CIA Chief: Attack 'Bears the Hallmarks' of ISIS; Obama Vows to 'Do What's Necessary to Protect Our People'; Trump Responds to Istanbul Airport Attack.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: I now kick you over to Brianna Keilar. She's in for Wolf Blitzer, right next door in THE SITUATION ROOM.</s>BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, hallmarks of ISIS. The CIA director says the bloody attack that killed 41 people at Istanbul's airport bears the hallmark of the terror group's depravity. As investigators race to learn how the attackers penetrated high security, there is growing concern that ISIS is scouting its next target. Heightened alert. The CIA chief warns that ISIS is trying to carry out a similar attack in the United States. Will it keep testing American defenses? The July Fourth holiday bringing new concerns about airport security. And sleeper cells. Were the Istanbul bombers part of a large cell inside Turkey? How many other terrorists could be out there, ready to strike. And politics of fear. Donald Trump says terrorists think America is weak. He says the U.S. needs to respond viciously to ISIS's brutality, declaring that even waterboarding is not tough enough. But what did he mean when he says you have to fight fire with fire? Wolf Blitzer is off today. I'm Brianna Keilar. You're in</s>THE SITUATION ROOM. ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>KEILAR: Our breaking news: as investigators scramble to learn who was behind the bloody airport attack, and how three penetrated tight security, killing 41 people. CIA director John Brennan says the attack bears the hallmarks of ISIS, and he's warning that ISIS is trying to carry out similar attacks inside the United States, adding ominously it is not difficult to build an explosive vest. As Turkish authorities study images of this massacre, trying to learn how the attackers breached the airport quicker (ph), opened fire and set off their bombs, the airport itself is back to business. Reopened to flights just hours after the attack. But there is growing concern about the threat to this country. And security has been stepped up at major U.S. airports as millions of travelers are setting out for the July Fourth holiday. I will speak with Senator Angus King of the Intelligence Committee who just had a briefing and will tell us more. And our correspondents, analysts and guests have full coverage of the day's top stories. Let's go straight to CNN senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir in Istanbul. What is the latest on the investigation there, Nima?</s>NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, really, the main thrust of the investigation at the moment, Brianna, the crucial thrust, is who else is out there? Turkish officials tell us that they have begun the identification of the bodies, what's left of the bodies of the attackers. The blast was so strong that they're really only working with just the lower halves of the bodies, and they're trying desperately to figure out who are these people. At the moment, all they indications, they tell us, are that these were foreign fighters and immediately that opens up a whole -- the possibility of a whole web. Much like in the Brussels attacks, they were delivered to the airport by a taxi driver who has been questioned and released this evening. And we just want to take a look at this.</s>ELBAGIR (voice-over): Tonight, Turkish authorities are pouring through videos and trying to piece together the most lethal attack ever at an airport. Shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, three men arrived by taxi at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Armed with assault rifles and wearing suicide vests, they stormed the international terminal.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's shooting up two times, and he beginning -- shot the people.</s>ELBAGIR: As the attackers make their way inside, videos show terrified passengers and airport workers scrambling for cover.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were there hiding, and other people were trying to break the glass, trying to get out of the lounge.</s>ELBAGIR: Security cameras captured the moment of one blast. And another scene shows one of the terrorists running and falling to the ground, shot by police. He drops his weapon, and then moments later, detonates his explosive vest. According to officials, a third attacker then detonates his suicide bomb in the arrival bay.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We heard a huge explosion, and I knew immediately it was a bomb.</s>ELBAGIR: A horrific scene. Ambulances rushed to treat the wounded and carry the dead. But trying to identify them is difficult, because only the lower half of their bodies were left intact. No terrorist group has taken responsibility for the attack, but Turkish and U.S. officials say all indications are ISIS was behind the deadly assault.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Findings by our security forces indicate this attack was carried out by ISIS.