Flowers lay outside the Carillon cafe, a site of last Friday's attacks, in Paris, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. France made an unprecedented demand on Tuesday for its European Union allies to support its military action against the Islamic State group as it launched new airstrikes on the militants' Syrian stronghold, days after attacks in Paris linked to the group killed at least 129 people. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
We will devote most of the show today to the terror in Europe and the threat to the United States.
France still working to identify some of the 129 killed in the coordinated terror attacks Friday night in Paris. More than 300 were hurt. The French President is pushing for an extension of a state of emergency in France as raids and arrests continue across the French Republic. The manhunt for a man suspected of being involved in the attacks continues at this hour. His brother blew himself up, and he was pulled over near the border with Belgium before being released. Their family claims they had no idea their family members were capable of terror. 7 of the 8 attackers were killed Friday night. International agencies are focused on the alleged mastermind.. Abdelhamid Abaaoud who is believed to be in Syria.
He has given interviews to ISIS propaganda media, and is believed to also be involved in that foiled attack on a train, and in church bombings in France. The Globe and Mail reports he mocked Western democracies’ anti-terror efforts, “Abaaoud also tipped his hat to those who had attacked Canada and other Western countries. “I ask Allah to accept the fruitful deeds of the shuhada [martyrs] who terrorized the crusaders of America, France, Canada, Australia, Germany and Belgium," he said at the end of the interview.”
Apparently, Belgium missed several opportunities to stop the attacks. There is growing concern that Belgium is failing to keep control of radicalized Muslims inside its borders.
Germany has also conducted raids and has arrested 3 suspected of terror ties.
Austria also says at least one of the terrorists traveled there.
At least one of the terrorists arrived with Syrian refugees.
Both France and Russia are carrying out air strikes today against the self-proclaimed ISIS capital in Syria, Raqqa.
Russia now says that Metrojet plane that crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula was taken down with an explosive device. They are offering a $50 million reward for information leading to those responsible. The likely culprit is ISIS. Egypt has arrested 2 workers for possible involvement in the plane’s explosion. 224 died.
President Obama is coming under fire for refusing to alter U.S. policy toward ISIS in response to the attacks. The President is traveling to Manila today and has given The Philippines a Coast Guard cutter and a research vessel. The President also announcing more aid for Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Secretary of State John Kerry is returning from Paris after promising to stand by France (America’s oldest ally). He met with French leaders to discuss the terror attack and Syria.
Governors around the country say they’ll refuse to accept Syrian refugees over concerns terrorists may be hiding among Muslim refugees flooding into Europe and coming to North America.
Meantime, Republican lawmakers in Congress may try to block more Syrian refugees by holding up spending bills.
In other news,
A strong earthquake hit Greece. At least one person is dead, and there are reports of damage on the Greek island of Lefkada.
A major storm is moving through the Rocky Mountains. Denver getting 6-10 inches. 200 flights cancelled. The storm set to move through Kansas today.
The number of murders in Baltimore has surpassed 300 this year for the first time since 1999. The city has been hit with a crime wave since a series of riots over the death of Freddie Gray. A new report suggests police were ill-trained to handle the protests and riots.
Charlie Sheen announced he is HIV-positive on the Today Show this morning. He says he has been infected for four years and has paid millions in bribes to keep it secret.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
