Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Authorities Are Working to Find out Who is Behind the Bomb Packages; Saudi with Another Version of Jamal Khashoggi's Death; Disturbed Woman Attack Toddlers in China; Bomber Manhunt Moves To Florida Postal Facility; CIA Director Briefs Trump On Jamal Khashoggi Case; U.S. To Send At Least 800 Troops To Mexican Border; Journalist Released After Enduring Years Of Hell; One Island Missing. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired October 26, 2018 - 03:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN HOST: Investigators focusing in on at least one state in the United States as they identify their search for who is behind that now 10 potential bombs sent to the mail.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN HOST: Also, ahead this hour, the Saudis changed their story yet again about what happened to journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

HOWELL: And members of the migrant caravan in Mexico push into the U.S. despite a warning from the U.S. president.

ALLEN: These stories ahead this hour. Welcome to our viewers joining us all around. We're coming to you live from Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.

HOWELL: And I'm George Howell from CNN world headquarters. Newsroom starts right now.

The number of explosive devices recovered by police this week has risen now to 10. Federal investigators have been searching a postal sorting facility in Opa-locka, Florida, north of Miami, where some of those packages are believed to have been processed.

ALLEN: The intended targets have been verbally and regularly attacked by the U.S. President Donald Trump. Two similar packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden were intercepted on Thursday.

HOWELL: And actor Robert De Niro also targeted, the suspicious package was sent to his production company in New York.

ALLEN: Even just one attempted attack aimed at one prominent political figure would be bad enough, but 10 in less than a week, well, that is unprecedented our country.

HOWELL: Unprecedented, indeed, even though the devices were crude and not exploded the scope of these failed attacks reflects the ambition of the person or persons behind them. We get the very latest on investigation now from CNN's Miguel Marquez.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We continue to advice the American public to remain vigilant.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A dire warning for all Americans. There could be more potentially explosive out there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES O?EILL, POLICE COMMISSIONER, NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT: This is something that should be taken seriously. The NYPD, the FBI were taking this seriously. We are treating them as live devices as you see the way our bomb squad detectives went in to CNN yesterday. This has to be taken with the utmost seriousness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: But offering assurances hundreds of thousands of postal employees are tracking packages for any potential dangers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILIP BARTLETT, INSPECTOR IN CHARGE, NEW YORK DIVISION U.S. POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE: We have over 600,000 post-employees up there right now so we have the eyes and ears looking for these packages.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: At least 10 bombs now discovered from New York to Washington, Florida and California. The latest two suspected bombs sent to former Vice President Joe Biden at least one was mis- addressed, both earlier today sitting in U.S. post office facilities in Delaware just miles apart.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: I just want to make a note of apology for the idiotic behavior of my president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Overnight, another package discovered addressed to actor and Trump critic Robert De Niro at his downtown Manhattan film offices TriBeCa Productions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL DE BLASIO, MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: The device was removed successfully. Thank God there were no injuries. The really quick- witted work of a security guard there at that facility in TriBeCa is to thanks for the fact that nothing happened, and no harm was done to anyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: The package sent to De Niro similar to the one addressed to former CIA director John Brennan and sent to CNN. Six U.S. flag forever stamps but no post mark. The bomb sent to CNN ultimately delivered by courier. The return address to the Florida congressional office of Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The device is now in the hands of forensic expert who will look for the bomb maker or makers, signatures on the packaging and the devices themselves.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A low I.Q. individual. Maxine Waters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Two devices also sent to Trump critic California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, one intercepted at a congressional mail sorting facility just outside D.C. The other a post office facility in Los Angeles.

Similar packages sent to President Obama and Hillary Clinton were intercepted before reaching their homes. The package of billionaire and Democratic donor George Soros appeared to be placed in his mailbox.

The device of former Attorney General Eric Holder was sent in the mail but was returned to Wasserman Schultz's office in South Florida, which, like the others used her address for the return.

Law enforcement sources calling the devices rudimentary, but functional. And at least one was packed with projectiles meant to inflict greater damage. The FBI calling them potential explosive devices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:05:07] WILLIAM SWEENEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE, FB NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE: Any device could be considered potentially dangerous and treated as such until proven otherwise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: To talk more about this let's bring in Keith Noble. Keith, a former bureau chief for the CIA joining us this hour from Miami, Florida. Pleasure to have you with us, Keith.

KEITH NOBLE, FORMER BUREAU CHIEF, CIA: Pleasure. good evening.

