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Officials: Investigators Find Similarities In NY & NJ Bombs; Three Possible Terror Attack On U.S. Soil In One Day; Soon: Somalian Community Leaders Address MN Stabbings; 29 People Injured in NYC Blast; Press Conference in Minnesota on Mall Stabbings. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired September 18, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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


[16:00:00] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWSROOM ANCHOR: -- New York and New Jersey are connected. For more on the BREAKING NEWS out of New York, I want to bring in CNN'S Deb Feyerick as she is at the scene of the explosion there last night. Deb, what more have you learned today?

[16:00:13] DEB FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, one thing that we can identify is, you know, the second device that they've found on 27th Street, that had a cell phone attached to it. And what that suggests according to experts, is that there was a higher level of sophistication in order to make that device. And the bomb squad has been handling it all afternoon, because that device, because it didn't explode, could have additional clues, a fingerprint, a piece of hair, some other sort of DNA that could help identify who was responsible for that device. It's unclear whether that person and the person who planted the device here on 23rd Street, just behind me, whether they are one and the same. All of that right now under investigation. But I walked by there, just a little while ago, and you've got teams of forensic investigators from the FBI but also from NYPD. And they're looking at every single piece of shrapnel that's on the ground, trying to identify some of it to see, in fact, whether any of it is either from the device or whether it was collateral from just the impact of the blast explosion.

Now, we can tell you that right now, they don't know who is responsible. Nobody has stepped forward to claim any responsibility, nor do they know why it was placed here in Chelsea. But the NYPD has a very sophisticated surveillance, security surveillance system throughout the city. So, they're going to be looking at all video. It's not just video from stores, but it's also video that is sort of strategically placed throughout, so that they can monitor what is going on. So, this is very active right now. You've got a lot of different people working on a lot of different components. And as far as, you know, this sort of operational security, they're not saying a lot about what they do have, but they are making every effort to process every piece of evidence as quickly as they possibly can, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Deb, well, we know the blockade is up, we see the police vehicles behind you. We also just saw a man and woman with a stroller, a baby stroller, working -- walking behind you, so this is complicated because this is a very residential community. Of course, lots of businesses, too. But how are people able to - able to live there with this investigation underway, and the promise of a new work week starting tomorrow?

FEYERICK: Well, you're absolutely right. That's an excellent point. You know, it almost - it reminds me of 9/11, when in order to get anywhere, you had to show identification, saying that you live in a certain part of town. That is also happening here. We have seen a couple of people who've had to show a license to indicate that they do live on 23rd Street. They're not just letting anyone go in and out, because they're trying to keep this scene as sort of calm and as pure as they possibly can. That's specifically true for where they're doing the majority of work. But it has been a disruption in this entire area. The timing of this device, also very questionable. Why they did it, you know, at 8 o'clock on a Saturday night in an area, while there were a lot of people, there were areas close by that had even more people. Why was it in a dumpster? Usually, you know, when a bomb squad finds something, if there's a threat of detonation, the first thing they'll look for is a dumpster that they can put it in, in order to blunt the impact. And that may have been why some of the injuries, Fredricka, were less than they otherwise would have been, had that dumpster not blunted the impact. So, all of these are questions that authorities are looking into as they try to figure out who did it and why. But the cell phone, very disconcerting, because that means that unlike in the case of the Boston Marathon, where the bombers were close to the device, with a cell phone, you can be a great distance from the device. And so, that raises a lot of additional concerns as well, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Deb Feyerick, thank you so much. Keep us posted there. All right. Meantime, again, the other very sizable investigation underway is in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Our Nick Valencia is working that story. We've heard from the mayor, we've heard from the police chief there. They talked about the heroic acts of an off- duty police officer who took down this suspect who stabbed nine people, ages ranging in 15 all the way up to 53. What more can you tell us about what's being learned there?

[16:04:21] NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Much of that press conference last hour highlighting the valiant effort by this off-duty police officer who was a former police chief in Albany, Minnesota, currently a part-time police officer in nearby Avon, Minnesota. He engaged the suspect, shooting him multiple times. And apparently, this suspect got up from -- after being shot at least three times before eventually being shot dead. We don't know much about this individual who carried out this attack that left nine people injured in a mall in St. Cloud. The press conference didn't offer much details about him. But we are expecting a press conference to be held by community leaders and organizers in the Somali-American community there in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There are some local media outlets there in St. Cloud already reporting the name of this suspect. CNN has been unable to identify this person independently collaborate that, but FBI, we heard from them also, earlier at this press conference that they are investigating this being a potential act of terrorism. Perhaps that has something to do with the media wing of ISIS, Amaq, going online earlier today to claim responsibility for this individual, calling him a soldier of ISIS. CNN unable to authenticate that claim, but it is similar to past claims of responsibility by this network of individuals inspired by ISIS.

