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Bombing Suspect in Custody; Interview with Rep. Peter King. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired September 19, 2016 - 13:00   ET

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

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY (live): -- responders on that fateful day. And it is true today, a decade and a half after that September 11th day when there is a new challenge that it is local police and public safety personnel that is responding to the incidents that have taken place in our state and across the river.

So, while we think of the federal government as a responsive entity and certainly investigatory ways they are, in the first instance, whether it's that bomb going off in Seaside Park or whether it is the bomb that went off in Elizabeth, because it was detonated appropriately by the authorities as they were trying to disarm it, but the mere fact that that risk, who came first? It was the Elizabeth Police Department and this community. It's the Elizabeth Fire Department. In Seaside Park, it was the local police and first responders.

So, in a post-September 11th world, in addition to what Elizabeth needs to do every day, this town, this city, has part of Newark International Airport. It has part of the mega port of the east coast, the port of Elizabeth and Newark. It has tremendous chemical coastal issues which is why the FBI has determined that this region is the most dangerous two miles in America. It is -- has a major hospital, major universities, all in this community.

And so, the mutual aid and responsibility that the -- that the Elizabeth Fire Department has taken on is incredibly important. So, in the midst of the latest news, this is a reminder to all of us, as we advocate in Washington, Senator Booker, Congressman Cirrus and I that have been advocating for heightened funds, for both police, the cops' grants and the fire safety grants, to be able to have our communities be prepared for any eventuality. And in this new world that we live in since September 11th, any eventuality is potential to happen at any given time.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. We're going to continue to monitor this news conference in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The mayor is there. They started answering questions about the terror incidents. We'll, of course, get back to that.

But I start with the capture of the man police and the FBI believe is connected to a series of bombings and planned bombings in New York and New Jersey.

I'm Wolf Blitzer. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen, born in Afghanistan who lives in New Jersey. The FBI issued a warning that he could be armed and dangerous. He was captured just a little while ago in Linden, New Jersey, after several shots were fired. Two police officers were hit. Rahami was also shot, apparently in the right shoulder.

This surveillance picture is believed to be Rahami in New York City before the explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Twenty-nine people were hurt but there were no deaths.

Another device was found just three blocks away but never detonated. Now, police want to know if he acted alone or if he built the bombs or if he was working with members of a possible terrorist cell in New York and New Jersey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUPMP (D), NEW YORK: The investigation is now around Rahami. Did he act alone? There were other people on the surveillance video. Multiple videos had multiple people. So, who are his co-conspirators? Was there a cell? Was he a lone wolf, et cetera? That has to go forward.

Second, would New Yorkers, what people of New Jersey, what Americans have to realize is this is the world we now live in. You know? This is a post-911 world. There's terrorism almost on a weekly basis. It's all around the globe. It's all around the country. It's small cities, big cities. I think New York may be more of a target. But, you know, there's been San Bernardino, California. It's Minnesota. It's everywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: All right, let's go through the latest developments. Our Jessica Snyder is right near the scene of the first bombing Saturday. Our Justice Correspondent Evan Perez is also with us. He's in New York.

Jessica, they have the man they want to question. He's been injured, shot in the right shoulder. Talk a little bit of what they're hoping to learn from this individual, Ahmad Khan Rahami.

JESSICA SNYDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Rahami now at a New York hospital, being treated for what looked like shoulder wounds after that shootout with Linden police. But, no doubt, Rahami will face a laundry list of charges. In fact, federal officials tell CNN that he is likely connected to not just the explosion that happened right here in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, but also an explosion that happened earlier in the day at that Marine Corps charity run down in Seaside Park, New Jersey. And then, also, the devices that were found overnight in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

[13:05:06] So, right now, Rahami at the hospital. He's at a Newark hospital along with one other officer who was involved in that shootout. Another officer taken to a separate hospital. But, as you can see, I'm at the epicenter where the investigation is focused in on on West 23rd Street where that explosion happened. And we've seen all morning that this investigation is far from over. We've seen FBI evidence response team here, and they are still focused in on this area. There is a lot to glean yet from what exactly Rahami's intentions were. Was he working with anyone else? And does he, in fact, have ties to international terror groups or anything else? Did he travel overseas? Those are all the questions that investigators will be looking at.

