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CNN This Morning

Two Killed, Nine Injured In Brown University Shooting; Manhunt Underway For Brown University Shooter; Eleven People Killed At Hanukkah Event At Australia's Bondi Beach. 2 Killed, 9 Injured In Brown University Shooting; Brown Campus Remains Lockdown As Police Search Shooter; 11 People Killed In Shooting At Jewish Event In Sydney's Bondi Beach. Aired 6-7a ET

Aired December 14, 2025 - 06:00   ET

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

[06:01:02]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I'm Victor Blackwell in Atlanta.

We are following two major breaking news stories this morning. We're starting in Rhode Island. Police are still looking for a person who shot and killed two Brown students, students at Brown University, I should say. Nine other students were hurt. They were in the middle of final exam review sessions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINA PAXON, BROWN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT; Our focus right now is on supporting the families who have been affected by this. The families of the two students who sadly lost their lives today, as well as the eight, now nine students who are in the hospital.

We've been in touch with their families. I will talk to them soon but, you know, we will come together as a community and we'll get through this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: That was university president Christina Paxon, and she published a letter overnight. Here's part of it.

She wrote, I want to thank every member of our community for every kindness, shoulder to lean on, and gesture of support that I know will come in the hours and days ahead as we work together as a community to be there for one another.

And right now, there's a lot that we don't know about the person of interest in this surveillance video, other than he's likely in his 30s, was wearing dark clothing. We're going to pause here for a moment and go to Bondi Beach, where there was a shooting there today.

CHRIS MINNS, NEW SOUTH WALES PREMIER: This cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney. I very sadly need to report that as of now there are at least 12 individuals that have been killed. One of the offenders has also been killed and one is in custody.

This attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.

Commissioner Lanyon will speak about the investigation, the police response, as well as the designation of this attack as a terrorism event in Sydney. I can assure the community it will be met with a massive comprehensive police and public order response.

Our heart bleeds for Australia's Jewish community tonight. I can only imagine the pain that they're feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday. It's the responsibility of all Australians to wrap their arms around Australia's Jewish community and help them get through this incredibly difficult period.

This is a massive, complex and just beginning investigation. It's just begun. And there are things that tonight we don't have the answers to. However, we do have answers to some crucial, crucial pieces of information for our wonderful city and our beautiful state.

The first one is the outpouring of love and support from ordinary Australians for Australia's Jewish community is real. Secondly, today is another example of the enormous pressure and responsibility, the danger that New South Wales police regularly face as part of their job. They do it without faltering. They didn't falter today. We need them.

And thirdly, tonight saw extraordinary acts of personal courage and bravery from individuals in our community. And I think it's worth remembering that in all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger -- Mal.

COMMISSIONER MAL LANYON, NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE: Thank you, Premier. Good evening. The premier has outlined the brief circumstances this evening. I'll go through them again then more than happy to take some questions. About 6:47 p.m. this evening, police started to receive a number of reports of shots fired at Archer Park at Bondi.

[06:05:06]

Archer Park is a grassed area just north of Bondi Pavilion. Police responded promptly. Unfortunately, at least 12 people are deceased at this time. Twenty-nine people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers. The condition of those officers and the other transported are serious, but there is a range of conditions.

Our thoughts, prayers and love go to all the families and all of those that were involved tonight. We know that there were many people there to celebrate a happy occasion. The celebration of Hanukkah and there was well over a thousand people there when this took place.

As a result of the circumstances of the incident tonight, at 9:36 p.m. this evening, I declare this to be a terrorist incident. I have also authorized special powers under section five and section six to ensure that if there is a third offender, and we are currently investigating that at the moment, we will make sure that we prevent any further activity. Section six allows us to investigate today's incident.

There is a massive police response and, I think, as journalists you have seen how quickly and promptly the police responded. I'm incredibly proud of the professionalism of our police and emergency service responders. They have done a fantastic job.