Here's what we know happened. Yesterday at about 8 p.m., Saturday in St. Cloud, Minnesota, at the Crossroads mall, this individual entered the mall, and almost immediately began stabbing people, leaving nine people injured. Three of those people still in the hospital. And their ages range from 15 to 53. This individual was wearing a private security uniform. Investigators looking further into that, to whether or not he was currently contracted by the security firm or had worked for them in the past. We also know that he was mentioning Allah, and had asked at least one of the victims if they were a Muslim before carrying out this stabbing. Earlier, I did speak to an individual who was a witness. She described it being very chaotic. She rushed out. And one of the lucky ones to be able to get out of there almost immediately. Investigators saying that the mall remains closed, it is an active crime scene. The suspect's car was found in a parking lot that's been impounded. They've also conducted at least two search warrants at a residence there in Minnesota. Again, Fredricka, we're hoping to learn more about this individual at a press conference expected to be held about 30 minutes from now, from the Somali- American Community. So far, really, all we know is that this individual has had at least three encounters in the past with police. All, we're told, for minor traffic violations. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Uh-hmm. All right. Nick Valencia, keep us posted. Thank you so much.

VALENCIA: You bet.

WHITFIELD: Let's bring back our panel now and talk more about this. The panel of experts on ISIS, terrorism, you name it. Joined by Tom Fuentes, CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst and a former Assistant Director at the FBI. And CNN Law Enforcement Analysts Art Roderick, and Matthew Horace. All right, gentlemen. So, Tom, you first. A search warrants that are underway for at least one residence of the suspect. Officials still not naming the suspect. They have impounded the vehicle. What would they be looking for, especially to determine whether he was being influenced by anyone or a group?

[16:07:38] TOM FUENTES, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, one thing, first of all, is that they would withhold the identity of the individual because they want to get to all residences or possible locations of interest before the media does, so they can conduct the search warrants. So, oftentimes, that's the reason the authorities hold back on the identity until they have enough chance to cover their leads. So, that's one thing. But they'd be looking for computers, other electronic devices, documents, pamphlets, manuals, any other indication of what this person thinks and does, and who he communicates with, and what kind of literature he reads in his home. So, these would be among the things to try to develop a profile of what this individual's personal philosophy or ideology might be.

WHITFIELD: And Art, we heard the mayor in St. Cloud there, described the weapon as a kitchen-like knife. How important will it to be - to determine the source of this knife -- the history of the knife, whether this was something purchased by this individual, and if so, if the location where he purchased it. If not, you know, taking it from his home, if he said anything during that purchase, how vital and important is that?

[16:08:52] ART RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I mean, that's part of the investigation. Whether it's vital or important, we don't know yet. We have to figure out where the knife came from. Did he bring it from home? Did he - did he purchase it there at the mall? So, all of these things are going to feed into one another, but I think, really, the key here is that we had a very heroic police officer, Officer Faulkner, who responded. And I know we say he was off-duty, but in this day and age, I have to tell you, no law enforcement officer believes they're ever off duty anymore. I think everybody now just about carries a firearm when they're off duty from their law enforcement - from their regular law enforcement job. They might not be in uniform, but they're always looking for a certain incident like this to occur. And to be able to respond like this is what we all want to eventually end up doing. I will tell you that not carrying a firearm in a particular situation like this, and not being able to respond to save lives, would have a detrimental effect on any police officer that "was off-duty."

WHITFIELD: And Matthew, the FBI calling this an act of terror. What transcribed - you know, what took place here at this shopping mall, and here, we're talking about three potential terror events taking place on the same day in different geographic locations.

[16:10:09] MATTHEW HORACE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, you know, the FBI is going to go back and do their due diligence and try to determine if there's any connection between the three. But more importantly, who are his associates? Did he ever case the mall? Why did he choose this mall instead of some other location? What did he know was going to happen there? Was this a random act or was it a planned act? Did he telegraph his actions on Facebook or Twitter or Snapchat or Instagram, or did he just come up with this? Is there information on his computer that would tell us all? In every case we saw recently, there was social media activity that could have told us all what was going to happen.

