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CNN NEWSROOM

Five Remaining Presidential Candidates Make Their Case Prior To Western Tuesday; Obama Joins Cuban President In Havana To Close Final Chapter Of Chilly Relations; Senior Tennis Exec Raymond Moore Loses Job Over Sexist Comments; Usain Bolt Confirms This will Be His Last Olympics; DOJ Says It May Have A Way To Unlock iPhone Of Suspected San Bernardino Gunman; Manhunt For New Suspect In Paris Attacks; Two Explosions In Brussels, Several Reported Injuries. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired March 22, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:00] ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Final pitches. The five remaining U.S. Presidential candidates make their case ahead of Western Tuesday right here on CNN.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Airing their differences, Barack Obama and Raul Castro differ over human rights and trade during an occasionally awkward news conference in Havana and about faith (ph), perhaps.

BARNETT: The government says it may not need Apple's help cracking a terrorist's cell phone after all.

A big welcome to our viewers watching from here in the States and those of you tuned in all around the world. I'm Errol Barnett.

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. Thanks for joining us as we begin our second hour of CNN Newsroom.

BARNETT: In just a few hours, voters in parts of the Western United States will weigh in on the race for the White House. On deck, a primary in Arizona and caucuses of Utah, Idaho, and American Samoa, Donald Trump hopes to increase his lead among the Republicans. In the latest CNN/ORC poll, he has the support of 47 percent of republican voters, almost half. Ted Cruz has 31 percent while John Kasich is in third place with 17 percent.

CHURCH: Hillary Clinton has a comfortable lead among democratic voters at 51 percent of those polled. Bernie Sanders has 44 percent.

BARNETT: Now, ahead of the voting in the Western U.S., all five top presidential candidates sat down with CNN.

They discussed a wide range of issues, everything from NATO to Cuba, to the protests of Donald Trump's rallies.

CHURCH: And even Hillary Clinton being told to smile more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED CRUZ, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not interested in playing the media gotcha game.

JOHN KASICH, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My message of hope is a vital message.

HILLARY CLINTON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He has been engaging in bigotry and bluster and bullying.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm the least racist person that you'll ever meet.

BERNIE SANDERS, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This guy will not be elected president of the United States.

CLINTON: Whenever I have a job, I really work hard to do it to the best of my capacity.

SANDERS: Secretary Clinton and I look at foreign policy in very different ways...

WOLF BLITZER, CNN LEAD POLITICAL ANCHOR: Now you don't want violence to emerge, right?

TRUMP: Of course, I don't. They say...

BLITZER: Because you used the words riots twice.

TRUMP: I didn't use...

CLINTON: I think his incitement of violence raises very serious questions.

BLITZER: Do you think the United States needs to rethink U.S. involvement in NATO?

TRUMP: Yes. Because it's costing us too much money.

CRUZ: That's silly. No. we're going to have to strengthen...

SANDERS: Perhaps some good things went on in Cuba? Yes. Should the United States go around overthrowing governments we don't like? I don't think so.

TRUMP: Nobody respects women more than I do. Nobody takes care of the women and they care of me.

BLITZER: I've seen people on television saying, oh, you should smile more. Is that sexist?

CLINTON: Well, let me say I don't hear anybody say that about men.

BLITZER: Isn't it unrealistic if you get the nomination, you could call on this man, you call him Lying Ted, to be your vice presidential running mate?

TRUMP: Crazy things happen in politics.

CRUZ: I have zero interest whatsoever.

CLINTON: This is like a big, giant, you know, job interview.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Gathered supporters for each of the presidential front- runners here at CNN Center. Tharon Johnson is a democratic strategist supporting secretary Clinton. And republican Amy Kremer is the chairman of Great America PAC 2016 supporting Donald Trump. Welcome to you both. Thanks for being here.

THARON JOHNSON, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good to be here.

AMY KREMER, GREAT AMERICA PAC CHAIRMAN: It's great to be here.

CHURCH: Now, Amy Kremer, I want to start with you because we heard from all five presidential candidates for the CNN Special. And we heard John Kasich say that Republicans would go over to the July convention, it would be an open, multi-ballot convention.

Donald Trump said, no, he will have enough delegates.

KREMER: Right. (Inaudible).

CHURCH: What is going to happen if they get to that convention and he doesn't get the nomination? What will he do then?

KREMER: Well, I think he is going to get the nomination. I think he will have enough delegates. And John Kasich I think is part of the establishment strategy to keep him from getting the delegates. But how can John Kasich, he's won one state, one state, and not even by double digits.

So it's hard to think he's really going to have an impact here.

CHURCH: What's interesting, Aaron, is that we heard from Donald Trump saying that Hillary Clinton, and you're Hillary Clinton...

(CROSSTALK)

JOHNSON: Absolutely.

CHURCH: ... that she doesn't have the strength -- that she lacks the strength to be President. How do you counter that? Because that is going to keep coming out. And then when -- if they do go head-to- head, if we are looking at a competition between Trump and Clinton, what will they discuss once the personal issues are out the way? How will that go?