Unfortunately, it's only several years ago that Bondi occurred at Bondi Junction. We have learnt a lot from that and tonight ambulance and police and other emergency responders acted promptly and professionally to do a great job there.

We will have a significant investigation. Our counter-terrorism command will lead this investigation with investigators from the State Crime Command. No stone will be left unturned.

This type of disgraceful activity, this wanton use of violence, the taking of innocent lives is unacceptable to New South Wales. It's not our way of life. I've been very clear since I've been the commissioner that as a police force, we won't stand for this type of violence.

I'm personally offended. You have seen that the police have already taken prompt action. The premier has mentioned one of the offenders is deceased. The second one is in serious condition at hospital. We will focus to ensure that there is no further threat to the public.

Could I ask that this is a time of calm. This is a time where I want to make sure that there is no retribution. The police are investigating thoroughly. We have acted promptly. We have taken decisive action. Could I just ask for calm in the community, allow the police to do our job.

We will work closely with community and I'll continue to provide updates about the investigation as they go on. Thank you. I'll hand over to the minister and then happy to take questions.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do we have an age range of the victims (INAUDIBLE) of those deceased?

LANYON: No, very early. Sorry, I don't have those details at the moment. As you can imagine, there has been a fair dislocation. Ambulance service responded brilliantly. They've had to convey people right around the city to numerous hospitals. So at this stage, we don't have those details. Sorry, just ask one at a time. Sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Commissioner, do you have any intelligence about the two shooters? LANYON: We're working through that at the moment. Obviously, part of the declaration is because I have information about the deceased shooter. It's not something I'm prepared to give at the moment. It will be part of the investigation, but we will work tirelessly through our counter-terrorism command to make sure we investigate all of the circumstances.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Commissioner, the 12 people that are deceased, do they include the gunman that is deceased or is the gunman additional to that count?

LANYON: We've set up the 12 deceased at the moment. This is a really fluid situation. I would like to provide more certainty, but certainly the numbers that we are talking at the moment include the gunman.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Were any children among the deceased?

LANYON: At this stage, I don't believe so. However, I do believe that a child was transported to hospital. Again, I don't want to give information that turns out to be incorrect. It is very early. We know that there has been a number of people turn up to hospital. We've had 29 others transported and we know people are still turning up there.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What gives you reason to think there might be a third gunman (INAUDIBLE)?

LANYON: Unfortunately, these sort of circumstances, we get information from a range of areas. We tend to be as safe as we possibly can so that we know that we have two definite offenders, but we want to make sure the community is safe. So, we will run down this investigation.

The reason that we have so many investigators out tonight is we can make sure that that happens. The fact that we've declared this as a terrorist incident, we've provided special powers, is to make sure that we prevent any further. I cannot confirm there is a third offender, but I want to make sure there's no stone left unturned.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Some news outlets are reporting a home in Bonnyrigg is being raided. Can you confirm that?

LANYON: No, I'm well aware on social media that an identity of a person believed to be one of the gunmen has been circulated there. When I asked for calm, that is really important. This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty.

[06:10:00]

So police are responding to make sure that all of the community is safe. That is our role.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What can you tell us about public order, riots, about officers raiding homes? Is that under -- is that happening right now?

LANYON: What I'd say to you is that we have police right around the city at the moment to make sure that all of the community is safe. I don't want to go into too much specific activity. Our job is to respond to intelligence we get -- respond to information but make sure the community is safe.

So unashamedly, we do have a lot of public order and riots (INAUDIBLE) police out on the streets at the moment to make sure there is calm. This disgraceful act will not go unpunished. Sorry. One question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) Hanukkah event (INAUDIBLE) of Hanukkah were there any additional police resources around the Bondi area or Dover Heights in case there was any problems?

LANYON: There certainly were police patrolling that area. We were well aware and we work closely with the Jewish community in terms of Hanukkah. The Jewish community has its own security group that we work very closely with.