WHITFIELD: Alright, gentlemen, thank you so much. Tom Fuentes, Matthew Horace, Art Roderick, we'll talk again. Stay with us. Straight ahead, we're talking about these three colossal events on U.S. soil in one day this weekend. The details behind each of the attacks, the investigation moving forward, are there ties? Are there commonalities? We'll investigate all of those things next.

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[16:14:07] WHITFIELD: Hi, welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in New York. So, it was just last night, 8:30, when the Chelsea neighborhood here in this city was rocked by an explosion. And then later, police would find an undetonated device, a pressure cooker. 29 people in all have been injured. Thankfully, all have since been released, we understand, for today. But still, a lot of concern throughout the city. Police presence has been stepped up, not just because of the explosion taking place last night, but this is also a week of the gathering of the U.N. Security Council, so big week right ahead of us. Let's talk now more about the state of this city. Congressman Charlie Rangel with me now. Harlem is your district, but it was Chelsea in which this explosion took place. You were actually in Washington, DC last night, at the Congressional Black Caucus dinner when this explosion happened at 8:30 last night. How did you learn of what evolved here in the city?

[16:15:06] CHARLES RANGEL, CONGRESSMAN OF NEW YORK CITY: Well, when we broke up around 10:30, 11 o'clock, everyone thought that being from New York, that we knew what was going on. And even though the President was with us and he knew, he didn't share it. It seemed to be a feeling that they didn't want to say anything until they knew something. And the whole emphasis was to be calm, because they had - they knew one thing, it was a domestic act of terror. But they had no idea whether it was connected with anything else. And just recently, I called Washington to get an update, and they said "No, but the city and the state and the federal government are cooperating, the Homeland Security, the FBI." And it looks like this is going to be the new norm.

WHITFIELD: Uh-hmm. What are your concerns about -- what we do know thus far about is the explosive device. What we don't know about it?

RANGEL: It's not -- after 9/11, it's pretty hard to have concerns. We're so pleased that we got a great New York City Police Force. We've been trained by Washington. They are experts, the things that have been uncovered. I was with Secretary Johnson over the weekend when he was talking to groups, and he went out of his way to talk -

WHITFIELD: Homeland Security Chief. Uh-hmm.

RANGEL: Yeah -- how trained New York City policemen are and the first responders. And so, if there's any place that feels secure, it's in my City of New York. But these things do cause me to be upset. And we have to learn a lot about it if you see something, say something. We're new at this, you know, we're not tattle tales, and we don't get frustrated easy. But this is a new era and everyone just has to be alert.

WHITFIELD: And of course, we're hearing that reiterated by officials such as yourself, the governor, the mayor here, who are saying, it is incumbent upon all residents, visitors of this city to be vigilant, to say something, if you see something unusual. We're talking about devices left in a dumpster, a garbage can here, potentially to cause more harm or potentially just to go unnoticed by passersby. When people are asked to be vigilant, what do they do? What are they looking for?

RANGELL: Well, I'll tell you. I have been so pleased to see New Yorkers following through and calling up and saying, "There's a bag here. It's been here, there's no one around." The things that a few years ago, I wouldn't think about doing, you're always rushing, you're always doing something, but if you know that a terrorist only has to get through once, no matter how many of them that you catch, then once you become more alert, not like when you visit Israel, but certainly, you get a higher sense that everyone is in danger. But all of these eyes looking, it truly, in fact, makes a difference. And I think we're beginning to enjoy that responsibility.

WHITFIELD: The New Jersey and New York governors, both saying this is an act of terror. The City Mayor saying "intentional," not willing to use the word - the words, "an act of terror" at this point. How do you believe those semantics play in --

RANGELL: You knock down my door -

WHITFIELD: -- the unfolding of the investigation.

RANGELL: You knock down my door for anything. That's a terrorist act. If you intend to scare somebody, that's a terrorist act. I think the differential is that, whether or not it is involved with international conspiracy, or whether it is copycats, whether or not they're our own main people who believe they're frustrated --

WHITFIELD: That is not being linked to international terrorism, as yet. It does not necessary mean it's being ruled out. Is that your understanding?

