OSU Attack Investigation; Black Boxes Found in Deadly Crash of Soccer Team's Flight
BLITZER: Right now, we have more on the breaking news on the Ohio State University car and knife attack. Investigators now more convinced that it was inspired by ISIS and other terrorist propaganda. Let's bring in our justice correspondent, Pamela Brown. She's on the scene for us in Columbus, Ohio. Pamela, what are you learning?</s>PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we have learned from officials that the suspect Abdul Artan bought the knives he used in the attack here on campus in Columbus just before he launched that attack. So, the morning of. And we've also learned from official that he was consuming terrorist propaganda from both ISIS and al Qaeda and investigators believe that is what motivated him to launch the attack here.</s>BROWN (voice-over): Today, ISIS is claiming responsibility for inspiring the attack on the campus of the Ohio State University's campus, releasing a statement on its propaganda news website. There is no evidence the claim is true. Investigators will only say they're looking at terrorism as a possible motive.</s>JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There is plenty of available evidence to indicate that this individual may have been motivated by extremism and may have been motivated by a desire to carry out an act of terrorism.</s>BROWN: A post on Abdul Artan's Facebook page just before the rampage pays tribute to al Qaeda cleric Anwar al Awlaki and admonishes the United States, saying, "By Allah, we will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims. You will not celebrate or enjoy any holiday." Investigators are scrutinizing his cellphone and laptop and interviewing those who knew him to learn more about his motivations.</s>LOUANN CAMAHAN, NEIGHBOR: They asked me the same questions everybody else is requesting, you know, about his character. And, you know, his character was presentable. I mean, he didn't seem or appear to pose a threat to anybody.</s>BROWN: The owner of a convenience store near Artan's home says he came in regularly, including on the day before the attack.</s>HICHAM OUHAMMOU, STORE OWNER: He came in. He grabbed whatever he wanted and we talked for a little bit, like hi, how you doing, da, da, da. How was your day? I mean, that's pretty much it. He just left, smiling, like usual. That's it.</s>BROWN: CNN has learned Artan was born in Somalia and moved to Pakistan as a refugee in 2007. He came to the United States with his mother and siblings in 2014 on a green card. A U.S. official says his family went through more than two years of intense vetting before being allowed into the United States.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Abdul Razak --</s>BROWN: Once he arrived, he attended a community college, and then transferred to Ohio state, where he told the student newspaper he was self-conscious about showing his Muslim faith. Artan and his family also apparently spent 23 days in Dallas in 2014, according to a faith-based group who worked with them, but they left for unknown reasons.</s>PHILIP MUDD, CNN COUNTERTERRORISM ANALYST: This was an 18-year-old. He had just transferred schools. We don't understand his background with the family. He is an immigrant. We don't understand the issues he had integrating. One of the difficulties in these is looking at what he's claiming and comparing it to the rest of his life.</s>BROWN: And tonight, investigators are scrutinizing his activity on his phone and his laptop that was seized. And so far, there is no indication that he was in contact with terrorists overseas -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Chilling story, indeed. Pamela Brown, thanks very, very much. There's more breaking news happening tonight. Aviation officials say both black boxes have now been recovered from a deadly plane crash in Colombia. Seventy-one people were killed including nearly every member of a soccer team flying to an historic game. There are questions tonight about why the plane went down and how six people managed to survive? Let's bring in our aviation correspondent Rene Marsh. Rene, what are you learning?</s>RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we know that the pilot reported some problems with the airplane before it went down. But tonight, it is still unknown what exactly caused the crash with its beloved soccer team onboard. Investigators will look at a wide range of possibilities, from pilot error, to the safety record of the charter company, to mechanics, and even weather conditions.</s>MARSH (voice-over): This is what's left of the plane carrying Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense and more than 20 you journalists after it crashed into a mountain side in Colombia. At least 71 of the 77 people on board are dead. Miraculously, among the rubble, there are survivors and their account of the final seconds on board could help investigators.</s>PETER GOELZ, FORMER NTSB MANAGING DIRECTOR: They wanted to know whether there was any indication in the cabin from the flight crew to prepare for a crash landing. Did they hear the engines functioning normally right up until the end? Were there any diversions during the flight? Did they have to fly around a storm?</s>MARSH: The charter flight left Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Monday night, bound for Medellin, Colombia. It declared an emergency just minutes before the crash. The pilot reported electoral problems. Investigators found both of the plane's black boxes in perfect condition. It will tell them if the plane had any mechanical problems.</s>PRES. MICHEL TEMER, BRAZIL (through translator): Sadly, all we can do beyond crying for those who have left us was to arrange federal government support for the families who are in mourning.</s>MARSH: Satellite images showed thunderstorms had moved across the region and meteorologists say there was likely turbulence. Just days ago, the team celebrated a semifinal win in the South American Cup. They were on their way to Colombia to compete in the finals. Here they were at the airport, one of the players taking this video and snapping these photos while on board. Fans mourned outside the soccer stadium where the team was scheduled to play. Brazilian football great Pele tweeted, "Brazilian football is in mourning." A team that experienced a meteoric rise, making it to the elite level of the Brazilian soccer championship. Investigators are now trying to figure out what brought this Cinderella story to such a deadly end.</s>MARSH: The aircraft that the team was on was manufactured in 1999. It's used mainly for short flights. Investigators are now going to look at the operation of the charter company and, of course, the crew. Did they make the right decisions? Was something going on in the cockpit? And, of course, Wolf, those black boxes, as you know, critical to this investigation. They're in good shape at this point.</s>BLITZER: Yes, the investigation only just beginning, but they have both of those black boxes.</s>MARSH: And they're in good shape.</s>BLITZER: Which is critically important. Rene, thank you very much. We'll have more breaking news right after this.