So, there were police present. The fact there was such prompt action taken demonstrates the police were present.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is there still an active threat tonight?

LANYON: Sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there still an active threat?

LANYON: Now, what I've said before is that we are aware definitely of two offenders at the moment. One of those is deceased, one is in hospital at the moment. We want to investigate thoroughly so that if there is a third offender or any other people are linked to this matter, we will investigate them and take action against them.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What intelligence do you have about this third person? Was he there with a gun? Is he outside of the area? What intelligence do you have? I think people need calm and worried that there's someone on the run still.

LANYON: It's way too early to give that information. The community can be very reassured that the police responded quickly. The police have responded in numbers.

We have a significant investigation underway at the moment. We will be following all people linked to those gunmen that we know, and we'll take action to keep the community safe. The community can rest assured that the police will take positive action to keep them safe.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What weapons were used and were they sought illegally? And what can you tell us about the improvised explosive device found under the bridge?

LANYON: It's way too early to give any description of the firearms, other than to say that they were long arms. Where they came from, their background, how they came to be in possession of the offenders, it's too early to say.

As part of the investigation, and shortly after the shooting occurred, police located a vehicle in Campbell Parade at Bondi, which we believe has several improvised explosive devices. We have our rescue bomb disposal unit there at the moment working on that.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What is the latest on that?

LANYON: It's still underway at the moment.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: -- devices or --

LANYON: It's too early to say that. As I said, we've got our rescue and bomb disposal unit there. They will take the appropriate action. They're experts in their field.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Were either of the two individuals, the deceased and the one in custody, known to authorities before this evening?

LANYON: Only little on the offender that's deceased. At the moment, I won't go into their background. That's obviously part of the investigation. Certainly form part of my consideration is whether to consider this to be a terrorist event.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Were any of the gunmen licensed to hold firearms? And do we know whether they were known to ASIO or New South Wales police?

LANYON: It's too early in that investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Why did you declare it a terrorist attack?

LANYON: There was a range of circumstances. Obviously, the fact that it's the first day of Hanukkah, the types of weapons, the offenders, some of the other items we found at the scene. As I said, we have found an improvised explosive device in a car which is linked to the deceased offender.

So, there's a range of circumstances. And obviously, the Jewish community has a right to feel safe. We will take serious action.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Commissioner, you knew about the gunman that was deceased. How did you miss this attack tonight?

LANYON: I don't even think that's a reasonable question. What I said is that we are aware of the person. That does not mean there was any specific threat posed by that person. If the police had had intelligence that there was a risk to the community or to this event, we would have taken significant action.

This is a tragic event. This is not the time to be pointing the finger. There will be a thorough investigation. My main focus is to make sure that the community feels safe and know that the police are there to support them and keep them safe.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Commissioner, how can two people with guns, improvised explosive devices in a car, organize something like this, potentially with a third person, and police do not know that it's coming?

LANYON: Well, I think -- if you think about the size of the community here, our police do a fantastic job day in, day out. You see the work that we do to prevent crimes happening. We need intelligence to actually do that.

As I said, the person that we know has very, very little knowledge to the police. So, he's not someone that we would have automatically been looking at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What can you tell us about the two injured police officers? Do you have their ranks? Has anyone been able to speak to them?

LANYON: I wouldn't want to provide those details at the moment. We've obviously got next of kin coming down. Their loved ones will be with them. I want to make sure that they have some time in peace before we do. It's too early to provide that information.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you have a condition report at all?

LANYON: Serious, verging on critical, and both are in surgery on top.

[06:15:00]

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Commissioner, I understand a rabbi is among those who've been killed. Can you confirm that?

LANYON: I can't confirm that. Sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: This might be one for the premier. Have you spoken to the prime minister? And is there any indication that national terror threat level will be raised?

MINNS: I have spoken to the prime minister. I'll leave that up to him to inform the public of. But he offered all the support to New South Wales and he -- we both reflected on how shocking and terrifying this evil attack was.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Premier, what would you say to people who were scared right now?