[03:05:00] JOHNSON: Well, I think that's very disingenuous of Donald Trump to basically say that he would beat Hillary Clinton in a November contest. Every poll that I've seen -- and CNN released a poll today, shows that Donald Trump loses to Hillary Clinton if the election was held today.

The challenge for Donald Trump is going to be this, you now see a sort of an attempt by him to be more of a statesman. When he spoke at the APAC conference, he had teleprompters. This was probably the most scripted, most messy (ph) disciplined Donald Trump we've ever seen.

But the problem is that we've had almost a year of this very divisive and destructive rhetoric from Donald Trump. And what the Clinton campaign is going to do when it comes general election time, is to remind the American people that this is a man who basically disrespects women.

He doesn't want Muslims, he think they're all terrorists. He calls Mexicans rapists and calls them criminals. And so this is the type of divisiveness that he is going to have to be prepared to answer to the American people when it comes to the general election.

One thing I was proud about Hillary Clinton today in your interview -- when she had the interview was that she shows sort of a very jovial and sort of authentic and personal side of her. When asked the question about why doesn't she smile more? She should smile more, you know, she said, listen, you wouldn't ask a man that.

And so I think what she's got to continue to do is be strong and not run away from that. Listen, she was the former Secretary of State. She has the most foreign policy experience than anyone in this room.

CHURCH: But look at the foreign policy right now. It's a mess.

JOHNSON: Yes, but -- but you have...

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: This world is a mess.

JOHNSON: But you got a guy like Donald Trump who's never held elected office and who...

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: That's a good thing.

JOHNSON: ... who switched his position three times when asked did he support Iran -- I mean, did he support the Palestinian and Israeli truce of government. And so basically he said he would be neutral then on Wednesday he said he would support Israel. And then who knows what he's going to say...

(CROSSTALK)

KREMER: He's always been an Israeli supporter. He has been...

(CROSSTALK)

BARNETT: Despite the things you said, the enthusiasm for Donald Trump on the Republican side is huge. We have the CNN/ORC poll showing the 40 percent of Republicans are enthusiastic about Donald Trump. None of the other candidates come close. This is despite those some other things you've mentioned. And to you, Amy, Donald Trump has this unique situation where he's going to come into the convention with enthusiasm, with probably the highest delegate count.

KREMER: Absolutely.

BARNETT: However, we have seen a series of violent events at his rallies. How will he -- how should he control that and temper those -- that heightened anger we see?

KREMER: Well, look, he has said he does not condone the violence. I don't think any of us condone the violence. But the fact of the matter is there are some professional agitators out there doing this and they're doing it intentionally because they are afraid of Donald Trump. They're afraid of how high he is in the polls.

And look, Donald Trump is speaking for millions of Americans. He is having democrats and independents vote for him. He is -- it's across party lines. And at the end of the day I think really what it comes down to, and0 Bernie's candidacy shows this, too.

The American people are fed up with Washington. It has become the ruling class versus the working class. And regardless of if Hillary Clinton wins or one of these republicans win that are already in office or have been in office, it's still the establishment. So, nothing is going to change. Nothing is going to change. They're all run by lobbyists. And that's what the -- it's Hillary, too. It is Hillary, too.

JOHNSON: The problem with Donald Trump is this. He missed a unique opportunity to be a statesman and be presidential. He could have come out after what we saw in Chicago, where the peaceful protesters were taunted, were yelled at with racial slurs and escorted out of the building.

He could have come out and repudiated those events that happened in Chicago. Instead, he landed his big plane at the next state and basically encouraged his supporters to be more and more radical. Now, I want to go back to the...

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: That's not true. That's not true.

(CROSSTALK)

JOHNSON: But I want to go back to the point you made, Errol. Hillary Clinton right now has the most votes out of any person that's running for president right now. She had 8.6 million votes. That's more than Donald Trump, that's more than Kasich and that's more...

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: But people don't trust her.

(CROSSTALK)

JOHNSON: But to say that she has -- she doesn't have momentum, I think that's inaccurate. CHURCH: All right.

JOHNSON: Again, she has got the most votes...

KREMER: It's because of the super delegates, and that is...

(CROSSTALK)

JOHNSON: No.

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: We can continue this but we have to wrap it here, unfortunately. Amy Kremer, thank you so much.

KREMER: Thank you.

(CROSSTALK)

CHURCH: Thank you for both of you. A lot to discuss.

KREMER: That's definitely.

BARNETT: And we'll bring you much more from the final five presidential candidates talking directly to CNN. International viewers can catch a special highlights program at 7:00 p.m. Hong Kong time, That's 11:00 a.m. for those of you in London, only here on CNN.

CHURCH: It's the final day of the U.S. President's historic visit to Cuba. And Barack Obama's agenda includes a televised speech to the Cuban people and a meeting with dissidents.

His Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, hosted him with a State Dinner Monday night. A ceremonial evening followed a somewhat testy joint news conference where the issue of political detainees came up.