But, for now, he is being treated at the hospital after that shootout with police. And you know, it's remarkable how quickly all of this unfolded. It was 7:30 this morning when police put out his picture and disseminated that picture wildly over the Internet, over their social media accounts asking for help. And then, a few hours later, that's when they got a call from someone in Linden, New Jersey, saying that they had potentially spotted the suspect. And that's when police officers moved in and it resulted in that shootout.

So, lots to be gleaned yet in this investigation. But one thing's for sure, this manhunt is over and Rahami is in custody -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Evan, what are you learning? First of all, tell us how they did identify Rahami. But what else are you learning about when he -- whether or not he has any connections to other possible terrorists who may still be at large?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's the most urgent question right now, Wolf, for the authorities is trying to figure out whether anyone else was assisting in this, whether anyone new about this. There is strong suspicion among authorities that there had to have been somebody who might have helped out or known about this. He built these pipe bombs, whether he built it at this -- at his home, which is right upstairs of the chicken restaurant that his family ran. It's not clear.

But we know that one thing was, you know -- about -- just over 24 hours ago, the authorities had honed in on who was Rahami? They had figured it out from analyzing surveillance a camera. Certainly around 27th Street, the device that did not go off, there was some very good images that showed him wheeling this duffel bag. They also found that he had also been -- was also caught on camera walking on 23rd Street, the scene of the first, the explosion there that injured those 29 people on Saturday night.

And so, what they did find from the bomb that did not go off. They found prints. They found a cell phone that tied back to Rahami. And that's how they were sure, just about 24 hours ago, that they knew who he was. And they started monitoring. They started doing surveillance of his home to try to see if they could figure out what was going on there, whether they could try to arrest him.

Several hours later, Wolf, they figured out that he wasn't home. That's when they found thighs pipe bombs in Elizabeth. That's when authorities decided that they needed to move more quickly to urgently find him and arrest him -- Wolf. BLITZER: And, Evan, I just want to be precise. They have evidence

linking Rahami to the two incidents in New York City, the other incident in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and a fourth incident in Seaside {ark, New Jersey, where there was a Marine Corps 5K race that was about to begin?

PEREZ: At this stage in the investigation, Wolf. Obviously, there's a lot of work to be done. But they do believe he is behind all of these incidents, beginning with that Marine Corps race, the attempted bombing there. The bomb went off. Luckily, the race was delayed for logistical reasons and nobody was injured when that bomb went off in the -- in the garbage can. And only one of three devices that had been put in there did go off, Wolf. So, it appears that whatever expertise he had to build these bombs, it wasn't good enough to make sure that these worked every single time. Obviously, the one on 23rd Street injured a lot of people. And there was a lot of luck there as well because the bomb that was placed somehow got underneath a metal dumpster which meant that the force of the blast was dented so much by the -- by the dumpster -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Evan and Jessica, both of you stand by, please.

I want to bring in our Correspondent Jean Casarez. She's joining us on the phone from Linden, New Jersey. That's where this suspect was taken, was shot. What are you learning, Jean?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, we're right here in the residential area where Rahami was taken down this morning, that shootout with police. And I've been talking with neighbors. They said it was this morning. They said that they just heard so many shots and that this is a peaceful neighborhood. There are a few businesses in the area, and he was taken down near and auto business. But it's a peaceful area where families live. And they were shocked that the person that had just been taken down was who they were looking at on television when this all happened.

Now, Wolf, as this was happening here, about five minutes away, where I was just a few minutes ago, was where the FBI executed a search warrant this morning, the First American Chicken Restaurant.

[13:10:10] And this is where, I've confirmed with the mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey, that Rahami and his family lived in the upper portion. A father and two sons operated this restaurant. The entire community in that area knew of the family but not in a positive light. Because that restaurant was open for a period of time, for 24 hours a day. The mayor told me there were noise ordinance violations, code violations. The neighborhood was complaining because there were people there at all hours of the night.

And so, the city council got involved and a lawsuit was filed by the Rahami family, saying that because they were Muslim, they were being discriminated against. Now, the mayor told me, and this is mayor Chris Bollwage of Elizabeth, New Jersey, that in 2012, that lawsuit was actually settled. And the city won that lawsuit, he told me.