</s>ELBAGIR: U.S. officials point to the use of multiple suicide bombers in a coordinated attack that used weapons and explosives and the targeting of a major transportation hub serving international passengers. Yet not even 24 hours after the horror, the airport was reopened. As workers clear debris and clean the blood-soaked halls of the terminal.</s>ELBAGIR: Astonishingly, it was through these doors just behind me, Brianna, that people 24 hours ago were fleeing for their lives. Today you can see they're queueing, trying to get through security and try to return to some semblance of normality -- Brianna.</s>KEILAR: Nima Elbagir for us at Ataturk Airport, thank you. President Obama today called Turkey's leader, offering U.S. support to the NATO ally and vowing that the U.S. will do what it must to safeguard its own citizens. The president just met with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts. CNN White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski is traveling with the president. She's live for us from Ottawa with the latest -- Michelle.</s>MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brianna. Twice today we heard President Obama top his remarks in Canada with the Turkey attacks. And it just underscores how many times now in just a short amount of time we've seen President Obama's foreign travel, which he would like to focus on other issues, interrupted by or overshadowed by global terror. So yes, he talked about the phone call with Turkey's president this morning. Remember, it was only two weeks ago that President Erdogan was calling President Obama and offering his condolences after the Orlando terrorist attack. This time the U.S. offered Turkey any and all assistance that's necessary. And we're hearing the White House emphasizing today concerns over the fact that ISIS can still launch attacks like this, as well as commitments among countries including Turkey to defeat it. Listen.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're still learning all of the facts. But we know that this is part of our broader, shared fight against terrorist networks. And we will continue to work closely with Turkey to root them out. Meanwhile, we're going to do what's necessary to protect our people. I'm confident that we can and we will defeat those who offer only death and destruction. And we will always remember, even as there are those that are trying to divide us, that we are stronger when we come together and work toward a better world together.</s>KOSINSKI: The White House today also talked about how he's been trying to prioritize working with Turkey on better closing its border with Syria. That's something that has been a problem for a very long time. There's still about 60 miles in which ISIS fighters can go back and forth. Today the White House acknowledged that there is more that can be done -- Brianna.</s>KEILAR: Michelle Kosinski traveling with the president in Canada, thank you. CIA Director John Brennan says the Istanbul attack bears the hallmarks of ISIS, and he's warning that ISIS may try a similar attack here inside the U.S. CNN justice correspondent Pamela Brown is here, and this is, I think, what a lot of people have been wondering, and he is raising this concern.</s>PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And it is troubling to think the CIA chief has been warning about these kinds of attacks. He says the U.S. is not immune. Now, even though no terrorist group has claimed responsibility, the suspicion, as we've been hearing, falls on ISIS. And as ISIS loses some of its territory in Iraq and Syria, intelligence officials say expect the group and sympathizers of it to carry out more attacks just like the one in Turkey against the west. I spoke to one official who called it "the new normal." Here's what CIA chief John Brennan had to say about the risks to the U.S.</s>JOHN BRENNAN, CIA DIRECTOR: The United States, as you well know, is leading the coalition to try to destroy as much of this poison as possible. So it would be a surprise to me that ISIL is not trying to hit us, both in the region as well as in our homeland. If anybody here believes that the U.S. homeland is hermetically sealed, and that the -- DAISH or ISIL would not consider that, I think I would guard against that.</s>BROWN: U.S. officials say while there are a number of soft targets in the U.S., it is harder for terrorists to acquire the materials necessary to make suicide vests as the ones used in Turkey. And it is much harder for foreign fighters to make it back into the U.S. than it is in Europe. And the Homeland Security Department says there are no known credible threats, but officials are urging Americans to be especially vigilant as we approach the Fourth of July holiday weekend and the final week of the holy month of Ramadan -- Brian.</s>KEILAR: All right, Pamela. Thank you so much. Joining me now is a key member of both the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, Independent Senator Angus King of Maine. And sir, I know that you are fresh out of a briefing. What can you tell us?