BARNETT: Now, dissidents were arrested hours before Mr. Obama's arrival Sunday. And an activist says about 20 more were detained on Monday. But Jim Acosta reports Mr. Castro denies holding any political prisoners.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:10:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sign that decades-old enemies can one day change their tune. That's the U.S. National Anthem being played on Cuban soil.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Spanish Language)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As President Obama joined the island's ruler, Raul Castro, in Havana, to close out this final chapter of the Cold War.

OBAMA: I'll have to come back with my family when I'm no longer President and I don't have so many obligations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: While there were the usual diplomatic gestures as Mr. Obama signed a book to remember the pre-Castro revolutionary (ph) Jose Marti. The President also delivered a tough message to the Cubans to begin respecting basic human freedoms.

OBAMA: We continue, as President Castro indicated, to have some very serious differences, including on democracy and human rights. And President Castro and I have had very frank and candid conversations on these subjects.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But Castro had his own set of grievances. Right at the top, the U.S. Embargo strangling the Cuban economy that still stands. But he did not answer the question on why his country holds political prisoners.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why you have Cuban political prisoners?

RAUL CASTRO, PRESIDENT OF CUBA, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: Give me a list right now of the political prisoners so I can release them. What political prisoners? Give me the names.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The President is going around congress to weaken the Embargo. Loosening travel restrictions on Americans who want to see the island, and bringing with them, big hotel company CEOs who want to turn Cuban Mojitos into money.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Spanish language)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jose Daniel Ferrer, a former political prisoner, says the President's visit can provide a much-needed push. Freed under the Obama administration's diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba, he's calling on the President to think of Reagan.

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And demand that age-old barriers start coming down in Cuba.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: We have to tear down many walls, he tells me, so that the Cuban people can live with dignity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the end of their news conference, Castro tried to hold up President Obama's hand to show off their budding friendship. But Mr. Obama didn't seem to share the same enthusiasm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Next, the President will deliver an address to the Cuban people and meet with Cuban dissidents here in Havana.

The White House says Mr. Obama will once again call for an expansion of human rights in Cuba then he will try to wind down his trip enjoying a past time shared by both the U.S. and Cuba, a baseball game between the Cuban National Team and the Tampa Bay Rays. Jim Acosta, CNN, Havana. BARNETT: Still to come this hour, the much-anticipated courtroom showdown between Apple and the U.S. government has been postponed just the day before. We'll explain why, next.

CHURCH: And sexist comments cost a high-ranking tennis executive his job. We'll discuss the other possible impacts on the sport at large.

BARNETT: And European authorities are on the hunt for a new suspect of the Paris terror attacks. The role, they say, he played when CNN Newsroom returns.

[03:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hey, I'm Don Riddell with your CNN World Sport headlines. One of the most senior executives in tennis has been strongly criticized for his views on female players, a stance that could lead to the Indian Wells Tournament being boycotted.

On Sunday, the chief executive of the event, Raymond Moore, said that women should get down on their knees and be grateful for top male players like Roger Federer. He has since apologized but his remarks were said in front of the media and filmed, and the fallout totally overshadowed Sunday's finals, which, for the record, were won by Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka.

The former world number one, Martina Navratilova, says the event could be boycotted if he is still running it next year. He is now being investigated by the WTA for breach of conduct.

Ahead of the Summer Olympics in Rio, the world's top sprinter, Usain Bolt, has confirmed that this will be his last Olympics. Bolt won all six of his races and the two previous games in Beijing and London and he's hoping to sign off with a total of nine gold medals in August.

He is not planning to retire, though until after the World Championships next year in London. The news will be disappointing to Japanese fans who were hoping to see him race in Tokyo in 2020. Bolt had previously hinted that his coach, Glen Mills, could keep him going until then.

All right, that is a quick look at your sports headlines. I'm Don Riddell.

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. The legal battle between Apple and the U.S. government is taking an unexpected turn. The Department of Justice says it won't need Apple's help to access the phone belonging to the San Bernardino gunman after all. So a judge agreed to postpone Tuesday's courtroom showdown with the company.

BARNETT: Pretty incredible. The government made that request saying, an outside party offered to unlock the phone. A struggling news for the tech giant and it's push for unhackable security. But so far there's no evidence of who this third party is or if they even exist.

CHURCH: Apple CEO, Tim Cook, surprised his audience on Monday, when he started a company event by addressing its fight with the government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM COOK, APPLE CEO: We did not expect to be in this position, at odds with our own government. But we believe strongly that we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and protect your privacy. We owe it to our customers and we owe it to our country. This is an issue that impacts all of us. And we will not shrink from this responsibility.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Shelly Palmer is a technology expert, and he joins us now from New York to talk about all of this. Shelly, the big news here is the averted showdown really, between Apple and the FBI which was set for Tuesday.

Here's exactly what the Department of Justice said in their Monday court filing. On Sunday, March 20, 2016, an outside party demonstrated to the FBI, a possible method for unlocking Syed Farook's iPhone. If the method is viable, it should eliminate the need for the assistance from Apple, Inc.

What does that mean? Did a hacker show them how to break into this iPhone over the weekend?