HOWELL: Let's talk more about what we know so far regarding these packages. One of them, targeting one of your former bosses, John Brennan. What can investigators draw from these devices which really are their biggest clues. NOBLE: Well, George, the most important thing to understand right now

is you're going to a broad coalition that's encompassing the FBI, homeland security, the national security agency and CIA.

And what's important to understand it's not as critical in terms of who was sent the packages, more importantly, what were the common traits of the packages.

What they do is they look at materials that the bombs are made off, they look at materials to include the envelopes, the handwriting. They take all these samples and they have analyst that look back. And what they try to do is backtrack it to a particular source.

We're getting open source reporting that's dedicating that they believe that these packages emanated from an area around Opa-locka, Florida. And why that's important is because what they're going to do is look at videotape, they're going to look at where those particular post offices that these packages were mailed at to build what we called a drag net to get a better understanding of who that subject was.

We now have reports that Dianne Feinstein, Maxine Waters, and obviously of course, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were single the packages too. So that may indicate that this is a person who has some kind of ill will or anger that's targeted at Democrats. We don't particularly know.

What's most important critically for investigators now is that the key understanding of what were the common traits of those packages so they can own down to a county and precinct level where they originate.

HOWELL: Let's talk about that. Sources telling CNN that investigators already think they know where at least some of these packages originated. How significant could that be?

NOBLE: It could be very significant because if they have an idea of the particular part in Opa-locka or particular county in the state of Florida. And just because something is leaked doesn't mean that it's necessarily true. Oftentimes in investigated means, you may send out a false hearing so that you give your real suspect a full sense of comfort.

So, we still do not know specifically where at, just because we hear the world Opa-locka, again, it doesn't mean that it's there. But if they do have it narrow down to the city that's going to help them to involve local law-enforcement security that can look at security cameras, that can look at the time that they have those packages from mail.

And then from there they can go down to the specific store where these materials may have been purchased within a 10 to 20-mile radius. Again, the more information they can collect the closer they can target the area of where these packages in the mail from.

HOWELL: I want to pick up on a point you raised here. Thankfully, look, none of these bombs exploded. But given the fact that this was a 100 percent failure rate, is there a concern that this could be some sort of a dry run to incite fear or even worse, a test for something more sinister to come?

NOBLE: George, that's an excellent point. And let me make this very clear for your viewers. This is one of the most significant events that take place in the United States since the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. On a night where you had the secretary of state and other members of this cabinet that were targeted.

So, you mentioned that it was a 100 percent failure rate. And I will just push back this respectfully, it wasn't a failure because obviously no one was killed. But what it shows is that there is a concerted effort by an individual or individuals to try to - how can say - target members of one political party and people who are obviously been critics of the president of the United States.

And so, what it suggests is and it really goes back to the decline in the political discourse here in the United States that it does have consequences. And unfortunately, there are members of our society they hear this negative language and some of them actually believe that there is a fight and believe that there is an evil in these particular incidents and we see activities like this.

You know, George, I've worked in 42 countries around the world and what happens in the zero-sum political instances where there is no faith in the institutions that people were result to and that it means to try to protect their political interest.

[03:09:58] And so, we're just thankful that here in the United States, the Secret Service and other protective service entities such as the FBI they were able to catch release because they were sent off.

But it does portend that moving forward this is something that security professionals at the state, local and national level are going to have to keep an eye on, because while yesterday and today we found that they were Democrats and people who have critics of the president that were targeted moving forward in the future this could happen to other parties involved as well.

HOWELL: Keith, you know, you really underscore how significant this entire event has been. And if we could just pull back up this map to show our viewers the various cases that investigators are looking at.

There are so many from New York City. You see George Soros, the Clintons, John Brennan, the Obama's, on and on. Look, there are at least 10 potential bombs that we know of that were said that could one person makes all of those bombs on their own. Or does this suggest more than one person being involved in this?

NOBLE: George, that's an excellent question. And right now, the honest answer is we do not know. One person is more than capable of doing this with enough time and preparation.

However, this is why it's important to collect -- excuse me, as much data as they possibly can to kind of get that drag net. For it to be a conspiracy it would take more than one person. But to answer your question directly, one person with enough preparation can send that many packages.

You know, it reminds me about, obviously the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. And what also happen as he was based in Montana but sometimes he would drive all the way San Francisco to tow investigators off. So, a person that is determine and is radicalized it's very impressive what they can particularly do, especially if they have adequate preparation.