MINNS: Look, I understand that. This is a shocking event. It's not common in Australia. And it's all the more shocking because of that.

What I can say is that there will be a comprehensive police response. Anything New South Wales police needs in terms of resources, we will provide them. If there's changes that need to be made, we will do that immediately.

I mean, we need to be in a situation where we're sending a clear and unambiguous message to the Jewish community, in fact, every Australian that lives in this state, that these horrible acts of violence will never be tolerated. And anyone who perpetrates them, we will throw the book at. Anyone who's thinking about it will be thoroughly investigated. This is a terrible night for Sydney, but I think it's important to say we cannot let these evil people divide Australia up. We need to be in a situation where, as shocking as this is, there are still wonderful people in the Bondi community right throughout New South Wales. That's what these -- that's what these terrorists want. They want Australians divided and at each other's throats. And we can't let that happen. In fact, we won't let that happen.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Premier, at least two people, potentially three, have worked together to organize a mass shooting event with shotgun at Bondi Beach there's been -- there's been IEDs in a car planted nearby. Further to what I ask the commissioner, has there been a failure here? Has there been a failure in intelligence or policing?

MINNS: Look, I mean, I think in the circumstances, it's reasonable that both the government and the police conduct an investigation. There will be, of course, a full inquiry.

But when you're looking at several hours after this horrifying event, it's important that police focus on community safety right now and ensuring that the immediate vicinity is locked down, that the public, those who've been injured, are transported to hospital, and that there's not an immediate, ongoing threat.

There'll be plenty of times for a thorough investigation, and I can assure the public that that will take place. But we need to let the police do their job tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is there any intelligence shared from the Australian federal police?

MINNS: I'm not going to get into that.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is there any information to the motive of the offender beyond it being a terrorist incident?

MINNS: No. I mean, the fact that it was the first day of Hanukkah, that there were Jewish families celebrating as a community in Bondi it's shocking and terrible and self-evidently a terrorist act.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The police operation is still continuing around Bondi, obviously. I mean, it is getting late for some people. Will schools be open in that area tomorrow? Practically, what should people be thinking about tomorrow like still staying home, staying out of that area? What is the advice for people?

MINNS: My understanding is that private schools are closed tomorrow. The end of the year has already begun for many of the private schools, particularly in Sydney's eastern suburbs. But the government schools, the secretary, Murat Dizdar, is looking at options for those communities. We'll communicate that as soon as possible.

If you're a parent, particularly in that community, please look at your school's social media account in the morning to work out whether schooling is going ahead or not. Police -- it's obviously an ongoing situation. Police need to provide security, but if we can put in place a situation where there's not many sites, then that would be a good thing tomorrow morning.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Mr. Minns, you've spoken about the bravery on the beach tonight. What are your thoughts on there's a video a member of the public wrestling one of the gunmen --

(CROSSTALK)

MINNS: Unbelievable. I think it's most -- it's the most unbelievable scene I've ever seen. A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people. That man is a genuine hero, and I've got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Commissioner, please confirm the man, whose Bonnyrigg home is being raided, is he the person who is deceased?

LANYON: I won't confirm that at the moment. All I'll say is that were aware there is a social media post. I'd have to ask for people to remain calm at the moment.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I understand that there's three people clearly visible in one of the videos. Is that third person the one that you are still trying to locate?

LANYON: What I've said is we have confirmed there were definitely two offenders. We are investigating now to identify whether there was a third offender. Often, in these sort of situations, a lot of things happen at once.

You can imagine the chaos that was down there, the fear that were in members of the public there. We need to make sure that we get this information right. The fact that we've taken a positive step by declaring it as a terrorist event, providing special powers for investigations, shows how serious we are about making sure we investigate this thoroughly.

(CROSSTALK)

[06:20:10]

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: -- Commissioner, is there potentially a third gunman on the run?

