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Isa Soares Tonight
Australia Mourns After Deadly Terror Attack On Bondi Beach; Son Of Rob And Michele Reiner Arrested For The Murder Of Rob And Michele Reiner; Zelenskyy Optimistic Of Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks; Manhunt For Gunman in BROWN University Shooting; Person Of Interest In Brown University Released; 15 Dead In Shooting Attack On Australia's Jewish Community; Jimmy Lai Found Guilty Of National Security Charges. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired December 15, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, a country in mourning after a deadly
terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach. We'll have the latest on what we're learning about the attackers, the victims, of course, and the hero who
stepped in to disarm the gunman.
Then Hollywood in shock. The son of legendary director Rob Reiner, Rob Reiner has been arrested in connection to the deaths of his parents. We'll
have the latest from Los Angeles. Plus, has real progress been made this evening in the Ukraine peace talks? President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seems
optimistic. We'll have that and much more ahead for you this hour.
But first, tonight, a ten-year-old girl with her whole life ahead of her, a 41-year-old rabbi who was a father of five, an 87-year-old holocaust
survivor who died shielding his wife, all of them among the 15 people who lost their lives in Australia's deadliest mass shooting in decades.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Today, the entire country is in mourning. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, he calls the massacre in Sydney pure evil and a horrific act of
anti-Semitism. Police say two attackers, a father and son, opened fire as crowds celebrated the first day of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach. In addition to
those killed, dozens were injured. One witness describes the sheer panic. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They just -- all hell broke loose. There's just people everywhere, kids everywhere, kids screaming, just people screaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And the carnage could have been even worse if it weren't for the extraordinary bravery of this bystander, Ahmed al-Ahmed rushed toward one
shooter, risking his own life to wrestle a gun away from him, as you can see there. Police eventually shot and killed one attacker at the scene, the
other was critically wounded. Prime Minister Albanese says it appears they acted alone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER, AUSTRALIA: There's no evidence of collusion. There's no evidence that these people were part of a cell.
Clearly, they were motivated by this extremist ideology, and further detail, of course, will be released when the police go through their work.
It's an ongoing investigation, an active investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on all the strands, our Lynda Kinkade joins me now. Lynda, good to see you. Look, as we've just outlined there, absolutely
horrific and brutal attack carried out by this father and son. Just bring us up to date where we are in terms of the investigation and indeed more
information about the perpetrators here.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR & REPORTER: Yes, I mean, the shock and grief in Australia right now is so profound. I've been speaking to family there, and
they all want answers in a country that has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, they want to know how this could have happened.
Now, counterterrorism detectives are leading the investigation. They have named a father and son duo as the primary suspects. They say Sajid Akram,
who is 50, the father migrated to Australia back in 1998. He had a hunting recreational gun license and owned six guns. And they say he carried out
this attack with his son who was 24, Naveed Akram.
He previously came under the -- an investigation and assessment by Australia's Domestic Intelligence Association, ACO, over an association
with two radicalized individuals . Now, this was back in 2019, they said he didn't pose any imminent threat and he was not assessed to be -- to be any
sort of danger to the community.
He was shot and injured and is currently in hospital. They say they will lay charges when he's medically fit to face police. His father was shot and
killed at the scene. Now, there are calls for stricter gun laws. The last time there was a massacre was almost three decades ago.
[14:05:00]
The Port Arthur massacre that led to the deaths of 35 people, including many children. And at the time, the Prime Minister enacted some very strict
laws. They did a massive national buyback, tens -- hundreds of thousands of guns and enacted a registration system across the country and banned semi-
automatic weapons.
Well, now the Prime Minister is looking to increase restrictions around guns. They want to look at ways to reduce the amount of time that someone
could have a license for gun before having to renew it, and they want to put a cap on the number of guns any individual can own.
SOARES: And Lynda, we were mentioned earlier, some of the victims just horrific of course, just how young they were. What more can you tell us
about those victims? Because there was a moment where they're celebrating Hanukkah, right? Which is a festival --
KINKADE: Yes --
SOARES: Of light. Yet, there's so much darkness right now.
KINKADE: Yes, Isa, there were so many families out and about on what was this beautiful Summer evening and this huge Jewish festival. The victims,
A, range in age from just 10 to 87. The youngest is Matilda, she is a ten- year-old who -- whose family just talks about her beautiful, warm smile.