RANGELL: They haven't ruled out anything. They are so vague in saying absolutely nothing except be calm. If someone tells me to be calm, I like to believe they're calm, too. And I'd feel very good about the security of the City of New York. But it does emphasize how important elections are because as much ego as we have in this City of New York, we are so dependent on the state and the federal government for support, for intelligence, and what to do. And who is running the shop in Washington makes all the difference in the world. If someone was applying for a job to be general manager (INAUDIBLE) the United States, the first thing you ask is, "What experience do you have?" I said, "For what?" ,"Just in case anything happens, where would you go to help us out"? And so, I'm not politicking, but I do believe that we can't afford just to go to the polls being frustrated. We have to go as intelligent voters and saying, "What's in the best interest of the people of the United States of America?" because you can't have a rally if you have terrorists working against you.

WHITFIELD: The first Presidential Debate taking place this upcoming weekend. How much do you see the course of events that have taken place this weekend, New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota, playing in the dialogue and the debate, the questions, the answers, the demeanor?

RANGEL: I wouldn't want to be a part of the news media like you for anything. I am so used to rules. Rules for fighting, rules for the debates, rules for the House of Representatives, rules in the state legislature. And for me to believe that there's an animal out there that doesn't believe in rules, and no referee, it's unbelievable. You know, I was -- someone told me that Muhammad Ali was alive and at his prime, and he got into a fight with one of these guys that fight in cages. And does everything in a fight, push your eyes, and does everything, and the referee's saying, you know, "Be careful, don't you hit him below the belt." And it seems like with this real estate guy, there's no rules that apply to him. And he's so entertaining, I guess, for the commercials. But it's so frightening for the country, that whether you like someone or don't, you're supposed to look and say, "Are you qualified?" But when you find someone that could easily be admitted into an insane asylum and he's popular because the world is feeling frustrated, it's time for somebody to bring us to the table. Not as Republicans and Democrats, but who's going to be the commander-in-chief and who's going to be in charge of your country?

WHITFIELD: Congressman Charlie Rangel, good to see you. Thank you so much.

RANGEL: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Alright. Stay with us. We are learning more information about the three attacks now on U.S. soil on one day. We're waiting a live news conference on the Minnesota mall stabbings, right after this.

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[16:25:44] WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. We continue to follow the attack that took place in a shopping mall in Minnesota. Nine people were stabbed by one suspect, who was taken down, killed, by an off-duty police officer. Investigators have not revealed the identity of the suspect. However, we are awaiting a press conference from members of the Somali Community there in Minnesota. Somali Community is a fairly significant, a large populous there. There has been no connection made by officials between the suspect, the victims and the Somali Community. However, Somali Community members, leaders, have taken it upon themselves to hold a press conference and we are there. We want to hear what's being said. And, of course, as it happens, we'll bring that to you live. Meantime, we're also following two other BREAKING NEWS stories, possibly connected to terror. Police now saying they found similarities between the bomb that went off in New York City last night and the bomb that went off in Seaside Park, New Jersey. However, investigators have not concluded that the incidents are connected. Let me bring back our panel of experts to discuss these developments; Tom Fuentes, Matthew Horace, Art Roderick. Alright, thanks so much for being with us again. We're awaiting that press conference. As it gets underway there in Minnesota, we'll breakaway. Somali Community leaders is all we're being told will be carrying out that press conference. Alright. So, let's talk about what took place in New York and New Jersey. Tom, no definitive connection yet from authorities but according to our sources, there are similarities in the way of the cellular phone use. How much of a thumbprint or fingerprint is this on these devices?

[16:27:35] FUENTES: Well, the only problem with that information, investigatively, is that, you know, you have people looking at various websites on the internet of how to construct these devices. They're going to libraries and doing research on that. And if you're going to use a cell phone as a detonating device or a timing device for it, then you know, you would see that similarity in, you know, in the making of the device. It doesn't necessarily mean that it was the same individual that made the devices or the same bomb school other than it was being talked about or promoted as one way to make a device on the internet. And similar people, you know, with the same mind- set, saw that information.

WHITFIELD: Uh-hmm. And Art, is this a coincidence, or is there something sinister in the fact that you have three possible terror attacks? Again, not definitively have officials called all of these incidents terror attacks, but the FBI is saying a possible terror attack as it pertains to Minnesota. But do you see that this is a coincidence, or might there be any link, some real commonality?

[16:28:40] RODERICK: You know, Fred -- you know, Fred, from a purely investigative standpoint when you're investigating, you don't believe in these types of coincidences. You've got three attacks occurring within a 24-hour time period. I think what we've got here is a combination of good police work in the response by Officer Faulkner in Minnesota. Good police work on the part of the New York State Police when they found the second device. We probably have got quite a bit of luck in the fact that the bombers were sort of inept. When you look at the difference between the explosion that occurred in Seaside, where it basically just blew the bottom off of the plastic trash receptacle. And you saw two trash receptacles inside. Right next to it, they were completely intact. And the difference between the explosion that occurred in Chelsea, there's quite a difference there. So, I think you've got that ineptness on the bomb maker's part and probably placement of the device that actually saved a lot of people in both these occurrences.