LANYON: I think what I've said at the moment is we have confirmed two, but I think the community should be very reassured that the police are so thorough in New South Wales. We want to make sure that if there is any threat, we are aware of it and we take action to prevent.

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: We'll take a couple more. The police obviously have to get --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Can you tell us about the victims in terms of age, gender, anything like that about the 12? LANYON: No, sorry. I was asked that one earlier. It's too early at this stage to provide those details.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How many police resources outside of Bondi area have been put onto this?

LANYON: Sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How many police resources outside of Bondi have been put onto this investigation?

LANYON: We'll put as many police officers as are required to investigate that matter. I've already indicated we have a significant presence from our counter-terrorism command, from our State Crime Command, and for all of the police area commands around Sydney. We'll put as many police as required. It is that serious. And the community, I want to feel safe.

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: James (ph), last one. Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (INAUDIBLE) ask the commissioner?

LANYON: Did you say something about the police (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You're deploying extra resources from Victoria police. Is that correct? Are we stripped of our resources here because it's such a large scale event?

LANYON: No, I think what it is, we will look for whatever resources. So it may well be if there's a specialist resource that we require, we don't have, we are an incredibly capable police force. We have the capability and the resources to investigate this sort of matter.

It is not unusual at all but for police forces to seek assistance and work with other police forces. As you can imagine, I've had offers from every police commissioner around Australia tonight to provide any assistance they can. That is what the policing family is like. That is our role. We're here to keep the community safe.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) anything that the police have asked the executive government for in terms of extra funding, extra powers, extra manpower on the ground (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As has been said by the premier, we're just a few hours into this investigation. But let me be very clear, the government will provide the police with what they need to continue this investigation, for it to be thorough and for the people of New South Wales to have the confidence in the New South Wales police doing their job. Thank you all very much.

BLACKWELL: We have learned a lot of new details about this now as it's been declared a tragic night of terror there in Sydney, Australia. Let me get you some of what we've learned. Now, 11 people killed, plus one of the offenders, as that person has described, 29 people transferred to hospitals. Although the south -- New South Wales commissioner there did not say that all of those were for gunshot injuries.

We're told also that two police officers are in surgery, in serious, verging on critical condition. There is an additional second offender who is in hospital as well. They are investigating a potential third offender there as this was an attack on the first night of Hanukkah.

Let's go now to CNN's Angus Watson, who is there from the scene. We learned from both the premier in New South Wales and the commissioner just how broad this attack was, and that this investigation of several potential improvised explosive devices continues. What do you know?

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: That's right, Victor. The New South Wales police bomb squad is behind me working on a car that has several of these IEDs, improvised explosive devices, inside. The bomb squad, they're now trying to secure that, trying to make this place safe.

But as you heard there in the police press conference, they cannot yet say whether this incident is over. This is an ongoing incident as the police work on that car linked to one of the perpetrators full of explosive devices, multiple explosive devices in that car.

You heard there that this was an attack on the Jewish community, one that the authorities have now labeled a terrorist incident, a terror attack on the Jewish community here in Bondi, which is a -- it's a very strong Jewish community here in Bondi, very strong, very proud Jewish community.

Right up the street from here, there are several synagogues. And behind me in the park where people were attacked was a Hanukkah festival going on here. The first night of Hanukkah around the world, being celebrated by Jewish people.

[06:25:02]

There was an event here called Hanukkah by the Sea, and that was what was targeted by these two men with guns. You heard there, as well, officials talking about the videos that are going on social media right now, one extraordinary video that they're talking about, where a man attacks the gunman, dispossesses him of his weapon, and then starts defending members of the public with that extraordinary scenes here in Bondi, as the police have now designated this a terrorist attack.

Twelve people dead, one of the alleged gunman also dead, the other alleged gunman in hospital receiving treatment. At least 29 people have been taken to hospital with wounds, with injuries verging from serious to critical. The authorities said there that more people presented themselves to hospitals around the city. Those -- these ambulances here have been taking people to hospitals around the city presumably because the local hospitals just can't cope with this many injured people from this shocking terror incident here in Bondi Beach on Sunday afternoon, Victor.