You can see an image of her there. We also know that Peter Meagher is a former police officer, he was called an absolute legend and a devoted
volunteer at the Randwick Rugby Football Club, where he worked. Dan Elkayam, he's a 27-year-old French national, a former engineering student
in Paris who was described as someone who was bursting with talent.
He played Premier League in Sydney, and the eldest victim, 87-year-old Alex Kleytman, is a holocaust survivor, and we've heard that he died shielding
his wife from gunfire. Forty people are still in hospital, including two police officers, the youngest was a young constable, Scott Dyson, who had
been on the job just four months, and was there to serve the community.
SOARES: And Lynda, you know, I've been glued to my TV, it's probably so many of our viewers throughout the day. And what I keep hearing from those
on the ground is just the level of incredulity, right? That this is happening in all places in Australia where, like you said, mass shootings
are just so rare with the very strict gun laws.
Can you speak from your contacts -- of course, you're Australian. Can you speak to what you are hearing from family and friends on the ground, just
in terms of the mood, because clearly people are incredibly shaken, rightly so.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. I've been speaking with my cousin who is part of the Jewish community, she lives in the Bondi region. She went to a Hanukkah
event. She didn't go to this large one because of this fear, this rising anti-Semitism, hate crimes on the increase in Australia over the last two
years.
And so, she went to a smaller event, and she was going to go back to this major event just before she went home with her two young daughters. And for
some reason, she decided to skip it and head home, and that's when this tragedy unfolded. Right across Australia, there is widespread support for
stricter gun laws. The same happened 35 years ago after the last massacre. There is just a sense that people want action to be taken.
SOARES: Yes, Lynda, really appreciate you bringing us up-to-date with the very latest. Lynda Kinkade there for us. And coming up in about 20 minutes
or so time, we'll be speaking to rabbi David Lewis(ph) of the South Manchester Synagogue in England. He is the cousin of rabbi Eli Schlanger,
who was killed in the Bondi Beach attacks. Do not miss that conversation in about 20 minutes or so.
I want to turn our attention to the U.S. because the son of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner has been arrested in connection to the deaths
of his parents. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Nick Reiner has been booked for murder. On Sunday, the bodies of Rob Reiner and his
wife, Michele, were found at their Los Angeles area home.
Bail for their 32-year-old son was set at $4 million. The murders have stunned the Hollywood community and fans right around the world. Reiner is
known for classics such as "This is Spinal Tap", "Stand By Me" and, of course, "When Harry Met Sally". Our Stephanie Elam joins me now from Los
Angeles.
And Stephanie, there is so much, of course, that we do not know at this hour. So, bring us up-to-date with what we do know on the investigation
front.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's a lot of -- for people to digest on this one, but we do know that there was first reports that came
through yesterday afternoon, Sunday afternoon here in Los Angeles about the death of Rob and Michele Reiner. We understand that they were found by a
family member, which also makes it even more devastating for those loved ones of the Reiners who were just completely beloved in this community.
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This is part of their house here in Brentwood, where they were discovered. We also know that, Nick Reiner; the son that has been arrested for their
murder, has had a tumultuous journey himself. He's dealt with drug addiction, has spoken openly about that in the past, and they even made a
film together.
The father and the son did, and they said they fought a lot, but it made for a better film. That's what Rob Reiner said at the time, just giving us
some more context of what -- gives us more idea of about who Nick is, but it doesn't explain why this may have been -- happened, or also why he has
been -- these murders.
SOARES: And of course, we -- as we mentioned -- coming just to you, just a minute goes, Stephanie, Hollywood clearly and understandably in shock, of
course, Rob Reiner left a mark in Hollywood, both as a director, important to point out as a natural as well. Give us a sense for those viewers who
don't remember him of who he was or what his legacy is.
ELAM: Yes, it's like more than a mark. It's like a massive cater -- crater, that he's left in Hollywood. I mean, the man has done so much. He shot to
fame from a show called "All in the Family" in the '70s, and went on to direct some very classic movies that people still quote to this day. In
fact, to give you a better idea of what his body of work is. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROB REINER, LATE FILM DIRECTOR: I've often said, you know, no matter what happens to me, I'll always be -- you know, yes, I could win the Nobel
Prize, they'll say, Meathead wins Nobel.