SHELLY PALMER, TECHNOLOGY EXPERT: Yes. Basically, this has never been in question. The phone is an iPhone 5C. Because the operating system is running and because of the way it was manufactured, that phone can be hacked, if you will.

What they're really going to do is they're going to generate another key and they're going to open the phone. There are many hackers who have said they could do this. There are many security experts who said they could do this. But Apple was not required in this particular endeavor.

So we have dodged a bullet for a little while. But over time, this question is still going to be the most important question part of our age, which is where is the line between security and privacy? More importantly, can the government of the United States, compel a company that makes a security product, to give it a metaphorical skeleton key?

And that's really what's going to end up getting tested in court, ultimately, what the legislature has to think about because in history so far, that's never been true. And that's really what's at stake here.

This one phone, it's never been a question that it could be hacked. It's always been hackable.

BARNETT: So then why did this all blow up to such a big issue in this past month? Was this more about Apple positioning itself from a product standpoint and to be saying we want to make an announcement about our products being safe and encrypted? Or was there really a need for the Department of Justice to force Apple to produce new software to allow them to break in? What was this all about then in the end?

[03:20:00] PALMER: I think if you go back in history, you'll look and see that law enforcement would really like the ability to eavesdrop on encrypted tools. And I think they chose this as an opportune moment.

There was a terrorist attack and they had an opportunity to ask for something that they hadn't asked for in the past. If you go carefully at shellypalmer.com, we've gone through the -- really a detailed history of how the FBI and the Department of Justice came to ask Apple this particular thing and how the court ordered it.

It's not what people think it is. It's not about a terrorist's phone. It's about a much larger question. And it's not, by the way, about your private security. People always answer back and say, well I have nothing to hide. You're right, you don't. But you do have a bank account and it's encrypted. And that is something worth protecting.

BARNETT: Now, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, began the product announcements by underscoring the encryption element of their products. But there were no seismic product rollouts, a smaller iPhone, more powerful iPad, a cheaper Apple watch. Is Apple really struggling to innovate currently like they did under Steve Jobs? Because it appears that way.

PALMER: You know, it's interesting. They have got a billion devices out in the wild right now, and I don't think the consumer endpoints are the future of Apple. If you look at the smaller phone, the Apple watch, the new smaller iPad, that's all well and good.

What they are generating is amazing amounts of data from the top 20 percent of banked people in the world. If you have money, you have an iDevice. If you're a good consumer, you have an iDevice. And they have more data about good consumers than any other company in the world. They also have Apple I.D., so they know when you're logged in.

Their advertising from data gathering is going to be second-to-none. They own their privacy policy so data is the story of Apple and hardware should not be looked at as the only thing this company does. It's far from it.

So, if you're just judging them on hardware innovation? Sure. We could have a little bit of a talk about maybe they're not where they should be. But in practice, the iPhone 7 will be out probably in a few months and we'll see if it's not a little bit better, a little bit brighter, a little bit happier.

At the end of the day, they just need that consumer endpoint that satisfies their customers.

BARNETT: Very good point to make there as you wrap things up, Shelly Palmer, a technology expert joining us from New York. Thanks for your time today.

PALMER: My pleasure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News. CHURCH: All right, we go to this Breaking News here on CNN. Reports of explosions heard at Brussels Airport. At this point, we understand several people injured but let's get more from our Nima Elbagir. She is in Brussels. So, what all are you learning about this? What do we know about the explosions and what's happened in the aftermath?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, details are still scant, Rosemary. Local media are quoting airport police that there have been two explosions at Brussels Airport, that it was a very loud noise.

There appeared -- images on social media show smoke rising from the Brussels Airport building. The understanding is that some people appear dazed. It's unclear yet whether anyone is hurt.

We have now confirmed it, I'm told, ourselves that we can now say that CNN has confirmed explosions at Brussels Airport. The source is yet unclear, though Rosemary, and we're heading there shortly ourselves.

CHURCH: All right. I know you will stay on top of that story.

I want to cover another one. Of course, we have been reporting this manhunt for a new suspect, Najim Laachraoui. What do we know about him and what role he possibly played in the Paris attacks and of course, where this investigation is right now?

ELBAGIR: It is, in essence, an intensifying of the manhunt, because his alias was already in the public domain as Soufiane Kayal. And back in January, Belgian counter-terror officials told CNN that they intercepted phone conversations between him and the Paris ringleader Abaaoud that gave them the impression that he was giving the orders, that he was more senior than Abaaoud.

So this really is someone that they believe to be key in the conspiracy. But prior to this, they hadn't had a sense of what his real identity was. So that's what's intensifying this manhunt. They now know his name to be Najim Laachraoui and they put his picture out in the public domain.

They are warning the public that he is dangerous and they're asking for people to really be very vigilant, Rosemary, and to call in if they see him with any information that could lead to his arrest.

This comes, of course, as Interpol is warning European countries to be very aware about movements across their borders. There is a concern that this new network that authorities believe was built up around Abdeslam that was planning new attacks here in Belgium and really the tension here, the sense of people being very alert, it's very real. It's very palpable, Rosemary.