WHITFIELD: So saved a lot of people, Matthew, but it might have been the intent that it would be used to intensify the attack, that it would launch additional shrapnel?

[16:29:45] HORACE: Sure. Well, some of my experience at (INAUDIBLE) every bomber has a unique signature. So in this case, we're seeing evidence now to tell us that both of the devices that actually went off have similarities. So that's a good place to start. The pressure cooker bomb didn't go off, but it might be similar. So, investigators are pulling all of that information -

[16:30:02] WHITFIELD: And the only similarity that we're talking about is the cell phone.

HORACE: Yes, with the cell phone.

WHITFIELD: Because the wiring is different from what we've understood in our initial...

HORACE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ...information, right. One is a pipe bomb. One is a pressure cooker.

HORACE: Right.

WHITFIELD: So, they are dynamic and even what is fueling the explosives might be different too. HORACE: It is very well might be.

WHITFIELD: The black powder in at least one?

HORACE: Yes and at least one, the one we saw at the video of earlier, clearly a plume of white smoke...

WHITFIELD: In New York.

HORACE: In New York which tells us that black powder or a low explosive may have been used. In the other cases, the similarities are going to comment -- the investigators are going to take that information and run down those leads and continue down the road.

WHITFIELD: And again we're looking at the video that we received only within the last hour and a half or so a different perspective of that explosion at 8:30 last night in Chelsea there.

You'll see everyone is going about business as usual. And then one of the cars stops and then you see an explosion behind him. And then you see people, debris all of that kind of, you know, in rapid motion there.

So, Art, does anything stand out in particular as you get another chance to look at this video in terms of how it might redirect this investigation?

RODERICK: Well, it's a pretty intense explosion there as compared to what happened at seaside and you see the debris immediately flying around. I think the key part here is going to be able to put this device together and make a comparison between the other devices that was found on 27th street.

And take a look at the similarity in those two devices. More than likely, they were very similar. But that's a pretty intense explosion you're seeing right there. Obviously blowing windows out and creating damage to the building that it was actually near.

So that's an intense -- intense blast, very lucky that nobody lost their lives during this explosion.

WHITFIELD: And Tom, your observation?

FUENTES: Well, I think in looking at that, it almost looks to me like the concussion from the blast might have blown loose leaves off the trees that some of what we see falling on the sidewalk, to me, it appears like leaves that are falling down. It is, you know, autumn now and we're about to have the leaves come down on their own. But they might have gotten a little boost from the concussion of the blast.

WHITFIELD: All right, gentlemen, thank you so much. Tom Fuentes, Matthew Harris, Art Roderick thank you so much. We'll pick up our conversation. We're going to be right back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [16:35:00] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. We continue to follow the Breaking News. Out of New York here, investigators are still searching for clues and suspects in that intentional bombing in the Chelsea neighborhood. We've got brand new pictures in fact just in, take a look.

You can see investigators closely studying the damage and the debris left on the streets in the aftermath of the bombing last night that explosion damaging buildings in the area. Of course, you can see glass blown out of that door there, police say the devices used in the bombing.

And another one in New Jersey are both headed to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. Again, a reminder, 29 people were injured in that New York blast, all of whom have been released from the hospital now.

Meantime, you see in the small box there, press conference underway. In Minneapolis, we're going to take you right there. They are members of the Somali Community there. There was an attack taking place in St. Cloud at a shopping mall. Nine people were injured in a stabbing. The suspect was shot dead.

Investigators are not revealing anything about the suspect thus far. But members of this community say they wanted to initiate their own press conference. Let's listen in on what they have to say.

ABDUL KULANE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL MINNESOTA COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY: In this community in many different ways -- Somali community are affected by this incident. First of all, our solidarity (ph) goes to the families who are affected and we condole with those victims who have been hurt last night by the individual -- suspected individual.

We condemn it. The strongest word we can possibly do. And in our faith, Muslim Community of Somali, we came together to condole with the greater community where for the loss that we had, and the injured, and the people who are affected by this incident.

But at the same time, we wanted to condemn -- strongly condemn any terrorist act. We don't agree with that we currently (ph) condemn any terrorist -- terrorism act that happens within America or in the world.