ELAM (voice-over): Rob Reiner needn't have worried. Yes, he was known for playing Meathead on "All in the Family". But his career had a remarkable
second act as a successful and versatile film director from the mid '80s to the early '90s, Reiner had a phenomenal run, directing a diverse range of
films. He practically invented the mockumentary with his musical comedy, "This is Spinal Tap".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you can see the numbers, all go to 11.
ELAM: There was the Stephen King coming of age story, "Stand By Me", and the modern fairy tale "The Princess Bride".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Inigo Montoya(ph), you killed my father. Prepare to die.
ELAM: And the classic romantic comedy, "When Harry Met Sally" --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes!
ELAM: Which had that famous line delivered by his mom, Estelle(ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll have what she's having.
ELAM: Another Stephen King adaptation, "Misery" earned an Oscar for leading lady Kathy Bates(ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's for the best.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please!
ELAM: While his military courtroom drama, "A Few Good Men" had this famous exchange between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.
TOM CRUISE, AMERICAN ACTOR: I want the truth!
JACK NICHOLSON, AMERICAN ACTOR: You can't handle the truth!
ELAM: Rob, son of TV comedy pioneer Carl Reiner, found it a challenge to step out from his father's shadow.
R. REINER: Getting in the door is important, but having staying power and being able to sustain a career, at least on the level of -- or exceed your
famous, you know, father or mother is very difficult. I mean, you're under an enormous pressure and scrutiny.
ELAM: He first earned fame in his own right as the liberal Mike Stivic(ph) on the groundbreaking 1970s TV sitcom, "All in the Family".
R. REINER: They just don't like the idea of America fighting an illegal and immoral war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, if they don't like it, they can lump it.
ELAM: Stivic's(ph) arguments with his conservative, bigoted father-in-law, Archie Bunker, were a hallmark of the show, as they debated politics,
social and cultural issues through comedy. The show earned Reiner two Emmy Awards.
CHRIS WALLACE, TELEVISION HOST: The subjects you took on, and the way that you approached them, and we're talking the '70s.
R. REINER: Yes --
WALLACE: Were unheard of in --
R. REINER: Right --
WALLACE: Television at the time.
R. REINER: Right.
WALLACE: How much resistance did you all get from "CBS"?
R. REINER: Tremendous resistance. At first, when the first -- the show first came on, they had a huge disclaimer that preceded the show. It was
basically, the show doesn't reflect the views of the network, blah-blah, basically was saying, we don't know how this show got on.
ELAM: Like is "All in the Family" character, Reiner was passionate about progressive candidates and causes. He supported Democratic presidential
candidates, and was an advocate for free pre-school education. Reiner would occasionally step back in front of the camera for small roles in films like
"Sleepless in Seattle".
R. REINER: Tiramisu(ph) --
ELAM: What is tiramisu(ph)?
R. REINER: You'll find out.
ELAM: Rob Reiner was a character in his own right, with an enduring body of work that reflects his generation's humor and passion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: And Rob and Michele Reiner were big Democratic advocates and fundraisers, so we've seen an outpouring of love for the family and also
just shock, some people saying devastation, just heartbroken, they're saying over the loss of this couple and all they did to try to make where
they live and also the country and the world a better place based on things that we've heard from people so far today.
[14:15:00]
SOARES: Stephanie Elam there for us in Los Angeles, good to see you, Stephanie, thank you very much indeed. Let's turn our attention to Europe
because there's cautious optimism, I should say, today, after the path forward to peace between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy says a lot of progress, in his words, has been made in talks with U.S. officials and top European leaders in Berlin.
But Mr. Zelenskyy points out there are still work to be done when it comes to security guarantees for Ukraine. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE (through translator): Now, we've heard from the U.S. side that, yes, that there are security guarantees
which are equal to the Article 5 guarantee in the NATO charter. So, it doesn't look too bad, but it's only a first step. And then there is the
issue of monitoring of the ceasefire.
That is really the basis for security guarantees, because the question is, who will carry out the monitoring? What sanctions will be applied if those
monitoring missions are disrupted?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, U.S. officials says the United States is offering Ukraine the platinum standard on security guarantees, but cautions the offer won't be
on the table forever. Our Fred Pleitgen joins me now from Berlin with much more. And Fred, good to see you. Look, Merz, Chancellor Merz and President
Zelenskyy, when I heard them earlier today, the press conference insisting there, that progress has been made, first steps, but progress has been
made.