So, when you have someone like Najim Laachraoui out there and you have Interpol, you have French authorities moving more security to their borders, it gives you a reflection, perhaps of the picture that's coming together here in Belgium.

[03:25:00] CHURCH: And of course, the turning point was the raid on that apartment - what ended up was a raid. Of course, no expectation the people would be there. And the capture of suspect Salah Abdeslam. Do they expect to get more information from him?

ELBAGIR: Well, they say that he is cooperating. His prosecutor -- that his only -- his lawyer, I should say, says he has only gotten a limited amount of time with his client. But he is also stressing that his client is cooperating and definitely, from what prosecutors are releasing to the public domain, they are giving the sense that he is talking.

But they also cautioned that what he's saying should be treated very, very carefully because this is a man you would still prosecute (ph), that he'd simply change his mind from being amongst those attempting to detonate the suicide belt at the Stade de France where his French prosecutors believe that actually perhaps there was another (inaudible) at the (inaudible) around this month.

So, while they are very much following up on any and all leads, they are stemming from the information that's coming from their interrogations of him, they are also cautioning that they are treating it very, very -- with a lot of concern, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yeah, indeed. Nima Elbagir joining us there, live from Brussels in Belgium and staying on top of those two stories, particularly that breaking news story, we're learning two explosions. We can confirm that on CNN. Two explosions at the Brussels Airport. And Nima will stay on top of that story and bring us more details as they come in.

BARNETT: A Belgium Imam risks his life to keep ISIS from recruiting young Muslims. Our CNN exclusive series Frontline Belgium is next.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BARNETT: Welcome back to those of you watching here in the States and all around the world. This is CNN Newsroom. I'm Errol Barnett.

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. We do want to check the headlines for you. And we are following the breaking news of two explosions at the Brussels Airport. CNN affiliate, VTM, says there were two blasts at the airport and there are other reports of injuries. We will, of course, bring you more on this story as the details come into us.

BARNETT: Now, a prominent Imam in Brussels is taking on ISIS recruiters, even though, he says, he may be risking his life. He tells CNN's Nima Elbagir why he has to stand up and speak out in our exclusive series, Frontline Belgium.

ELBAGIR: Residents winding their way home through the streets of a quiet Belgium suburb. On nights like this, it's easy to forget this is a country facing very real threats.

We've come here to meet with a potential interviewee. He agrees only to a neutral location.

ELBAGIR: As-Salaam-Alaikum. IMAM SULAYMAN VAN AEL, anti-radicalization activist: Wa-Alaikum- Salaam.

ELBAGIR: Imam Sulayman Van Ael is one of Belgium's most outspoken, anti-radicalization, Anti-ISIS figures. He arrives with a bodyguard but determined to speak.

VAN AEL: We live in an era where everybody who tries to speak out and come up and stand up for the truth, that he will find people trying to stop him and refraining him from doing so.

ELBAGIR: People in a European capital city who speak out against what they believe are dangerous, extremist trends, are being, yourself included, subjected to some very credible threats from ISIS.

VAN AEL: Yes.

ELBAGIR: And that is horrifying.

VAN AEL: I believe that's the part of our Islam, that we protect the country that we were raised in, and that we try to make the country that we lived in prosper. And the problem is, the misunderstanding of this youth, that they think when I attribute myself to a non-Muslim country, it makes me a non-Muslim. That doesn't make any sense.

ELBAGIR: Belgium security sources tell CNN, through 2015, an average of 5 to 6 Belgians a month left to join ISIS. And it's a pipeline that flows both ways. With some of that number successfully retracing their steps home. For the families and the communities they return to, it only exacerbates the fear.

Geraldine Henneghien and Verani Khut (ph) are from the Mothers Collective. Both have sons who left Belgium to join ISIS. Geraldine's was 18-1/2. To her, still a boy but old enough to die fighting in Syria.

She received the news in a text from the Syrian frontline. Both women are trying to weave their pain into something bigger than their loss, trying to keep other parents from experiencing their suffering.

GERALDINE HENNEGHIEN, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: Every sign, every case is different. When you look at them separately, they don't look like signs of radicalization. When you look at the whole picture, you realize that these are signs of radicalization. They're part of the recruitment process.

ELBAGIR: In the aftermath of the horror that swept through the streets of Paris late last year, the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek emerged as the nexus of the plot. And it's Molenbeek where the Mothers Collective are now working with the newly-founded Montasser Al De'emeh (ph) deradicalization center.

The center counselor agrees to speak to us to describe some of their work but asks that we conceal her identity.

ELBAGIR: The youngest patient that you see, is 12 years old. And her parents have given you permission to share her story with us today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: Almost overnight, she started wearing the full Islamic veil (ph). It's been three weeks now, wearing the full jilbab, a long veil (ph) with the skirt and everything. So I tried to understand her motivations. Is someone telling her to do this?

Not so long ago, one of her sisters left for Syria, and since then, this little girl feels completely overwhelmed. She's so young. The mother is devastated with worry.