But we also know that about one mile from the fried chicken restaurant is where the devices were found inside the backpack in the trash bin at 9:30 last night. And, Wolf, one thing that I really want to bring out, I learned from the mayor for the first time that it was two homeless people that found that backpack in the trash can. They took it under the train track, opened it up. They saw the pipes. They saw the wires. And they ran, I was told, to the police department to alert authorities what they had just found. And that was the beginning of having that -- the five bombs in it actually subdued so that no one was injured. And they are on their way now to Quantico, Virginia.

BLITZER: Well, it's a good thing they did exactly what they did, these two individuals. All right, thanks very much, Jean Casarez.

We have a lot of breaking news we're following. The suspect in Saturday night's bombing in New York City now believed to be linked to those bomb attempts in New Jersey over the weekend and overnight. Congressman Peter King with the House Homeland Security Committee, he's standing by to join us. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

We're going to go right to this news conference in Elizabeth, New Jersey, details on what happened with the -- this one suspect being taken into custody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (live): And there was an exchange of gunfire and he was then taken to custody. Two of the officers that were in exchange with him, ultimately, are not critical, in terms of injuries. They did exchange gunfire. One officer was struck in the abdomen but into his bullet proof vest. The other had some glass that struck his forehead but not into his skull. So, we're really grateful that the Linden police officers who confronted Rahami are not in critical condition at all.

My understanding is that the suspect is currently undergoing surgery but, unfortunately, I don't have any further details on his condition.

Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE.)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry. Yes, he was shot. My understanding is that he was shot at least in the leg but I don't have any further details than that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE.)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't elaborate any further on the details. I just know that they had some information that he'd be in the area and they confronted him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE.)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, that's under investigation, at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE.)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't really discuss that at this time.

CHRIS BOLLWAGE (D), MAYOR, ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY: The suspect was not on the radar of local law enforcement but the fry chicken place that they owned, the family owned, we had some code enforcement problems and noise complaints. When they opened in 2002, they ran the business for 24 hours.

[13:15:14]

Neighborhood complaints regarding a congregation of people, as well as noise, sought the city council in 2009, in order to pass an ordinance, closing that restaurant at 10:00 in the evening. The police had to enforce that ordinance, at which time the suspect's father and two brothers took the city of Elizabeth to court. And in October of 2012, the courts ruled in the city's favor that we were capable of closing that facility at 10:00 in the evening as a quality of life issue.

QUESTION: Mayor -- mayor, what will you tell residents (INAUDIBLE)?

BOLLWAGE: Well, I can tell you the restaurant's closed. Regarding the people who live here, the town is extremely safe. The businesses are open. The trains are running. The schools are open. People need to continue and move on with their daily lives.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE).

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: Well, here's my view. When I say terrorism, anyone who implodes a bomb in any place that can harm individuals, to me that's an act of terrorism. Now whether that terrorism is self-inspired, whether that terrorism is coordinated with others remains to be seen, but I think that anyone who takes a bomb and ultimately puts it in a public place with -- from -- I think it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand you were looking to do harm to others for whatever your purpose were, to me that's an essence of terrorism.

Now, we think of terrorism only as al Qaeda and ISIS and whatnot, but, to me, this in and of itself is an act of terrorism. We'll find out as the investigation continues whether it's coordinated, inspired, led with others, how it developed, whether the person developed any views or tendencies inspired by other international terrorist groups, but in and of itself, from my perspective, it's an act of terrorism.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE).

MENENDEZ: (speaking in foreign language)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we're going to break away from this news conference. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the Democrat, speaks in Spanish a little bit. We'll continue to monitor it.

But joining us on the phone right now, Republican Congressman Peter King of New York. He's a member of the Homeland Security Committee, the Intelligence Committee, the subcommittee, I should say, on intelligence and counterterrorism as well.

So what have you heard, congressman, about any connections this one individual now in custody, Ahmad Khan Rahami, may have had to any -- as Governor Cuomo says, any foreign-related organization?

REP. PETER KIND (R), NEW YORK (via telephone): Yes, I pretty much agree with the governor. And he and I probably have different sources, but we're coming to the same conclusion. Those I've been talking to say that they still very much want to find out whether or not there is any overseas connect, whether there's any direction from overseas, whether he had any, again, involvement at all with people overseas. Also whether or not anyone in his family, in his neighborhood, in his circle of friends knew what he was doing, should have known what he was doing, assisted him in any way. You know, where did he get his gun from? Did he -- all these supplies that he purchased for the bomb, were they aware of any -- you know, what they were being used for? Any of the planning. And that's where that -- the cell phone that they recovered at the -- that bomb on 27th Street can be extremely helpful. And already, you know, my understanding is they are talking to people in his circle of associates.