Merz even said, this is the biggest chance of peace since the war started. So, talk us through what we have so far because I know we are lacking a lot
of detail here.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're lacking a lot of detail, but some of it is actually coming in slowly. First
of all, Isa, having been around these negotiations throughout the better part of the last two days, it certainly does appear to be the case, as
though the atmosphere was very constructive, and that the sides did actually make a lot of headway.
That's what we're hearing from the American delegation. That's what we're hearing from the Germans. It's also what we're hearing from the Ukrainians
as well, less so, as far as possible, territorial concessions on the part of the Ukrainians are concerned. But certainly, in that whole complex of
security guarantees and Ukraine's membership or non-membership in the future inside NATO.
But the security guarantees is really where Chancellor Merz said he thinks that what the Americans put on the table, there was a lot more than he
would have thought would be possible. You already alluded to the fact that the American side called them platinum security guarantees, almost equal to
Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
But then also warned that they would not be on the table forever. One thing that we have just gotten in, and this happened just as we went to air, so I
want to -- I want to show it to you, was that there is a common declaration that came out actually addressing all of this, and they speak in several
points of what the sides say that they are willing to do to Ukraine for Ukraine. I want to put out some of them.
They talk about a European-led multinational force for Ukraine, made up of contributions from willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of
the Willing and supported by the U.S. They speak of a ceasefire, monitoring and verification mechanism by the United States, and this is the last point
which I think is really important, A, what they call legally-binding commitment subject to national procedures, to take measures to restore
peace and security in case of a future armed attack.
And there, they specifically say that this may include armed force Intelligence and logistics assistance. So, almost like NATO guarantees, if
you will, where they also declare that an attack on one is an attack on all. But it doesn't specify what exactly the response by NATO members of --
to an attack by one state is.
So, certainly, these -- it seems to me that there's more clarity sort of coming out there just now in that declaration that just came forward. The
Americans certainly saying they believe a lot of progress was made. We've heard from the American side that they believe that President Trump will
actually dial in to a dinner that is going on right now with the -- with the member states that are taking part in these negotiations.
So, certainly, it seems as though the vibe is quite positive. But of course, the big question is always going to be, what are the Russians going
to say? And there, I actually messaged with the Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, and I asked him specifically, would Russia be willing to accept
Article 5 like security guarantees for Ukraine?
And all he texted back was, we need to see the draft. So, the Russians are saying, look, let's see what they come up with, and then the Russians will
decide whether or not this is something that they're comfortable with. Isa.
SOARES: Well, at least, it's not a no. What I'm looking as you're talking through, of course, the statement by Chancellor Merz and others, and
President Schtubb(ph) and President Macron. This point that you mentioned here -- and apologies for looking down because my eye sight is terrible.
But it says here like you mentioned, Fred, U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism.
And he talks -- do we have at this point, I'm guessing we don't at this point, do we have any sense when we're talking about measures include Armed
Forces, Intelligence, logistical assistance. You know -- what -- who is the monitoring force here?
[14:20:00]
How do you enforce the cessation of hostilities? And what do we -- you know, would there be peacekeepers and what do we call this? Could be
there's a ceasefire? Do we -- do we have that yet? Do we have --
PLEITGEN: Yes --
SOARES: A sense from that?
PLEITGEN: We don't have a sense of that yet. But of course, the big question in all of this, as you rightly state, is whether or not there's
going to be permanent boots on the ground of possibly European NATO forces and others on the ground in Ukraine to try and enforce on this. It seems as
though they're not at the stage of discussing -- of going into detail, if you will, about any of that.
Yet, the Ukrainians have sort of said, it doesn't necessarily have to mean boots on the ground, but they certainly would want their military to be
beefed up in the way that by far it isn't right now, especially as far as air defense is concerned, as far as long range weapons for the Ukrainians
are concerned as well.
And then possibly, also with this verification method also, of course, Intelligence sharing and other things similar, whether or not it's going to
mean European boots on the ground or possibly some sort of rapid reaction force, something that's unclear from the document that we have in front of
us.
But certainly, it seems as though there were several things that were played through by the negotiating teams as the negotiations went on for an
extended period of time, of course, actually continue right now as the leaders of various European countries are now part of the fold as well.
Isa.
SOARES: Yes, good -- it's a good start like Chancellor Merz said, a small seed, but there is opportunity there. We shall see what comes out of this.