So, I think it would be irresponsible to suggest that just because of the sheer magnitude there are multiple people involve we just don't have enough information right now to make that assessment.

HOWELL: But again, to you point, the significance of what we have seen. There so many questions about who could be behind this. Again, the perspective of a former CIA bureau chief Keith Noble. Thank you again so much for your time and perspective.

NOBLE: Thank you.

ALLEN: I appreciate his insights, absolutely good.

HOWELL: Absolutely.

ALLEN: Well, President Trump thinks he is being unfairly linked to the suspected pipe bombs and he has no plans to stop attacking the media in the wake of what's been happening according to our sources.

HOWELL: Our Jeff Zeleny is in Washington and has the latest for us.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: As a nationwide manhunt intensifies with three more suspected pipe bomb packages discovered earlier today, the president's first act of business blaming the media.

At 7.18 a.m., tweeting, "A very big part of the anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the mainstream media that I refer to as fake news. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description." A far cry from teleprompter trump who said this only 12 hours earlier at a campaign rally.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony. We can do it. We can do it. We can do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Twelve days before the midterm elections the president clearly mindful of the potential political peril with pipe bombs being sent to some of his favorite political targets. He even told supporters in Wisconsin he was on his best behavior.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And by the way, you see how nice I'm behaving tonight. This is like have you ever seen this? We're all behaving very well. And hopefully we can keep it that way, right. We're going to keep it that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Yet the president did not mention any of those intended targets President Obama, Secretary Clinton, Vice President Biden or others by name, only describing them like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Current and former high-ranking government officials.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: CNN is learning that the president nor the White House has reached out to Obama, Clinton or any of the targets of the potential assassination attempts. The president did not address the matter today while delivering an election message about lowering drug prices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We are fighting for lower drug prices which will now be automatic. It will be automatic and very substantial.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: And so far, declining to call the bombs an act of domestic terrorism, as Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and others have done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL RYAN, UNITED STATES SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: That is an act of terrorism. There is no place for that in our democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: The president thinks his rhetoric has been unfairly linked to the bomb incident, sources tell CNN, and has no plans of claiming any personal responsibility. He believes he is treated with hostility and unfairly. There's no talking him out of that, according to one confidant of the president.

The president also taking no steps to quite conspiracy theories from some allies that Democrats are behind the pre-election plot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:14:55] RUSH LIMBAUGH, TALK SHOW HOST: Republicans just don't do this kind of thing. Not one of these bombs went off. And if a Democrat operates purpose here is to make it look, hey, you know, there are mobs everywhere. The mobs are not just Democrat mobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Now some Republicans wonder if the president is missing the chance for presidential leadership using this moment at least politically speaking to try and win over some of those voters in the suburbs and elsewhere who may have soured on them.

But the president clearly taking of how he's done before fighting with the media. So, one day after that rare call for civility, the president was digging in.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, the White House.

ALLEN: We want to turn to a developing story we're following from China. A knife attack that occurred at a kindergarten just happened in central China. Police say a woman wounded at least 14 children stabbing them as they return from morning exercises.

Our Steven Jiang joins us now from Beijing. He's been following this for us. Sadly, Steven, this kind of attack is not unusual in China. What can you tell us about this latest one?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN PRODUCER: That's right, Natalie. This is but the latest of a string of such heinous crimes being committed on the most vulnerable young victims here in this country.

In this latest incident so far, the authorities have only issued a very brief statement of basically confirming this attack happening around 9.30 a.m. local time when this a 39-year-old woman managed to rushed passed the school gate and enter to the school grounds and used her kitchen knife to slash and stab 14 children.

She was eventually restrained by school security guards and the employees and taken into custody by police. We have seen video visuals of this the woman as she was let into a police car. She appears to be a well-groomed and fairly composed, so we still don't know what her motive or motives are if she has any connection to the school or any of her victims.

But we are also starting to see some of the very heartbreaking and horrific images out of hospitals. You see young children four or five- year-old, presumably because they are in kindergarten. These young children with deep cuts to their faces with their wounds bleeding, and also, they are receiving treatment as they were these blood covered clothes.

Now some of them apparently are in critical condition as we understand now and being transferred to other bigger hospitals in the city, Natalie. But so far details -- details are still very sketchy as authorities -- the police saying they are still investigating this case, Natalie.

ALLEN: Those poor children and my goodness, their parents cannot imagine what they're going through. And Steven, you know, mentioning that this is the type of crime that China sees from time and time. Why is that, what is the government figured out about why this continues to happen?