We don't believe in violence, assaulting problems (ph) and violence and we don't agree to anyone to take a murder (ph) to his hands and hurt other people. We don't agree with that, and we strongly condemn that. And I will leave the rest for my colleagues to follow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much Abdul Kulane for your leadership. Up next is Jaylani Hussein from CAIR Minnesota. Welcome, Jaylani.

(APPLAUSE)

JAYLANI HUSSEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNCIL AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS: J-A-Y-L-A-N-I, last name H-U-S-S-E-I-N, the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations again I welcome you all and thank you for being a part of this press conference.

Today, we join our fellow Minnesotans, members of this community, to send our heartfelt condolences to the families and the victims of this tragedy. We're all shocked just like you and we're all grieving just like you. This is an act of an individual, and we want our community to realize this fact.

There are still an investigation, as this investigation is going on, we are not clear of all of the aspects of this incident including the connection to ISIS which there is no connection at this point from the law enforcement and as well also from the community.

And therefore, we need to realize that, as well. We are...

(BACKGROUND NOISE)

HUSSEIN: ...also concerned about the potential backlash to this community. We understand in St. Cloud, there is more anti-Muslim organizing and we hope that they do not use this incident as a way to continue to polarize, divide and spread fear in our communities. This is a tragedy that affects all people in St. Cloud and this is an opportunity for the community to come together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a few items that have not been bid on yet.

HUSSEIN: One other fact that I want to make sure we understand this community, St. Cloud Muslim Community, the Somali Community are hard working individuals. There are people who are, just like everybody else, who woke up this morning to this tragedy and are trying to make some sense out of it.

And Finally, I want to reiterate, again, how this community, the Muslim community feels about this tragedy. We send again our sympathy and our condolences -- heartfelt condolences to those victims. We are glad to hear that many of them will be recovering very shortly soon.

And for those who are still in the hospital, we send again our condolences to them. And finally, this is a tragedy. We hope from this tragedy we can build a better, stronger community here, a strong St. Cloud that is inclusive and welcoming for all people. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

[16:40:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Jaylani Hussein from CAIR. Up next is one of our community leaders that have been in the community for a long, long time. He is one of the first people that came to St. Cloud. His name is Mohamoud Mohamed from SASSO. Please, Mohamed welcome.

MOHAMOUD MOHAMED, ST. CLOUD AREA SOMALI SALVATION ORGANIZATION, RESIDENT: Thank you, Hajji (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mohamed, could you spell your first and last name for us? MOHAMOUD: My first name is Mohamoud M-O-H-A-M-O-U-D, Mohamed M-O-H-A-

M-E-D and I am with St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization and Central Minnesota Islamic Center. We are here today as Central Minnesota Somali Community to express our solidarity. And we are -- we were devastated to hear the news of St. Cloud mall stabbing.

And we, the Somali Community of the Central Minnesota like to express our thoughts and prayers to the victim of September 17th, 2016 tragedy. And also, we would like to express our sympathy -- empathy to the family of the deceased young men. The news of the St. Cloud Mall was shocking to the friends, relatives and the community of the deceased.

We were all shocked. We were not expecting -- according to the police release, we do not know the motive of that stabbing incident. Nevertheless, Central Minnesota Somali Community is in distress. And we are afraid of the consequences of this incident. We would like to say loud that our community in Central Minnesota has no relationship with ISIS or any other Islamic terrorist group.

We were the victim of those terrorist groups. As I said 16 years ago on the steps of our courthouse, that we were the victim of those terrorists. And now we are facing, again, to suffer for their act. They are minorities in our faith that are misusing the credibility of our faith. Islam is peace.

Thank you and I pray for the victims.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was Mohamed Mohamoud Mohamed from SASSO. Up next, he is a special mother that lives in St. Cloud. Her name is Lul Hersi. Please welcome to -- Lul Hersi to the stage. Lul Hersi is a mother for many, so please welcome.

(APPLAUSE)

LUL HERSI, ST. CLOUD RESIDENT: Good afternoon. My name is Lul Hersi L- U-L last name is H-E-R-S-I. I'm here as a mother, as a community member. As anybody who was outside the mall yesterday waiting to know their loved ones is dead or alive.

This is a tragic event. It's been a dark day. It's a day that we will never forget. But I hope we remember it in a good way. I really want to send my condolences to the victims of yesterday -- last night.