BLACKWELL: You make an important point there. So, I want people who are watching and listening to expect that these numbers will fluctuate as more people show up at hospitals and as the local officials there get their head and hand around what happened there today.

Again, this is an attack on the Jewish community. And we've covered here in the U.S. the growing climate of antisemitism through both attacks and vandalism. What has been the climate there in Australia?

WATSON: There's absolutely been an increase in the amount of antisemitic attacks here in Australia over the last few years, going back to October 2023, Victor.

Right up the street from where I am now, a Jewish business was burned, Victor. We've had synagogues attacked here in Australia. And the Jew -- and Jewish community officials, Jewish groups have counted the number of antisemitic attacks per year, particularly in late 2023, 2024, and 2025 now well into the hundreds, thousands even of antisemitic attacks going on here in Australia. So, that climate is very real.

The Jewish community has been talking about feeling unsafe for a while now. Police have been doing their best to keep them safe. But there has been an uptick in violence against the Jewish community, antisemitic attacks, and this just a shocking, shocking incident of just that, an antisemitic terror attack here in Bondi, which is home to a large and proud Jewish community, many of whom with roots going back to the holocaust.

A lot of families came to this part of Sydney after the second world war, after the horrors that occurred there in Europe. Now coming here to set up their lives, Victor. And again here, the Jewish community, the victims of a shocking terrorist attack in which a dozen people have died.

BLACKWELL: Commissioner Lanyon there made it very clear, quote, "the Jewish community has a right to be safe." Angus Watson for us there along Bondi Beach at this terror attack on this evening, thank you so much.

We've got more breaking news. This is coming out of Rhode Island about the suspect that police are looking for. We've got those details just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:33:08]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: There's a major development in the breaking news from Rhode Island on that deadly shooting on the Brown University campus.

So let's get right to CNN's Brian Todd. Brian, what can you tell us?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): Victor, an extraordinary scene here at a Providence area hotel that could, could signify a significant break in this case.

CNN witnessed a heavy police presence at this hotel in the Providence area in the overnight hours that law enforcement officials at the scene told us was connected to the shooting at Brown University. CNN witnessed at least 20 police officers, U.S. Marshals, and FBI agents entering a room at this hotel where I'm standing. When pressed if this was connected to the shooting investigation, a U.S. Marshals official at the scene said they had detained someone connected to the Brown University incident.

When we pressed that same U.S. Marshals official again on this, that official said, quote, it's a small state. Put the dots together. Multiple officials at the scene here have told my CNN team and I that this hotel is a crime scene. We have been told there has been an alert put out by Brown University that the shelter in place at Brown University has now been lifted. A city official has said that a person of interest in the shooting investigation is in custody.

So that's what I can tell you, Victor, an extraordinary scene here at this Providence area hotel where I'm standing. One of our CNN team members witnessed multiple, at least 20, law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and local police entering a room. The officials here have told us that they have taken someone, that they have detained someone in connection with the incident.

That's what I can tell you right now, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right, Brian Todd with the reporting there from Rhode Island.

Let's bring in now CNN senior national security analyst Juliette Kayyem. She joins me now.

[06:35:03]

Your reaction first to this reporting that a person of interest is in custody. Now, what we do not know is whether the person of interest in custody is the person of interest in the surveillance video. To you Juliette.

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST (on-camera): That's right and --

BLACKWELL: All right, obviously we're having a technical issue. We'll try to get back to Juliette to get her analysis of that update from Rhode Island.

We'll take a quick break and we'll get back to that conversation in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

[06:40:05]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, I've never experienced anything like this, so I didn't really know what to make of it, but there were just, there were so many in sequential and it was like bangs or pops.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And yes, at first, like me and the other people that were there, we kind of froze and then someone was like, we have to go and then everyone just sprinted out.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The breaking news out of Providence, Rhode Island is that there is now a person of interest in custody. Brian Todd was outside of a hotel that has been described by several law enforcement officials as a crime scene.