JIANG: That's right. I think that's the burning question in many people's minds right now. As I mentioned, these kinds of crimes date back to 2010, Natalie. In that year three days in a row you have this kind of school attacks happened in different parts of the country. And actually, as recently as in April there was another horrific case

in central China where a 28-year-old man took out a knife and stab nine students to death outside of their middle school and injuring another 12 students on that date. He apparently acted out because of his personal bitter feelings towards that school. He was a former student there and he felt he was bullied or ridiculed.

So, these kinds of incidents really point to the mental health issue of this country. A lot of people say the government is not paying enough attention to this issue and all these horrific incidents really point to the importance of really pay attention to people's mental health and taking care of these people if they are mentally unstable so, Natalie.

I think this is the question a lot were asking and this is a debate that's going to be ongoing.

ALLEN: Absolutely. Because somehow, it's (Inaudible). Steven Jiang for us there in Beijing. Steve, thank you so much.

HOWELL: The death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi another Saudi official says his death was no accident. We have the very latest on the investigation around his killing in a live report from Istanbul ahead.

ALLEN: Also, this hour, a Japanese journalist free for the first time in 40, talks about what he went through during his years in captivity in Syria.

[03:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: And welcome back to CNN Newsroom. The director of the CIA has briefed President trump on the killing of U.S.-based journalists Jamal Khashoggi. Gina Haspel is back from Istanbul where it's believed the Saudi journalist was killed inside the Saudi consulate.

HOWELL: Other major developments in the case. Khashoggi's son has arrived in the United States. He was featured in these photos with the Saudi king and crown prince, he's been barred from leaving Saudi Arabia.

ALLEN: For more now, CNN's Nic Robertson joins us live from Istanbul. Saudi Arabia's official virgin of -- version of events surrounding his death are changing again. The country's attorney general saying the killing of the journalist was premeditated. Lot here to look into with their changing story.

But I want to ask you, Nic, how is Turkey reacting to that?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You know, it's interesting at the moment, Natalie, there has been of course the steady drip, drip, drip of information that's been leaked by Turkish officials whenever they sort of see.

It appears whenever they see Saudi Arabia not answering their questions, not being forthcoming, prevaricating, putting out false of what they believe are false lines of information that they drip to how the Turkish authorities have drip out information.

The impression being created at the moment is that, perhaps President Erdogan here is waiting to see what President Trump's reaction is going to be what Gina Haspel, the CIA chief tell -- has told him that the Turkish authorities briefed her on.

They said they showed her this confirmed information that they believe shows Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the consulate here.

So, I think there's a sense at the moment that the Turkish officials are waiting to see which way, President Trump moves on this, but as far as the Saudi version of events goes it does seem to change and it does seem to change either in response to what Turkish officials are leaking or in preempting what they think Turkish officials might leak about the information that they have.

So, right now it appears we're sort in a holding happened at the moment on these leaks, Natalie.

ALLEN: Right. And as far as their evolving story certainly doesn't seem to have been any apologies in any sort of way from the Saudis on how they have led the world down different path to figuring this out this horrible tragedy.

In this changing story does it point to the murder getting any closer to the crown prince having been involved or know anything about it?

[03:25:00] ROBERTSON: You know, it seems at the moment that senior Saudi officials believe that Saudi Arabia will emerge from this with its relationship with the United States intact. That seems to indicate that they think that they weather this storm, and most intense part of that storm would be if Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite what he said to President Trump, despite what his father said to President Trump about not being involved, if that turned out to be true.

So, in an official level in Saudi Arabia the Crown prince is able to keep his distance. I would say at the moment even going beyond that. Yesterday he chaired the first session of the committee that he now oversees to review the intelligence services that the Saudi authorities are blaming, sort of going rouge in running an operation here that wasn't sanctioned and went off the rails.

President Trump has called the worse planning and the worst cover-up ever. So, at the moment the Saudi, you know, the Saudis the senior level of the royal family Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are going through the motions of what they said they would do, which is hold people accountable for this, and also reform their intelligence structures.

It creates the impression Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is very much in control of the destiny of this at the moment.

Hence, everyone is really waiting to see what President Trump's reaction is going to be to the evidence that Turkish authorities have presented him with.

ALLEN: All right. We thank you, Nic Robertson with the latest from Turkey for us.