As a mother of four children, my son was not at home yesterday when this happened. So, I was thinking, you know, the mall and my son being there. And after he knocked on the door and came in at 8:40...

(CROSSTALK)

HERSI: ...then I realized as a mother again the other people who are standing outside are also feeling the same way I was feeling. We condemn the acts of yesterday. It was an individual, and we don't know what motivated that individual. We cannot at this time take the hate take of us (ph). Let's unite as one Minnesota. Let's take love instead of hate. Let's preach the good of us, not the bad. That just happens once in a while and we don't hope for this to happen again.

I said last night, not in St. Cloud, not in St. Cloud. That's what I kept telling my kids, not in St. Cloud. But I hope my neighbors, my co-workers, my friends, my community members, my elders and everybody else will take this into heart.

And please, let's spread love instead of hate and I will say it again, ISIS does not represent us. It does not represent Islam. It does not represent the Somalis. It does not represent anybody of that faith.

ISIS is a different faith from Islam. ISIS has their own religion, and they have their own belief. So please, as Minnesotan, as St. Cloud let's come together and let's be one...

(APPLAUSE)

HERSI: ...and let's -- and let's show the rest of the world, today we -- all the cameras and all the news media on us, let's show them we are not what happened yesterday. We are better than that. We can do better than this St. Cloud.

Please, take my words in heart and be -- and let's also condemn what happened and also let's come together and try to build a better community for everybody else. And don't retaliate back at anybody else.

(APPLAUSE)

[16:45:00] WHITFIELD: All right, members of what we're told to be the Somali Community there -- leaders of the Somali Community there in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul which by many standards is considered the Somali Capital of the U.S. with 60,000 Somali Nationals there living in that community.

And this coming, after police investigating the shopping mall stabbing, not revealing any details about the identity of the suspect but these leaders saying they feel compelled, you know, to send their solidarity and condolences to the families impacted by the nine who were stabbed and injured.

The suspect was shot dead by an off-duty police officer, again, no more being revealed about the suspect, but reportedly earlier, ISIS claiming responsibility calling that suspect a soldier of ISIS.

Police instead giving much of the credit to an off-duty police officer for having to preserve lives, seeing this suspect stab people indiscriminately in the shopping mall and the police officer identifying himself, then shooting and then witnesses saying seeing the suspect try to get up from the ground three times before being shot dead.

Of course, we're still awaiting more information about the suspect. Police say they are -- they have impounded the vehicle of that suspect and will be examining the residence of that suspect before revealing any information about the identity.

But again, you're seeing and hearing a very impassioned plea from members of the Somali Community there now expressing their concern to -- for any potential backlash. CNNs, Nick Valencia has been following this story for us. And Nick what more can you tell us about the direction of this investigation?

VALENCIA: Well, we know -- let's start here with this individual that he has been identified by local media as being a member of the Somali American Community. CNN has been, so far, unable to verify this but his name is out there and being floated around.

And that's perhaps why we saw this press conference that we were just watching here live on CNN from the Somali American Community a very -- as you mentioned Fred, an impassioned plea, clear and direct language, that this individual who carried out this stabbing attack at a mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota does not reflect or represent the thousands, the tens of thousands of law-abiding Somali Americans there in and around the St. Cloud and St. Paul, Minnesota area.

So far, we don't have very many details about this individual. The investigation is focused on the car that was impounded in this parking lot as well as the search warrants that are being executed at least one residence in the area. We do know that this suspect has had at least three encounters in the past with police.

All of them were told by the police chief were minor traffic violations. But here is what we know happened. At about 8:00 p.m. last night, this individual entered the crossroads mall and almost immediately began stabbing individuals there in that mall indiscriminately.

He was mentioning Allah. He was dressed in a private security uniform. We're waiting on getting details about that whether or not he was working for this firm or had worked for them in the past. He had asked at least one person -- one of those victims if he was Muslim before he continued on his attack, injuring nine people.

Three of those people still hospitalized were told that none of those injuries are life-threatening but it is a variety of people that he injured ranging in age from 15 years old to 53 years old.

And at that press conference earlier, Fredricka, we heard -- not just from the mayor, but also from the FBI and the chief of police there and they highlighted this valiant effort by a local off-duty police officer, let's listen in a little bit to what they said -- called his brave actions in subduing the suspect.

I'm told by the control room we don't have that stat (ph) but I can tell you, Fred, they did highlight this officer's incredible bravery, Jason Faulkner. We did reach out to this officer here. He owns a business in Minnesota. We've been unable to get in contact with him.