We do not know, I want to say again, that we do not know whether the person of interest in custody is the same person of interest that has been shown in the surveillance video that was released at about 10:55 p.m. last night in that shooting. Two students killed, nine students injured.

Let's bring back now Juliette Kayyem. We've fixed that technical issue.

First, your reaction and what we need to know about this arrest from, well, this person now in custody from your perspective.

KAYYEM (on-camera): Well, I mean, as you've noted, it's an incredible show of force at this hotel so that we have to assume that they have at least some information that this is the same person or someone who may know who that person is in that video. But at the same time, Brown University finally released its shelter in place rules, which would suggest that they have at least greater confidence that the students are safe and that any immediate harm is now being addressed.

So you put those two things together. We certainly don't know. But certainly, you feel like this investigation has taken on a new stage.

BLACKWELL: Yes. What is the forensic work that's likely happening now? What does that look like?

KAYYEM (on-camera): Well, it's it is actually going to depend if this is the person, but assuming that this person of interest knows something or is the is the shooter, it's going to begin on the physical forensics. What does he have? What's his gun, his home in terms of what is in the home? And is there evidence of motive? Because we still don't know that yet, as well as the purchase of the gun, which would be part of any investigation at this stage.

And then, of course, this one room in the engineering building, it was it's a I know Brown. My child is an alum of Brown. It is a sort of stadium room. So he comes in from the top and starts shooting down, surprising the students in this review session.

How did he -- my curiosity? The questions I would ask is, how did he know on a Saturday that that the room would be filled, right, that there would be students there studying? So, you're going to want to look at what's in the room and any connections he may have to the university or any of its students. BLACKWELL: Yes. And that's also the digital forensic work that will likely begin or probably has begun long before now.

KAYYEM (on-camera): That's exactly right. We don't know motive right now. So there's, you know, in a situation like this in which it's sort of highly targeted, you're going to look at two types of motives.

One would be the personal. And I don't mean specifically targeting someone in the room. But did this person have a relationship with Brown University, a former employee, a former student, as we've seen in some of these shootings in which Brown is the sort of symbolic target and the students, of course, are our victims.

The other is, is there some statement about something bigger? In other words, is this a radicalized person? We would learn that from maybe any online person, someone who's -- who's radicalized for reasons that you and I it would only be speculation at this stage. But that's something that was sort of politically or otherwise motivated. We, you know, we know universities right now are political entities.

We don't know the answer to those to which is right. But this is where investigations will be looking in terms of motive. Everyone wants to know.

BLACKWELL: Yes, Juliette, and we've just learned that there will be a news conference from the mayor, Brett Smiley, there in Providence at the top of the hour. So a little more than 15 minutes out if they start on time, where we should get some more information potentially about all of the questions you've just laid out and this person of interest who has been taken into custody at a hotel there in Providence.

Let's move now to the other tragic shooting that's happening. This one in Sydney, Australia at Bondi Beach. It was an attack on a Hanukkah event, Hanukkah by the Sea. Eleven people killed, one shooter who is dead, another in a hospital. They're investigating a third.

[06:45:05]

What stands out here is just the scale of this attack, including the bomb squad now investigating several improvised explosive devices.

KAYYEM (on-camera): Yes, this is an anti-Semitic attack and now a terrorist incident in Australia. A horror for the Jewish community, of course, in Australia, but I think around the world is this was a highly organized attack. I look at the pictures from overnight. These are people who knew exactly how to shoot into the beach, but have an exit or an access out. And that is why they sort of are a little bit worried, at least authorities are, that there might be a third shooter.

The secondary attack, the bombs and the explosive devices in the car is a technique often used by terrorists to have a sort of second wave that fortunately did not work.