HOWELL: President Trump has signed a new round of sanctions targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Over the past year, we have levied the highest number of sanctions ever imposed on Hezbollah in a single year by far. Just a few moments ago I signed legislation imposing even more hard-hitting sanctions on Hezbollah to further starve them of their funds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Mr. Trump's remarks came during a White House event marking the 35th anniversary of an attack that killed 241 U.S. Marines in Beirut. Hezbollah was the terrorist group behind that attack.

ALLEN: President Trump has dismissed the New York Times report that claims Russian and Chinese spy are listening in on his cell phone conversations. In a tweet, he says the Times had written what he calls a boring article that was so incorrect, these are the president's words, that he didn't have time to point out all the errors.

HOWELL: The report claims he makes unsecured calls despite warnings from his aides that Russians and Chinese are eavesdropping. The Chinese official calls report fake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUA CHUNYING, SPOKESPERSON, CHINA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (through translator): Reading this news report makes me feel that some people in the United States really are sparing no efforts to contend for the Oscar's for best screenplay. For those who fear iPhones are being hacked, Huawei mobile phones can be good alternatives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: An interesting pushed back there. The New York Times reports U.S. officials that raise the alarm were doing so out of frustration.

ALLEN: Well, we are following the manhunt for the suspect who sent explosive devices to prominent U.S. political figures and to CNN. So far, 10 devices have been recovered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he's trying to kill somebody I think this is the worst bomber in the world. If he is trying to scare he did a very good job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: When we return, what the investigation is revealing so far. HOWELL: Plus, thousands of migrants headed for the United States border. They know how the U.S. president feels about them but that's not stopping them from pushing ahead. Stay with us.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: And welcome back to all of you watching, we appreciate it. This is CNN Newsroom, I'm Natalie Allen.

HOWELL: And I'm George Howell with headlines we are following for you this hour.

A manhunt for serial father appears to be focusing in on the state of Florida. Authorities there had been investigating a postal facility near Miami for several suspicious packages were processed so far, 10 packages and potentially explosive devices were intercepted since Monday, including three on Thursday. The intended targets are who's who leadership in the Democratic Party, including the former President Obama and Clinton, the former Vice President Joe Biden.

ALLEN: The White House says CIA director Gina Haspel had brief President Trump now on the Jamal Khashoggi case. She had just returned from Turkey for the U.S. base Saudi journalist was killed. Saudi Arabia's Attorney General now says, Khashoggi's death was premeditated. The Saudi Energy Minister said it was murder.

HOWELL: Officials say at least 14 children have been stabbed at a kindergarten in central China. A local woman attacked the children as they returned from morning exercises. Security guards and school staff were able to restrain. A number of children have been taken to hospital.

The hunt for the bomber, federal investigators are still examining the suspicious packages and pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats across the United States.

ALLEN: This critical investigation is being done at the FBI lab in Quantico Virginia. Former FBI special agent told our Wolf Blitzer, how the process works.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now the U.S. government has dedicated a jet to fly around the country to transport its evidence to Quantico. I wouldn't be surprised if this jet is taking off at Quantico airport at least twice a day. Having worked some of these crisis incidents before the Boston bombing, for example, this all hands on deck and they're not going to waste time transporting evidence. Your right, they are going to bring it to Quantico to cheat act the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center. This is the preeminent explosive laboratory on the planet. Experts who have analyzed the world bombing situation last 25 to 30 years are there. The U.S. called Boston bombing Austin bombing Benghazi globally. This is where they collect all the components of an explosive device and they're going to analyze it. They are going to determine where it came from. I mean everything from the ends of the devices, to the wires used, to the material found in the device, to the tape used and they are going to pull fingerprints from it and the device manufacturers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: One thing that is helping this investigation that he just describe, none of the bomb actually exploded.

HOWELL: Faithfully. Some analyst suspect these devices work intended to explode at all. Our Drew Griffin has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They were mostly delivered like this in padded manila envelopes printed address labels the same printed return address of Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz. And six American flag forever stamps all telltale signs of a suspicious package and perhaps meant to look that way. The initial examination. They are rudimentary potentially destructive devices according to the FBI.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The NYPD and the FBI, we are taking this seriously. We are treating them as is as live devices.

GRIFFIN: But none actually exploded. A clue say former investigators, who say despite handling by couriers, mail rooms, even returned by U.S. mail. Nothing exploded.

[03:35:02] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they were made to be found and again just to deliver the message of fear and terror and to you know, garnish attention.