I'm looking -- I'm interested to know what this platinum standard actually means in real terms. Fred. I know you'll stay across it, let us know if you
hear anything else back from the Kremlin. Good to see you, Fred.
Fred Pleitgen for us this hour in Berlin. And still to come tonight, will Brian Walshe be sentenced to life in prison. Details ahead on what could
happen next, now that he has been found guilty of first degree murder. That story after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, on a day filled with breaking news, we now turn to the Brian Walshe murder trial. A short time ago, a jury in Massachusetts found Walshe
guilty of first degree murder in the death of his wife, Ana. The panel deliberated for around six hours before reaching a decision.
Before the trial began, Walshe pleaded guilty to misleading police and illegally disposing of his wife's body. He now faces life in prison without
the possibility of parole. Let's discuss further with Jean Casarez live for us from New York. And, Jean, I know the sentencing is expected to be on
Wednesday, but give us a sense of what we saw today inside that courtroom, and any reaction at all from Walshe today?
[14:25:00]
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there was no reaction, which is interesting. We just -- we just -- the expression on his face was the
expression on his face he had through the whole trial. But this jury found beyond a reasonable doubt to a degree of moral certainty, that he
premeditated the murder of his wife. And this was a couple that seemed to have it all.
They had three young children, beautiful children, two, four and six at the time. And he was the primary caregiver of the children because Ana, who was
in the real estate industry, had just gotten a very big job with a global company, Tishman Speyer. And so, she was in Washington D.C. during the
week, he was at home with the children.
And there were a number of things the prosecution said that there were three basic motives, and prosecutors don't have to find motive because
it's the elements of the crime itself. But motive was important in this case. And number one, Ana Walshe had met a man in Washington D.C., and she
started having an affair.
It seemed like it was very intense. He actually testified in the trial. But Brian Walshe Googled him every now and then. And so, number one motive for
murder could have been that, number two, Brian Walshe had been convicted recently on a federal level of selling fake Andy Warhol paintings. And he
was awaiting his sentencing in that case.
But he had to pay restitution well over $400,000, and he didn't personally have the money, life insurance policies were there, he was the primary
beneficiary, that could have been the second motive. And third, in regard to the federal sentence from the selling of the fake Andy Warhol paintings,
he didn't want to go to prison.
He wanted to stay at home to serve his sentence, taking care of the children. If Ana Walshe wasn't in the picture, it was more likely than not,
he could have served that sentence at home by being the sole primary caregiver of the children. So, we don't know what the jury decided, but
this was a circumstantial case.
They had to look at the facts and evidence, and just as you said in the introduction here, he already pleaded guilty to intentionally misleading
police because he told them she was missing in the days after she was gone, she was dead. And also conveyance of a body, and under Massachusetts law,
that includes conveyance of body parts because he dismembered his wife and he pleaded guilty to that before trial, thinking the only charge to the
jury would be murder that could help him.
But it did not help him because he was convicted on premeditated, intentional murder. And the sentencing, as you just said, also will be
Wednesday first thing in the morning. But what we want to see is, who are going to give the victim impact statements?
We do understand from court several days ago with the judge, the children who are actually just a few years older than two, four and six, now they
may be giving a written statement, and they are, we understand, with the state family members did not take the children in, but that will be
impounded. So, it doesn't look like in court we will hear the words of his and Ana's three young children.
SOARES: Goodness, the way you've just laid it all out for us, Jean, absolutely chilling. I know you'll stay across the story for us. Thank you
very much indeed --
CASAREZ: Thanks --
SOARES: Jean Casarez there for us in New York. And still to come tonight, tragedy on campus while Brown University, more students shot there this
weekend. Police are desperately trying to identify the shooter. And then Australia engulfed in grief. I'll be talking to the cousin of a London-born
rabbi who was killed in the nightmare attack on Sydney's Bondi Beach. You are watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:32:15]
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Welcome back, everyone. Investigators are pleading with the public for helping figuring out who opened fire over
the weekend at Brown University. So, far, police say this video is the only one they have of the suspected shooter, and it does little really, as you
can see there, to identify him.
Two students died in the shooting. Nine others were injured. Authorities had detained a person of interest on Sunday, but then released him hours
later, saying, evidence points in a different direction. Brown is one of the oldest universities in the U.S. and a member of the prestigious Ivy
League. The school has cancelled all classes and exams in the wake of this deadly attack.