ELBAGIR: Geraldine has a stark warning for the parents that come to her.

HENNEGHIEN, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: We need to make people realize, if you do not act right away, it can very quickly be too late.

ELBAGIR: Since the Paris attacks, the Ministry of Interior says the laws have been changed to give police greater powers over minors seeking to travel. And those over 18 who are already on watch lists. But the families and the communities at the heart of this say ultimately, they know this is their battle. In spite of the threats, that has become a reality of life here.

[03:35:00] HENNEGHIEN, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: Is there anything else I can lose? I've already lost my son. So, there's nothing else that they can do to me.

ELBAGIR: Nima Elbagir, CNN, Molenbeek.

BARNETT: Now, Wednesday, Nima Elbagir introduces us to a Belgian man who lost his brothers to ISIS. And the others who say the hunt for homegrown terrorists has gone too far.

ELBAGIR: Ali's brothers were among the first wave of Belgian jihadis to travel to Syria.

ELBAGIR: Why do you think your brothers went to Syria?

ALI, BROTHERS WERE AMONG THE FIRST WAVE OF BELGIAN JIHADIS TO TRAVEL TO SYRIA, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: Honestly, I always asked them. But I never understood why. But it is as if they felt rejected. The Belgian state rejected children and young people. They say we're all foreigners. Why should we give them a job?

ELBAGIR: Eighteen-year-old Yassine Boubout says he was surrounded by police officers at a local supermarket and pushed to the ground at gunpoint.

YASSINE BOUBOUT, SURROUNDED BY POLICE OFFICERS AT A LOCAL SUPERMARKET: First, I was in shock. What's happening? What's happening? They already commanded me, get on your knees now. And I went to my knees.

BARNETT: These stories and more are part of our special coverage Frontline Belgium. You can see more throughout the day, Wednesday, only here on CNN. CHURCH: And we are following the breaking news of explosions at the Brussels Airport. CNN affiliate, VTM, says there were two blasts at the airport and there are other reports of injuries. Now, this still picture from Twitter user news executive seems to show smoke rising from the airport just a few moments ago, in fact. And we will bring you more on this story as we get the details into us. We'll the right back.

[03:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BARNETT: We are following the breaking news of explosions at the Brussels Airport. CNN affiliate, VTM, says there were two blasts there at the airport and as of this moment there are a number of injuries reported.

This image you're seeing now is from someone CNN has been in contact with, who is at the airport. They've taken the images, which show windows being blown out, smoke rising from the airport. All of this from just moments ago. We'll continue to get more details from witnesses there. And our correspondent, Nima Elbagir is on the way to the scene, so do stay with CNN for more details on this breaking story.

For now, we'll return to this. Four of the U.S. presidential candidates spoke to one of the country's largest pro-Israel lobby groups on Monday.

CHURCH: In front of a crowd of 18,000 people, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, John Kasich, and Ted Cruz each spelled out how they would support Israel if they were president. They also took digs at their opponents.

CLINTON: Israel's security is non-negotiable. We need steady hands. Not a president who says he's neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday, and who knows what on Wednesday because everything's negotiable.

Some things are not negotiable. And anyone who doesn't understand that has no business being our president. If you see bigotry, oppose it. If you see violence, condemn it. If you see a bully, stand up to him.

TRUMP: When I become president, the days of treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one. My number one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran. Iran is the biggest sponsor of terrorism around the world and we will work to dismantle that reach. Believe me. Believe me.

BARNETT: Passionate statements there. Israelis have been listening closely to what all the candidates have to say. Our Oren Liebermann joins us now live from Jerusalem, with more on this.

And Oren, what has been the response to most of the presidential candidates backing Israel, with Senator Sanders, the only Jewish candidate, criticizing it. OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in terms of what Israelis think, Israelis -- what their opinion is about what was heard, not too much of a surprise. Criticizing the Iran deal, touting your pro- Israel credentials, all very much expected.

The spotlight was, as it often is, on Trump, after he made his comments a while ago saying, he'd been a neutral guy in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, APAC, The pro-Israel lobby, the American Jewish voters wanted to see where he came out on that.

He stayed on message. He had a prompter, he stayed on it and that was a resounding success for him. There were no mistakes there. Nothing that he'll be called out on. In fact, most of the headlines in the Israeli press today, focusing on Trump, but not what he said at APAC, it was something he said earlier, where he said that Israel may have to pay back some of the military aids, some $3 billion in military aid it gets from the U.S., that made most of the headlines here in Israel.

So in terms of APAC, not too much of a surprise. Trump walked back those comments about paying back the military aid and then did well at the APAC convention, staying on message. Errol?

BARNETT: And Oren, you're telling me the last hour that for the most part, Donald trump and Hillary Clinton are the candidates Israel is the most familiar with rather than Ted Cruz or John Kasich.

So I'm wondering, which candidate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton American-Israelis trust? Domestically in the U.S., Hillary Clinton has issues with being trustworthy. But internationally, especially by Israelis, I'm wondering how trustworthy Donald Trump appears especially when he says one thing about U.S. aid to Israel and then sticks to the script, so to speak, when he's addressing APAC.