GRIFFIN: While investigators have released few details the pictures and even x-rays release do provide clues to several bomb and explosive experts talking to CNN, including former FBI hazardous device expert, Ray Lopez.

RAY LOPEZ, FORMER FBI HAZARDOUS DEVICE EXPERT: If he is trying to kill somebody. I think this is the worst bomber in the world. If he is trying to scare, he did a very good job.

GRIFFIN: According to law enforcement source. The devices are made with PVC pipe. They contain explosive material, believed to be a pyrotechnic substance fireworks and pack with some shrapnel all easily available. The crew design also easily found on the Internet. What is unique is just so many bombs or devices un-exploded, and will offer investigators lead after lead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are going to have actual components in there that are undamaged by blaster heat, there's nothing better for investigator to get actual intact components. They are going to are traced back to the piping that was used. They are going to trace back the wiring, the batteries.

GRIFFIN: The envelopes, the stamps, the printing the materials used all analyze and potentially trace back to the exact location where they were purchased. Security cameras will be scoured and the suspect, potentially link to possible fingerprints or DNA he or she may have left behind on the unexploded devices.

The New York Times reporting, the pipes were equipped with a small battery a digital clock as a timer and an initiator which causes the bomb to explode, according to a law-enforcement official. Several experts tell CNN that timer is something you'd see in a movie not on a real bomb. Former bomb investigators and forensic experts are reviewing the publicly available material and telling CNN that they believe there's a good chance all of these devices are a hoax not meant to go off, but until definitively proven investigators are treating each one is a bomb intended to do harm. Drew Griffin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO)

HOWELL: Let's talk more about this now Jim Clemente. Jim, a former FBI profiler and the former prosecutor joining us this hour in Los Angeles. Take for your time Jim.

JIM CLEMENTE, FORMER FBI PROFILER: Thank you for having me.

HOWELL: Given what we know about these devices, which are the biggest clues at this point, what will investigators be looking for these various cases?

CLEMENTE: Well, obviously the components that make up the device actually came from somewhere, there are source somewhere, and somebody actually gather a number of these materials. So of course, that sort of really rich area of clues, the envelopes, the stamps, the printing, the paper, the -- everything every single piece of tape that is on it, will be examined thoroughly and there might be forensic clues, but if not, the fact that they are forensically clean is actually a behavioral clue.

Does it tells us that this guy is very organized and he knows what is doing it? It's a criminal sophistication level that it gives away without him wanting to.

HOWELL: You mentioned behavioral clues as a former FBI profiler yourself, give us that perspective, how do investigators learn more about the person who constructed these devices?

CLEMENTE: Well, a bomber is taking that particular way of committing a crime to affect some kind of end, some goal. This looks like a personal cause bomber, somebody who feels powerless, frustrated, angry, and he wants to feel more power. He wants to do something that gives him the impression or the appearance of power. So this is why he chooses bombs and he is trying to terrorize people although he's got a very specific target group. It looks like his agenda is politically driven and that is what we see basically behaviorally general in this case.

HOWELL: And again you're looking here at where these packages were sent, the investigation are so many that are underway. Look, I can't help but think back to the serial bomber back in Austin, Texas. My hometown earlier this year. How investigators were able to track that person down. So, given what we saw in Austin Texas. What can be drawn into what's happening right now? What will investigators be looking for the specific clues about who is behind these bombs? A possible motive and also Jim, how they might be encouraged this to stop?

CLEMENTE: Well, I think what's important here is to know that there will be 100 percent cooperation between the FBI, the ATF, local law enforcement, all federal agencies in the country are really putting out a full press here. They work together. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of agents across this country working solely on this right now and I think there is really high probability he will get caught, because today, forensics and DNA technology and scientific technology has just been so fruitful that we have ways of finding things that people don't realize trails that they're leaving.

[03:40:04] But I think what's important to note too is as I said, I think whoever's doing this is specifically wanted to send a message and certainly we got that messages. This persons is angry. He wants something to change and the best thing that can happen now is to stop sending these bombs. These bombs are not actually luckily killing anybody right now. If one of them goes off and somebody's killed. It's a whole new ballgame and I think we can as a country and as a world agreed that this kind of violence is not necessary. We don't need that. We got the message and we can move forward and do something about it. At least people are talking about the issues now.

HOWELL: Jim Clemente, joining us from Los Angeles. Thank you again for your time and perspective and we will stay in touch with you.