I want to bring in CNN's chief law enforcement intelligence and analyst John Miller, with more on all of this. John, good to see you. Look, we've
just mentioned that officials released this person of interest due to, I'm guessing, lack of evidence. Give us a sense of what you're hearing on the
investigation front, first of all.
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, a lot of resources, Isa, went into the investigation into that person that
they had in custody yesterday until they had basically gathered enough evidence that pointed to disproving he had anything to do with it more than
proving, which led to his release.
Now, where they are right this minute is in reset mode, which is they're going back over leads that they had in their quiver that they're saying,
all right, which of these leads needs to be covered and which needs to be covered first? Then they're looking at new leads that have come in since
then. These are leads that came in today and overnight, doing the same kind of triage.
And the third piece is they are still scouring the neighborhood, trying to figure out which way this person, the shooter, this person dressed in
black, who they believe is the shooter, which way they went after the block where they got this one image. And can they get a better image?
Now, they have some other images that they think may be that individual, but none that are particularly useful. They're going to try to develop that
search outward until they have something where we can say, this is the person that we think is the shooter, and this is a better image, and
release that to the public.
SOARES: Yes, and I'm guessing, John, that with every minute that kind of passes, it makes it harder, right, for investigators. You know, you have a
gunman with a head start. Speak to the challenges here. And you're surprised there's only -- I mean, they're probably looking at further
images, but what does this tell us? You have one grainy image that we can see here. What does this tell us potentially?
MILLER: Well, it tells us that from an investigative standpoint, we're a little spoiled these days. I mean, if you look at the shooting that
happened in Washington, D.C., involving the National Guard, there was literally a camera every 10 feet capturing that from every angle. If you
look at the Charlie Kirk assassination, it was literally broadcast almost live, you know, over the Internet, and then crowdsourced pictures showed
the gunman.
[14:35:00]
If you look at the Luigi Mangione case with the UnitedHealthcare CEO, again, strung together bit by bit, an entire almost movie of every move
that the shooter made over time. In this case, you've got a very residential neighborhood coming out of that campus, cameras that apparently
weren't in a good position in that building to capture more than what we've seen, which is why they're expanding that search in every direction to see,
can we get something that the public could do more with in that, you know, going through those.
Now, they still have the forensics. They still have the tips they have. They still have other law enforcement agencies who are, you know, providing
tips and ideas too. One of those can pan out just the old-fashioned way, but in the meantime, they would really like to get a better image because
look at the amount of success we've seen when they put those out.
SOARES: Indeed, John. I know you stay across it for us. John Miller there for us in New York.
MILLER: Thanks.
SOARES: I want to return now to our top story this hour, and we'll take you, of course, to Australia, where thousands are mourning the victims of
the country's deadliest mass shooting in almost three decades. At least 15 people have been killed, and dozens more have been injured after a father
and son opened fire at Bondi Beach. Police shot and killed the father at the scene. His son remains in hospital.
The shooting happened at a celebration to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, that is the Jewish Festival of Light. Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese denounced the attack targeting the Jewish community as, quote, "an act of pure evil."
And the victims, as young as 10 years old and as old as 87, a Holocaust survivor. This mass shooting comes amid warnings of rising tide of anti-
Semitism in Australia. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry says more needs to be done to ensure the safety of Jewish people.
This is an especially sad day, of course, for Rabbi Dovid Lewis of South Manchester Synagogue in England. His cousin, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was
killed in the Bondi attack, and Rabbi Lewis joins me now.
Rabbi, thank you for coming on. And first and foremost, my condolences to you and to the Jewish community, of course, in Australia and beyond. Can I
just ask you how you're doing, how the Jewish community is holding up during this incredibly dark time right now?
RABBI DOVID LEWIS, COUSIN OF VICTIM RABBI ELI SCHLANGER AND SOUTH MANCHESTER SYNAGOGUE, ENGLAND: Thank you very much for those kind words.
And we are holding up because we're remembering not just Eli, but also all of those whose lives were tragically taken away. As you mentioned, as young
as a 10-year-old girl, as old as an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, Jews that were from France, from Slovakia, from Russia, all there in order to
celebrate a festival, that of Chanukah.
And the way we hold up in times as difficult as this is by keeping dear the message that Eli, Rabbi Schlanger, held so dear to him, which is to spread
the light of Judaism, to share it. He was asked a while ago how to combat the rise of antisemitism in Australia, and his words were, be more Jewish,
act more Jewish, be seen to be more Jewish. And the same goes with any act of racism. If you're being knocked down for who and what you are, the
response has always got to be, we double down. I'm proud to be Jewish, as anybody would be proud to be of their faith, of their religion.