LIEBERMANN: Israelis are cautious about that. They're curious about that. His mistakes have played big in the media here especially as he's talked about registering Muslims, that hits home to a lot of people here.

Memories from 70 years ago registering people of a specific religion. Hillary Clinton, especially has an easy time with the Israeli crowd, and that's because Bill Clinton is so popular here. He was here in November speaking on the 20th Anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

The crowd went wild for him. And although there are certainly differences between Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, she carries a lot of that popularity with her.

We've seen a number of surveys. Where do the candidates stand for Israelis? Clinton is always on top. Trump is behind her. A double- digit lead for Clinton. And then Cruz and Kasich, Sanders as well, barely registering, in terms of the Israeli opinions here. So, Clinton has that lead. Trump trailing.

BARNETT: And Oren, just as far as momentum, and as we look at what may change there in the weeks ahead, is it likely, is it possible for a candidate, Donald Trump, to gain in popularity there, in a place like Israel at a time like this, based on the things he's been saying?

[03:45:00] LIEBERMANN: That's actually an excellent question. He could make a trip here. Some candidates before presidential elections have made a trip to Israel. We'll see how that plays in the political eye here.

I wouldn't venture a guess to see if he could gain popularity. Clinton again has that established pace and political history with her. Trump trying to establish -- trying to tout his pro-Israel credentials. Frankly, we'll see how he does on this end.

BARNETT: Oren Liebermann is live for us in Jerusalem this morning. We appreciate that, Oren. See you again soon. Thanks a lot.

CHURCH: We are following the breaking news of explosions at the Brussels Airport. CNN affiliate, VTM, says there were two blasts at the airport. Witnesses are telling another CNN affiliate, RTL, there are several wounded people and at least one of the explosions happened in the departure hall.

They described blown out windows, and this photo, we showed it to you earlier, this is from a person CNN has been in touch with, it shows smoke rising from the airport, just a few moments ago.

And we've now got Anthony Barrett on the line now. He is an eyewitness. Anthony, talk to us about what you're seeing there. What you've witnessed so far at the airport in Brussels?

ANTHONY BARRETT, EYEWITNESS: OK, well about 8 o'clock local time, I heard a couple of loud thumps. Sounded like somebody moving furniture in the hotel room above me. When I opened the curtains and looked out, I could see people fleeing the terminal building.

The hotel I'm in is actually directly opposite the terminal building. I'm currently overlooking the side of the terminal building. So far, I've seen about 18 or 19 stretch of casualties. In fact, There's more coming as I look out the window now. So, we're probably up to about 19 or 20.

CHURCH: Now, where whereabouts are you? They've evacuated the area, is that right? And where have they got people? At a safe distance there, presumably? Because from watching this, no one knows if this is the end of the matter right now, do they?

BARRETT: No. I think initially, lots of people were just standing around. I'd say, I'm in the hotel directly opposite the terminal building other than the road between us. We haven't been evacuated or anything from the hotel. I guess it's safer in the hotel.

Initially, after the explosions, there were lots of people down the side of the hotel with their trolleys, the (inaudible) has clearly fled for one of the (inaudible) terminal building. Naturally, the police and the security forces cleared everybody away. Now, all I can see are actually casualties being taken, two ambulances, not just on stretchers but on luggage trolleys, lots of ambulances, lots and lots of security forces around. CHURCH: And the authorities have they talked to people and described the - what they need to do or have they given you any guidance at all in this situation? Or is it just all hands on deck, trying to bring this situation to some sort of conclusion?

BARRETT: Yes. There certainly is an awful lot of activity. And as I'm talking to you now, I can see five people on stretchers being carried out. I haven't had any information from the hotel about what's going on. I guess I'm not surprised by that. And it's clearly a very serious incident.

CHURCH: And what about -- what are you seeing in terms of other people there? You're seeing -- you initially saw 18 people on stretchers. Now, you're seeing five more people. That's a lot of people who have been hurt and wounded in the aftermath of these two explosions. What else are you seeing there?

BARRETT: Well, as I'm talking to you now, literally, I can see another four people being taken away on stretchers. Clearly, they're coming from the main part of the terminal building and coming past the side of the terminal and I can see them from my hotel room.

CHURCH: And you were departing, were you? You were departing from the airport? So, this happened in the departure hall, right? That's what we're hearing.

BARRETT: Yes. I don't know. I've been in the hotel. I've been attending a conference. I'm due to fly home today. I guess that probably won't be happening. And the hotel is very close to the terminal. It's directly opposite, there's only a road in between. So, I'm very close to see what's going on.

There are still some passengers, I've just seen a couple with a child, walk past down in front of the hotel. I'm not sure if they know where they're going or whether they're being evacuated. From where I am now, I can see a man carrying somebody. It looks very injured.

[03:50:00] CHURCH: Anthony Barrett, thank you so much for joining us on the line there, from the Brussels Airport. You're at the hotel there. We do appreciate your eyewitness report on the situation there at the airport. We'll continue to follow this. Many thanks to you.