BLITZER: Well, based on what you know right now, and I know you've been briefed, Congressman King, does it look like he was an individual just acting on his own, or he was connected to some sort of a wider terrorist cell?

KING: Wolf, I believe it's still too early to tell, even at this stage. I know yesterday, from talking to people involved in the investigation, they were pretty certain that there were others involved. Today, you know, they're not so sure. But they're not ruling it out. That's why this investigation is far from over. I mean hopefully it is over. I mean hopeful that he's the only one and he's the only one that was involved in this. But the police can -- the FBI cannot assume that and cannot take that for granted. So they're going to be talking with his family members, with his neighbors, with anyone who he's been in contact with. That's where the cell phone is going to be so helpful on. Where he purchased the supplies. Who he's been meeting with over the last several days. So all of this is -- leaves us, as far as I know, this is still a very open investigation, even though they were all hoping that he is the only one involved, but they're not sure of that yet.

[13:20:08] BLITZER: But is there any indication this individual, Ahmad Khan Rahami, actually built the bombs or somebody else helped him build these various pipe bombs, pressure cooker bombs, whatever they were?

KING: Well, if anyone else helped him build them, they would be certainly co-conspirators with him in this. Again, that is still not known as far as I know. I believe his were probably the only fingerprints. But, again, I'm just surmising at that. I do know that, again, there was -- it was basically that bomb on 27th Street that did not explode which was the key factor in being able to get DNA, able to get prints, able to get the cell phone, which really facilitated the investigation. But as to what I do know, as Governor Cuomo said, there are videos

where there's other people in them with him in the videos at different times. Now, whether or not they were involved in this or whether or not he was really with them or he just happened to be in their same area as them, so, anyway, I guess what I'm getting at is that this is still an open investigation.

BLITZER: As you know, there's an additional 1,000 New York state and National Guard troops patrolling New York City right now. It's the week of the United Nations General Assembly. More than 100 world leaders, including the president of the United States are in New York even as we speak. Is it safe right now? Do you think this incident is isolated or are there other threats that -- that authorities are looking for?

KING: Well, it's -- it's certainly safe as any -- as any big city can be. The NYPD, the state troopers, as I said, Governor Cuomo has the National Guard at the train stations. They are -- they will do all they can. The FBI is involved. Homeland Security. All of them. Secret Service, especially with the president in town this week.

So it's as safe as it can be. It's certainly not -- there's no guarantees in this life. But as much as you can be guaranteeing anything, it's that New York City is safe. But, again, they have to make sure that there are no other bombs around. There's nobody else involved. That this was not just a precursor to follow-up attacks. Right now I don't believe there's any evidence of that. But none of that can be ruled out.

Remember, this happened less than 48 hours ago. So the fact that it was solved so quickly is amazing. But also that's another reason why the police and the FBI want to make sure that nothing was missed. That it was solved so quickly. Before they claim victory, they want to make sure that every -- every 'i' has been dotted, every 't' has been crossed and that they've looked at everything that possibly could be looked into.

BLITZER: One final question, congressman. I know you've got to run. Ahmad Khan Rahami, do you know if he was on any terror watch list?

KING: No, my -- my understanding is he's not. I'm not certain of that, but that's what I've been told. I do know that he has a criminal record. That he actually was involved in apparently attempting to stab his sister. And so he has a domestic violence criminal record. Whether he was convicted or just arrested, I'm not certain. But I do know that he has a domestic violence arrest. And so he is -- in that way he's similar to the Boston Marathon bomber as far as the domestic violence.

BLITZER: Congressman Peter King of New York, thanks so much for joining us.

KING: Wolf, thank you, always. Thank you very much.

BLITZER: Thank you.

Any moment now New York officials, including the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, will give us an update on the explosions in Chelsea and \New York City. You're looking at live pictures coming in from that news conference. We'll have live coverage once it begins. Plus, we're getting more information right now. The bombing investigation. How the construction of the bombs unfolded. They're providing clues to the suspect. We'll share that information with you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is about to speak, answer reporters' questions as well. He's going to be introduced. I want to go right to that news conference in New York City.

