collapses. This dramatic moment caught on camera. We have the details of what happened next, ahead.

The White House apologizing after hostages are accidentally killed in a drone strike. We have team coverage breaking down these important developments this morning.

And then protests over the death of a man mysteriously injured during his arrest. Police now clashing with demonstrators. Our reporter right in the middle of it. That's ahead.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman. About 30 minutes past the hour. Christine Romans is off this morning.

And we do have breaking news out of Indiana. About two dozen students at Westfield High School were injured when the stage collapsed, the stage that they were dancing on.