ALLEN: Now, President Trump has blame the media for creating a climate that saw this rash of high bombs mailed to Democrats.

HOWELL: And he continues to tweet about it. And Mr. Trump accuses news organizations of creating the vision and anger at according to sources. He has no plans to stop his attacks. Our Cyril Vanier, explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

CYRIL VANIER, CNN SHOW HOST: There is no secret that Donald Trump promotes a brand of politics that is uniquely confrontational. He mocks belittles and demeans perceived opponents. Listen to some of his verbal attacks.

TRUMP: Fake as hell, CNN, the worst. Don't worry I don't like the either. Hillary is a very dishonest person, if you look at the things she says, I mean it is so dishonest. I think Brennan is a very bad guy and if you look at it, a lot of things happen under his watch. I think he is a very bad person.

The legendary, low I.Q., Maxine Waters.

(CHEERS)

Low I.Q. person.

ISIS is honoring President Obama, he is the founder of ISIS. He is the founder of ISIS.

(CHEERS)

He is the founder.

They will go to a person holding the sign, who gets paid by Soros or somebody.

VANIER: And George Soros, the Clinton, the Obama's John Brennan, notice that the people or institutions who have received mail bombs recently. Are either people who have been singled out for insults by the president, just heard them. Or the people who have tried to throw it right back at him. Listen to Hillary Clinton and former President Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder. They made headlines recently for doing just that.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: You cannot be civil with a political party that wants that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about.

ERIC HOLDER, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL: (Inaudible) say that you know, when they go low, we go high.

They go low, we kick.

(LAUGHTER)

VANIER: And by day he meant the other side Republicans. The Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters similarly became a lightning rod for the right when she called on her supporters to personally hound and harassed Trump administration officials.

REP MAXINE WATERS, (D), CALIFORNIA: If you see anybody, from that cabinet, in a restaurant, in a department store, in a (inaudible) sessions, you get out and call the cry, and you push back on them. And you tell them they are not welcome.

VANIER: So we don't know who is sending the mail bombs and I certainly don't want to draw false equivalency between mere words and actual bomb. However, it is impossible not to wonder if the extremely aggressive rhetoric they were experiencing right now, doesn't at least have the potential to fuel real violent actions. And there is one more thing, if anyone is wondering how actor Robert De Niro fits into this picture of aggressive political rhetoric. Here he is at the Tony awards.

ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: I am going to say one thing. (BEEP) Trump.

(CHEERS)

VANIER: And yes that was absolutely the expletive, you think it was. Back to you.

(END VIDEO)

HOWELL: Sign of the times, Cyril Vanier, thank you so much. Multiple reports say the Trump Administration is considering a sort of travel ban to block certain asylum-seekers from entering the United States. Those reports say the plan is not final, and that it could be abandon.

ALLEN: But they show how the term in the White House is to stop essential American caravan that is on its way to the U.S. People walking a very, very long distance. CNN's Patrick Oppmann explains why there is so determined to despite all of this.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are still a thousand miles from the nearest border crossing with the United States, the slow advance of this migrant caravan from Mexico is already causing alarm bells in Washington.

[03:45:02] On Thursday President Trump tweeted that the migrants should turnaround in order 800 troops help fortify the border. Trump is not the first president to send the military to the border with Mexico. But its vitriol towards undocumented immigrants is unprecedented for U.S. president in modern times. Without proof, he said that the middle easterners in the caravan apparently making terrorist.

He has called immigrants criminals and to just Venezuela's socialist government or perhaps the Democrats are secretly funding the exodus, having just finished the latest leg of exhausting trip. Neil Angel had a simple explanation.

We are screwed and our country is screwed, he says. With nothing to eat. We are honest people. Thanks to God, we are here. May God permit us to go to the U.S. to work and the care for my children? Despite Trump's frequent demonization of undocumented immigrants. Many of the people in this caravan our family like Cruz's who say they have a message for the president.

Help us and not be against us, she says, because we do this out of necessity and we are not going to harm anyone. No matter what they say they will go on.

People in this caravan had been trekking for day's even weeks. We have seen people with their shoes falling off apart. People fainting in the extreme heat, yet no one we talk to said, the Trump administration threats will force them to turn back.

Well, some people have been ground down by the long march in going home. The majority said they have no choice but to continue. All of these families here have their homes stolen by gangs, so the caravan organizer so we can go back. Donald Trump can say what he wants, he won't stop us. Because all the (inaudible) but he is not going to stop us, because we are not criminals and we aren't even armed.