BARNETT: We want to bring in now our Senior International Correspondent Nima Elbagir. We understand she is on her way to the Brussels Airport. Nima, just describe to us the climate that these two explosions are taking place within. We know the details are elusive right now but the country of Belgium is in the middle of a huge terror investigation at this moment.

ELBAGIR: It is. It is in the middle of a very intense manhunt, to try and track down the remnants of the key conspirators that were involved in the Paris attack.

The threat level has been at level three, which is the second-highest, but throughout the last few days, (inaudible) captured Salah Abdeslam, Errol. What authorities have stressed to us repeatedly is that this isn't over yet.

They maintain that there is a network that they believe Salah Abdeslam, a new network that they believe Salah Abdeslam was able to build around him. And as early as Sunday, the Belgian Foreign Minister was warning about the intent of this new network to carry out attacks here in Belgium.

And within that climate, it's within that context now that we're seeing these two explosions. We still have no confirmation from authorities that it is an attack. But it absolutely ratchets up the fear, the tension, and the confusion here in Brussels, that this is happening in a major European capital city, Errol.

The authorities at the airport, we understand, have now initiated the emergency plan. Passengers are being evacuated on the runways. The pictures we are seeing just show real heartbreaking devastation. Smashed glass, injured people. We are on our way there, Errol, and we'll update you as soon as we get on the scene.

BARNETT: And just moments ago, Nima, we were speaking with a witness, a passenger who was at a hotel there at the airport, just describing in this past 20 minutes, dozens of casualties. Dozens of people injured being carried past him on stretchers.

He says there are ambulances there, there are security forces. Considering there is this massive terror investigation under way, what's likely to happen next here? What entity or entities may take over jurisdiction of investigating this incident?

ELBAGIR: Well, the next move will be the security meetings, which will decide whether or not, if this is an attack. Then they will be deciding whether or not to push the threat level up to full.

If it is an attack, then that would be the logical conclusion. That would be the next step, because it would give the Belgian authorities the ability to move soldiers on to the street, to ask the general public to stay indoors.

And we were here when that happened the first time. The first time since the Second World War, when it happened in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. I have to tell you, Errol, it was a very, very difficult time for the Belgian people. The streets were empty. People were very afraid and authorities were insisting that they stay indoors. And if this is attack, then we will likely see scenes like that unfolding again here.

Talk to us about the mood in Belgium. You have the special series of reports. We're focusing on this week. We've been there a number of times and we underscored how terrifying it must be, for people in the region to know there could be active terrorists on the move. And now, this past week, we realize that the main suspect was there all along, to see something like this happen, and again to remind our viewers, we do not know what caused the two blasts. But for people in Belgium and in Europe, how are they likely to respond and feel to an incident like this happening? BARNETT: And Nima, talk to us a bit more about just the mood there in

Belgium. You have your special series of reports we're focusing on this week, but you've been there a number of times and we've underscored in the past few months just how terrifying it must be for people, particularly in the Molenbeek region to know that there could be active terrorists on the move. And now this past week, we realized that the main suspect was there all along.

To see something like this happen, and again to remind our viewers, we do not know what caused these two blasts, but for people in Belgium and generally in Europe, how are they likely to respond and feel to an incident like this happening?

ELBAGIR: There is already a real tension here. I mean, people over here go about their daily lives and live them out. But there is also a background tension, I think it would be the best way of describing it.

A mistrust and confusion as to how Salah Abdeslam, one of Europe's most wanted men if not the most wanted man, in Europe at the time was able to hide just a street away from his childhood home.

And what that says about the mistrust between authorities and these communities, and the mistrust that engendered the reality where people in this community didn't feel able to come forward to authorities for whatever reason with his presence amongst them.

And I think that is the conversation that has been playing out for years now here in Belgium. This homegrown terror problem has plagued Belgium, and the issues surrounding it of marginalization and the lack of integration on which the radical networks have sped (ph) for so many years, and these are the bigger questions that Belgian society and Belgian government are asking. Why Belgium? Again and again.

[03:55:00] CHURCH: And Nima, we are getting confirmation from Brussels Airport authorities that indeed there were these two explosions. We don't know the cause at this point but we do know that a disaster plan is in place and people have been evacuated.

It seems that that took a little while to get that evacuation in place, but talk to us about just how well-equipped authorities are there to deal with this.

ELBAGIR: Well, the reality is that the threat level being at its second highest has meant that authorities have been very much on stand-by. So, that will (inaudible)

CHURCH: All right. Clearly having some problems there with their communication with Nima Elbagir who is bringing us up-to-date on the latest on this breaking news, these the two explosions at the airport there in Brussels and confirmation from the Brussels Airport, a disaster plan is in place.

People are being evacuated. You're looking at some still shots that we have on this. We do not know the cause of these two explosions at this point. But of course CNN will continue to follow this. I'm Rosemary Church.

BARNETT: And there's a number of injuries and casualties there as well, so we will stay with this story. I'm Errol Barnett, in fact, our coverage of this breaking news from Brussels continues after this short break.

[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)