And when members of my community who are coming along to prayers or just stopping in at the house to say, Rabbi, where do we go from here? And I say
to them, we don't go anywhere. We remain. We remain committed to our ideals. We remain committed to our faith. It's what Eli did. It's why he
gathered 2,000 people on Bondi Beach, in order that they could celebrate Festival of Light, being over in the Eastern Hemisphere. It was the one
that was going to usher in the Festival of Light, Chanukah, for Jews around the world. That's what he lived for. And we will not let that be what he
died for. It will be what he continues to live for and what he's remembered for.
SOARES: Rabbi, let me just pick up with something that you said, that Rabbi Eli Schlanger had spoken out about the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia.
Can you expand on that? Were the signs clearly there? Were the warnings just not heeded? What more has he said on this?
LEWIS: I try to steer away from politics. I do a lot of work with my local imam, and we speak about people, about communities, and we try to steer
away from politics.
[14:40:00]
But at times we do get asked the question, as men of faith and as Eli was, he was asked the question by leaders within the community, what do we do
with the rise of anti-Semitism? And he gave the rabbi's answer, not a political one. Is there a rise of anti-Semitism? Well, the facts speak for
themselves. The fact that 15 Jews were murdered, that over 40 were injured at an event that was just there to celebrate their religion. The fact that
you have marches going through on Bondi Beach itself, calling for the death and the gassing of Jews, that is anti-Semitism.
So, yes, there is a severe problem around the world, but there's also so much light. Wherever we turn, there are people of all faiths and none,
people knocking on my door, strangers, who come to my house and say, rabbi, we just want you to know that it wasn't done in our name. This is not what
we represent. It's not what humanity represents.
So, whilst there is definitely a rise in overt, unfortunately covert anti- Semitism as well, I believe with every fiber of my being that that is not the reality that we have to live with. The reality that we have to live
with and the reality that if necessary, we have to create is one where we combat all forms of racism, any type of prejudice by saying everyone
deserves to be able to live, to celebrate their faith, their religion, their identity in the way that they know best.
SOARES: Yes. And, Rabbi, you were talking amongst all this darkness, of course, there is humanity, there is light, and we're seeing that humanity,
we saw that humanity play out. I'm not sure if my producer can play the video for our viewers to see in the form of heroism, right, from this
bystander who has been hailed as a hero, tackling one of the gunmen, we know his name is Ahmed Al-Ahmed. He's 43 years of age. His parents are
refugee parents who just arrived from Syria, that speaks to the humanity, does it not, to what exactly what you are describing, such a dark moment,
there is humanity out there?
LEWIS: It most definitely does. I was in contact a lot yesterday with my local imam who reached out first to offer his condolences and to share in
with that pain. And during the day yesterday, as soon as we saw the photo and the images of Ahmed Al-Ahmed from Syria, my imam who I'm friendly with,
he's originally -- he's Syrian.
And I sent him this photo and I said, you know, there's going to be a lot of negative press out there. There's going to be a lot of photos of people
from your religion, I want to share with you this photo of a man identifying as a Muslim who ran towards the danger, who said, not in my
name. And he was injured because of it. He could have very easily have lost his life. And we need more of that.
It's not just words, we need actions. We need people to say, we'll stand up and make sure our voices are heard because the world is inherently filled
with good people. And it's our responsibility now from every continent, every corner of the world to turn around and say, what can we do to
increase light, to increase love, to make sure that the vision and the whole ethos of Rabbi Eli and the others that were there the other night,
their ethos of lighting a menorah, a Chanukah candle, which is there to represent a festival of light going back over 2,000 years of a small group
of Jews in the time of the Temple who said, we will not be browbeaten. We will proudly celebrate our faith. That's what he was doing. And that's what
we have to not just allow, but support everyone to be able to do.
SOARES: Very well put. We definitely need more Ahmeds. And we certainly, as viewers will tell by the news, we certainly need more light. Thank you very
much, Rabbi. I really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thank you.
LEWIS: Thank you.
SOARES: We're going to take a short break.
LEWIS: God bless.