The migrant's plea will probably fall on deaf ears in Washington. The Trump administration is pressuring the Mexican government to act and stop the caravan, if they won't then U.S. officials, the administration says, will be on the border in forced to stop them. There doesn't seem to be a compromise in the wings and every step the

people in this caravan take is a step closer to a reckoning. Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Mexico.

(END VIDEO)

HOWELL: A Japanese journalist captured by militants in Syria is now finally free.

ALLEN: When we return an emotional homecoming with his family and his story of his captivity.

[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: A Japanese journalist went to Syria to do his job, but he ended up being taken captive by a terrorist group.

HOWELL: Now after 40 long months, he is free from what he describes as a physical and mental hell. Our Amara Walker has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

AMARA WALKER, CNN NTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a moment Jumpei Yasuda has been waiting for, for three long years to return to Japanese soil. The 44-year-old freelance journalist captured by militants in Syria now finally free.

JUMPEI YASUDA, JAPANESE JOURNALIST FREED: I had been in Syria, for 40 months. (Inaudible).

WALKER: In June 2015 the war reporter was abducted reportedly by the terror group formally known as (inaudible) once related to Al Qaeda. Several videos of a man believed to be Yasuda were released since his disappearance. Including this one from March 2016 Yasuda as a hostage, although he doesn't say his name who was holding him or express any demands from his captors.

YASUDA: (Inaudible) (BAD AUDIO).

WALKER: CNN could not independently confirm when this video was recorded, two months later, this photo emerged on social media of what appears to be Yasuda holding a sign that reads, please help me. This is the last chance.

On Tuesday the country of Qatar informs Tokyo that a man thought to be Yasuda was staying at an immigration facility in Turkey. Then Japan's foreign minister told reporters that NBC staff in Turkey, had confirmed your identity that he appeared in good health. Yasuda then flew to Istanbul and on to Japan. Where he was reunited with his family.

YASUDA: I haven't spoken Japanese for 40 months. I can't really find the words. I am happy that I can return to Japan.

WALKER: Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe had a phone call with turkey's president Erdogan and thank him for Turkey's efforts. His wife was also glad to have him home. He ate some rice balls and home- cooked burdock that his mother had made. And he seems very happy. A home-cooked meal and an uncertain future. After what Yasuda describes as mental and physical hell. Amara Walker, CNN.

(END VIDEO)

HOWELL: One can only imagine what it's like for his family.

ALLEN: I could never -- yes, absolutely. What he's been through, so fortunate to be alive.

HOWELL: Yes, so thankful that he is back. Still ahead here on Newsroom, a small Hawaiian island wiped off the map by a category five hurricane.

ALLEN: And we will tell you why the disappearance of this little piece of land could be a sign of big problem. Derek Van Dam will be right back.

[03:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Hawaii, east island is now gone. It was submerged by a hurricane earlier this month.

HOWELL: The island is uninhabited and located hundreds of kilometers north of Honolulu. And while the island is small, it plays a major role for some endangered animals.

ALLEN: With more about it, we are join now by meteorologist Derek Van Dam. Yes, I was watching your report earlier and really fascinating in fact on how did this island just went away.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Natalie, George, it only took one day and one extremely powerful hurricanes to completely eliminate this remote island on the Hawaiian archipelago. You are looking at drone footage of east islands. This is a critical habitat for some endangered animals that we are going to talk about in details in a moment. Pay attention to that sandy area that is the area were these animal used to rest and also to nest as well. So, these is an actual after image after hurricane Walaka ravishes this region and submerge the islands. Let us go back in time, we can see that 11 acre island only 400 feet wide that narrow band of sand. Well, that is where sea turtles lay their eggs and it is critical for this particular area that habitat has now been completely demolished. All because of rising tides and stronger hurricanes impacting the region. In fact 96 percent of Hawaii's green sea turtles populate this island for a period of time, for their breeding season and now that island no longer exists.

So biologists and Marine specialists are concerned about where that particular species will go now for their breeding purposes. It is not only the sea turtles that are endangered and have problems within this area. It is also some of the Hawaiian monks that have also been endangered with this seals, is what they are called and with hurricane Walaka moving to this area devastated the region just has that fingerprints of climate change written all over it. Does it Natalie? ALLEN: Absolutely. And more strong storms to come, very likely,

Derek, thank you. And thank you all for watching I'm Natalie Allen.

HOWELL: I'm George Howell, the news continues after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)