JAMES O'NEILL, NYC POLICE COMMISSIONER: Hey, good afternoon, everyone. So with me today from NYPD is Tommy Galati, Bobby Boyce, Jimmy Waters, Carlos Gomez, Ben Tucker. We have Vanessa Gibson from the city council, Cy Vance from the Manhattan D.A.'s office, Preet Bharara from the seventh district, John Miller and Bill Sweeney from the FBI.

[13:25:07] So it's been an extremely busy two days, obviously, and many people have worked intensely, tirelessly, relentlessly and seamlessly in this investigation into the bombings that occurred in New York City and New Jersey. And it's came out successful.

So today our efforts were successful thanks to the brave police officers from the Linden, New Jersey, police department. That captured this dangerous individual, Ahmad Khan Rahami, right here. However, in doing so, we had two police officers that were injured out in -- in Linden, New Jersey, and I wish their best and hopefully a speedy recovery.

This is another example of what law enforcement does every day. They put themselves in harm's way to protect others, regardless of the risk. And this all started on Saturday when I went down to that scene on 23rd to see the devastation from the blast and the response by not only NYPD, by the FBI, the ATF, the fire department, by EMS, Port Authority, the state police, they went -- they all went to the danger. And, you know, for my first day on the job, it's my first day on this job, but certainly not my first day on the job, I was just so proud of what I saw that day. The work that was done and how it was done together. All of the agencies just -- the level of cooperation was, was impressive.

With -- we're joined today, as I said, by the assistant director in charge of the New York FBI office, Bill Sweeney, who will give you some details about the instigation. But you do need to understand that this case is very much active. It's still very much active. Our primary focus has been to identify and apprehend the person responsible for these crimes. Now that we have this suspect in custody, the investigation can focus on other aspects, such as whether this individual acted alone and what his motives may have been.

So before turning this over to Mayor de Blasio, I want to offer my personal thanks to everyone who worked so exceptionally in bringing this individual to justice. A -- it's a pretty tough way to start my new position as police commissioner, but again, as I've always been, I'm so proud to be a member of this agency, the New York City Police Department.

Mr. Mayor.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK: Thank you very much, commissioner.

Well, I want to also say our first responders, from the very beginning of this situation, performed with extraordinary skill and courage. NYPD and all other city agencies, our state partners, our federal partners, I want to thank them all. I also share a deep concern for the two officers in New Jersey and we are hoping they will have a very speedy recovery.

This is a situation where we have rapidly unfolding information. You're going to hear some from us now. I'm sure there will be a lot more to say in the coming days. Are per usual, there are some things we're not going to able to talk about, and I want to say that up front, but we'll do our best to tell you what we can give you.

I want to also note up front, I received a call a few hours ago from President Obama. He wanted me to tell the people of New York City how much he admired the resilience of the people in New York City. How our people handled this crisis from moment one, with strength and resilience, and how it was so impressive that people were back to business yesterday and today. In addition, of course, the president offered his congratulations to our first responders for all they had done.

Now, we have, as I said, a lot more information, and it's coming in all the time. We have so much more information, obviously, than we even had a few hours ago. Based on the information we have now, we have every reason to believe this was an act of terror. We will be going into some detail, and there is still a long investigation ahead, but now we have, as I said, every reason to believe this was an act of terror.

In addition, I want to note that because this is an ongoing investigation, all New Yorkers should remain vigilant. At any given point, New Yorkers may find a piece of information, hear a conversation, see something that could very much aid the NYPD, the FBI and our partners. I want all New Yorkers to be vigilant and to provide that information if you get it at any given point in time. And reminder, you call 1-800-577-TIPS with any information you have.

We activated earlier today a messaging system used by our office of emergency management. That allowed us to get information out to all New Yorkers across the board. And it had an extraordinary effect. It also reached many people in the metropolitan area. We were able to reach all of our police officers simultaneously because of the technology they have now as well. That is something that proved to be very helpful in this instance, getting that message out broadly, putting everyone on alert in a mutual way. We believe that was very helpful in this equation.

[13:30:09] But there is still information that we'll need going forward.