I also want to say something about this incredible man who we see just, I think he's eating by his car, sees the shooter and engages him in a way. This is, we've started to see this in these mass shooting cases that engagement or an attempt to distract the shooter, who actually ends up being sort of easily distracted, saved untold lives. So it's -- in that sense, he also is a hero, but there is going to be a massive, massive foreign intelligence investigation and a terrorist investigation about this, just given the target.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the video you mentioned is on social media and the New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns there, says that this person is undoubtedly a hero, having saved so many more lives in this attack.

You talked about the global element here. I wonder, first night of Hanukkah, an obvious attack on the Jewish community. What then is the global posture in the Jewish community, considering what we saw there?

KAYYEM (on-camera): Yes, unfortunately, like many Western democracies over the last few years, Australia has seen its fair share of anti- Semitic attacks and hate towards the Jewish community. We heard law enforcement there speak of it. And so right now, so what we don't know, although as we saw in the press conference, the lead police investigator said that at least one of the shooters was known.

So, we don't know how he was known to police. But this is an incident in which it's clearly targeted against the Jewish community on an important night for them, when they are clearly defenseless. They are on a beach.

You see people running off, you know, basically in bathing suits, unable to protect themselves. How these men organized, how they got their weapons, when did they organize, who else helped them, how were they so sophisticated, both in the planning, but of course, in the explosive devices? Those are all questions that could be answered solely from, you know, that it could be solely from Australia.

But also, what you're going to definitely look at is any support or organization from outside of Australia. It is something we would do and something the Australians are clearly going to do.

BLACKWELL: Yes, in addition to those 11 killed, those 11 victims, 29 people were told thus far, transferred --

KAYYEM (on-camera): Yes.

BLACKWELL: -- to hospitals, two police officers, both in surgery.

Juliette Kayyem, thank you for helping us understand what we're seeing on two tragic fronts this morning.

We'll have more on the breaking news out of Brown University. After the break, we're awaiting that news conference at the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

[06:53:51] SOPHIA HOLMAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: I was walking through the halls. I was by the Hope Street entrance and exit when I first heard the gunshots.

When I first heard them, I thought it was, you know, as a college student would in an engineering building, I thought it was just maybe something from the wood shop or it was something, you know, it was an experiment gone wrong. But once I continually heard them and I heard someone and I saw someone run past me, I thought it, you know, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry.

So, I started running behind the girl that was, that ran by me. I could tell she was a student by the athletics parka that she was wearing. So, I ran out of the Hope Street exit. I ran one block east and then I called the police at 4:04 p.m.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Brown University student Sophia Holman describing the harrowing moments after the shooting there on campus. And we are waiting to hear more from officials there in Rhode Island. There's a news conference scheduled to happen in a little more than five minutes from now.

[06:55:03]

But here's what we know at this moment. The mayor's office confirms a person of interest is now in custody in connection with Brown University shooting. I want to be clear though, the person of interest you're seeing in that video, we are not sure it has not been confirmed that that is the person of interest who is in custody.

Here is what we also know though, is that the shelter-in-place order on campus that has been lifted. Two students were killed, nine other students injured yesterday. This was during final exam review session. One student described the fear of hiding for hours before police finally let him out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long were you hiding?

CHIANGHENG CHIEN, BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Oh, I think it would be about two hours or so, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then how did you know it was safe?

CHEN: I don't know because I keep receiving the message about all the updated news.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the police come and actually open the door?

CHEN: Because we heard the noise from the police outside of our lab.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

CHEN: And we also received a message that they are trying to get everyone out to the safety place.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

CHEN: So, we opened the door and asked them to search our lab and also search our body. And we were asked to get out of the building.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: The university also says that exams scheduled for today are postponed.

We'll have much more of the breaking news coverage on the Brown University shooting. Also, the terror attack on Bondi Beach on the Jewish community there on the first night of Hanukkah in the next hour of "CNN This Morning Weekend."

Stay right here.

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