He's unwilling to talk right now because this is an ongoing investigation but this is a person who very clearly as was said by the mayor there stopped what could have been a lot more injuries or even death, Fred.

[16:50:00] WHITFIELD: Yes, it was the mayor who during that press conference even said his actions really should be training -- training video...

VALENCIA: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ...for everybody particularly off-duty, on-duty police officers what to do in a situation like that that he was truly heroic. All right, thank you so much Nick Valencia, appreciate it.

All right, joining me on the phone is Abdirizak Bihi, a Somali Community Leader in Minnesota. So, Mr. Bihi thanks so much for being with me. You saw and heard this press conference of Somali nationals and leaders there talking about concern about backlash even though very little has been revealed publicly about this suspect.

What more can you tell us about your concerns --the community's concerns and the direction of this investigation?

ABDIRIZAK BIHI, SOMALI COMMUNITY LEADER: Thank you for having me. I really feel that the community leaders there have done a wonderful job to express and articulate the feelings of the community in St. Cloud, I mean Minnesota. There's a lot of concern that the actions of -- evil actions of an individual might again surround and impact law-abiding citizens of the Somali American Community. So, I think that was a great job. And again, I want to say, again, that we -- our thoughts and our prayers are with the victims.

WHITFIELD: OK. Have you had conversations with the police? And if so, what's been said to you?

BIHI: I did have communication with leaders there. I was unable to attend that. And the community leaders already identified, to the local media and to us, that the name of the person is Dahir Adin. He did work for that security company as the community leader said, part- time.

They were in communication with the parents of that young man who committed that atrocity. So, yes, he told his parents, according to the community leaders, that he was going to the mall earlier that evening of Saturday around 6 o'clock to buy iPhone 7, but nobody knows what happened to the instigator and the law enforcement.

WHITFIELD: OK. Of course, we have not confirmed the name of the suspect. The police have not publicly revealed it during that press conference that we did air just about two hours or so ago.

And talk to me, if you would though, about the community's concerns, as we heard in that press conference about potential backlash and how are people there in the community trying to get ahead of that potentially?

BIHI: There is a huge amount of concern from the community that that the actions -- evil actions of this individual might impact the whole community especially in that region of the state St. Cloud area. There were challenges, a lot of challenges between the Somali American Community and some few members of the mainstream community.

They have done a lot of work, both sides, the majority of the community, to come together many times to connect as a one united community. But this action is felt as a tragedy, not only a tragedy to those victims and families but a tragedy that will not -- we don't hope, but it might affect the lives of both Somali American Community...

WHITFIELD: All right...

BIHI: ...that's present and this might happen.

[16:55:00] WHITFIELD: ...Abdirizak Bihi, thank you so much for your time and your sentiment. Truly appreciate it. Tom Fuentes and Art Roderick back with me now. Your initial reaction to the Somali Community coming out showing their solidarity for the support of those who are injured the family members and at the same time talking about their concerns about backlash, Tom.

FUENTES: Well, you know, this is a really tragic story for these parents. They flee 15-16 years ago from Wartawan Somalia. They are fleeing radical Islam and warlords that have devastated their country. They come to America become patriotic Americans and their sons that they bring with them that at that time are 4, 5, 6 years old unbeknownst to them, get radicalized later grow up to become jihadist...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

FUENTES: ...many of them leaving and going to Somalia and joining Al- Shabaab and the parents didn't have a clue. And for them to come out like this immediately and show solidarity with their fellow Minnesotan residents I think it's just so moving and important that they did that.

WHITFIELD: Art?

(CROSSTALK)

RODERICK: You know, Tom -- yes, Tom is right I mean and they came out and condemned this right away.

FUENTES: Exactly.

RODERICK: That this individual is not, you know, did not do these be known to the community. It's going to be interesting to see what has social media sites look like. I know we've been talking about this all day but the -- but the fact that that, you know, he just told them I'm going to buy an iPhone at the mall and all of a sudden, ends up doing this is, you know, there's got to be some trail somewhere...

WHITFIELD: Yes. RODERICK: ...that this individual left behind. You just don't all of a sudden change your mind while you're going to buy an iPhone 6 and stab nine people.

WHITFIELD: All right, we're going to leave it right there and thank you so much Art Roderick and Tom Fuentes. Thank you to all my guests today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. That's it for me. Thank you so much for being with me today from New York much more in the News Room straight ahead with Poppy Harlow.

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