</s>SEN. ANGUS KING (I), MAINE: Well, I can't really tell you anything that was classified. But basically, the information is as you have been reporting it. There is no confirmation yet that this is ISIS, although it certainly looks like it. The odd piece of evidence, though, is that they haven't claimed credit. Usually, if they pull off something like this, they immediately want to claim credit, because in their weird world, that helps them to recruit. So that's a bit of a caution about coming to the firm conclusion that it was them. On the other hand, the head of Turkey, the president of Turkey, has said it was ISIS. If it was the PKK that Turkey has a lot of problems with, he probably would have said that immediately. So it looks like ISIS, although I think we just -- as the president said, we have to wait till we have all of the facts.</s>KEILAR: You've been talking to top intelligence officials. Can you tell us anything more about the attackers? Was this just limited to these three? Do we think that this might have been part of a wider network?</s>KING: Well, it's really hard to say. I mean, this is so similar to what happened in Brussels. There is a likelihood that there are other people that are involved there in Turkey. One of the questions is there's sort of a hierarchy, if you will: is it directed by or inspired by? Are these people foreign fighters? Are they ISIS fighters that crossed the border into Turkey? Or are they people that are living in Turkey and were inspired on the Internet or some other way by ISIS's ideology. It's really impossible to tell that now. I know that that's one of the immediate concerns of the Turkish officials, as it would be for us. I mean, it's one of the first things we looked at after Orlando, was is this guy connected with other people? Is it a cell? And right now, we just don't have the facts on the ground in Istanbul.</s>KEILAR: CIA Director John Brennan raising concern today. He said, quote, "I'd be surprised if DAISH/ISIS is not trying to carry out that kind of attack in the United States." Do you agree with that assessment?</s>KING: Well, I don't know about the United States, but I know generally. I mean, here's what's happening. They're being squeezed very seriously in their so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq. They've lost something like 25 or 30 percent of the ground that they held this time this year. We just took the forces, Iraqi security forces, just took Fallujah. There's going to be greater pressure on Mosul and now Iraq and Syria. As that happens, as they get squeezed down, the thinking is that they're going to lash out in Brussels, or Paris, or Turkey, or -- I hope not, but possibly someplace in the United States to keep their -- their reputation alive as a powerful and vital force. And we've got to show that they aren't winning. They aren't winning on the ground, certainly in and Syria. And I think one of the things that was important today is that the Turks did not mess around. They went right back to business in that airport the next day, and they're not letting these guys win over there. Will it happen here? Nobody can guarantee that it won't. But I think it's much less likely, much harder for them to pull off something like that here than in some of these other countries.</s>KEILAR: It is a big travel weekend ahead of us here in the U.S., ahead of July 4. There are going to be -- there will be so many public gatherings of people. Are there any known threats to the homeland as we head into this weekend?</s>KING: None. The term that I have heard used is no actionable intelligence; in other words, no direct threats. Now, before this attack, just two or three days ago, the State Department issued a travel warning to Turkey. Now, I don't think it was related to this particular threat, but it was a general travel warning. Look, we've got to go about our lives. I'm flying tomorrow back up to Maine. And you know, we've just got to get about our lives. Otherwise, if we just drop everything and cower in our houses, these guys have won the war. I'm not going to let them do that.</s>KEILAR: You mentioned the squeeze that ISIS is feeling on the battlefield, that its lost a quarter or so of its territory, of its caliphate, as it declared it. And we have seen this pattern emerge, that when they do feel the squeeze, there may be a large attack like this. Is there a concern that there could be more?</s>KING: Absolutely I think that is one of the concerns. And as they get squeezed down on the ground, they will try to lash out in other parts of the world. But we can't let them win there either. I mean, they're getting sort of desperate, I think. And these attacks, it's hard to say that someone that blows themselves up is cowardly, but to plan an attack that the sole purpose is to kill innocent women, children, and men is the definition of cowardly, it seems to me. And it just makes no sense. I don't know what it's going to accomplish. In fact, in this case if it turns out to be ISIS, Turkey, who is the closest neighbor to Syria, is going to get much more engaged. And I think ISIS will come to rue the day that they struck the Ataturk airport.</s>KEILAR: All right, Senator King, stay with me. Senator King is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He's just out of a briefing with top intelligence officials on these attacks in Istanbul. We'll have more after a break.