SOARES: We're back after this. Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: Well, it seems Britain is bubbling. The English winery Domaine de Vermont has released its first vintage of English sparkling wine. Once
dismissed as a curiosity, English bubbly has become fashionable.
Laura Jackshon -- Jackson, pardon me, host of CNN's "Seasons" series, travels to Kent to meet the team during harvest and learns what it takes to
bring French champagne heritage to English soil.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAURA JACKSON, HOST, "SEASONS" (voice-over): Spread over 120 hectares, this is Domaine de Vermont, the English home of champagne house Taittinger.
Harvest is in full swing and it runs like clockwork under the watchful eye of vineyard director Christelle Rinville.
JACKSON: This is harvest week?
CHRISTELLE RINVILLE, VINEYARD DIRECTOR, CHAMPAGNE TAITTINGER: Yes.
JACKSON: Everything's done by hand?
RINVILLE: We whole race, pig race by hand.
JACKSON: OK.
RINVILLE: It's very important for us.
JACKSON (voice-over): The estate grows three different grape varieties all brought from France, just like Taittinger's expertise. Christelle leads the
operation with a passion that comes with nearly 30 years of experience and a work ethic to match.
RINVILLE: Now, it's time to work.
JACKSON: OK.
RINVILLE: Welcome.
JACKSON: I get a bottle of sparkling afterwards, right, for all my hard work?
RINVILLE: Yes.
JACKSON: OK. Excellent.
RINVILLE: Yes, yes. You need it. So --
JACKSON: I'm going to book it. What --
RINVILLE: So, take your secateurs and your baskets.
JACKSON: Yes. OK. Great. I think that seems quite simple.
RINVILLE: And be careful with your fingers.
JACKSON: OK. Ouch. I'm joking.
RINVILLE: No, no, no.
JACKSON: How many days do the pickers work for to get all of the grapes here?
RINVILLE: Between one week and 10 days.
JACKSON: It's so therapeutic.
JACKSON (voice-over): Taittinger, a house with almost three centuries of heritage, planted these vines in 2017, becoming the first champagne house
to bet on Britain for sparkling wine production. Company president, Vitalie Taittinger, is determined to honor the family's legacy while creating
something unique to this region.
VITALIE TAITTINGER, PRESIDENT, CHAMPAGNE TAITTINGER: The aim of the adventure was not to imitate Taittinger. You have indicant kind of same
composition of soil. You have a lot of chalk. You find a lot of flints. And this is the same in Champagne. That's why also we have chosen this place.
JACKSON (voice-over): Their timing proved to be crucial. With climate change reshaping growing conditions, vineyards have quadrupled here since
2000. And viticulture is now Britain's fastest growing agricultural sector.
PATRICK MCGRATH, CO-FOUNDER, DOMAINE EVREMOND: I've known what's going on in the English wine industry for a long time. And the fact that Taittinger
chose to get involved with us was fantastic news. I think good news for the English wine industry as well.
JACKSON (voice-over): As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.
JACKSON: Cheers.
MCGRATH Cheers.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And we're going to take a short break, but we will see you, of course, on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jim Lai has been found guilty of national security charges. The verdict was handed down at the close of a
two-year landmark trial, viewed as a sign of Hong Kong's shrinking freedoms under Chinese rule. Lai is one of the highest-profile critics of Beijing
and its influence. He was charged under a sweeping national security law imposed in the semi-autonomous city in 2020. Lai was found guilty on two
national security charges, as well as a lesser sedition charge. He could now be facing life in prison. We will, of course, stay across that story
for you.
Supporters took to the streets to celebrate after far-right hardliner Jose Antonio Kast won Chile's presidential election. Chile joins Ecuador, El
Salvador, Argentina and Bolivia in Latin America's shift to the right. Cast has been a consistent hardliner throughout his political career and ran on
a platform of cracking down on crime and immigration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSE ANTONIO KAST, CHILEAN PRESIDENT-ELECT (through translator): We will tirelessly work to recover calm, order, growth and hope because Chile has
demanded something that doesn't admit excuses. Chile wants a change.
Some say you have easy solutions for everything. No, it's very difficult, but I want to make clear it will not be quick. We have a harsh year ahead,
very harsh, as the finances are not good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: On today's show, you've been with us for the last 50 minutes or so, we have spent time reporting on the horrific and brutal killing of 15
people killed at Australia's Bondi Beach. Now, in the last minutes of our show, I do want to take a second just to bring you some of the remarkable
moments of humanity we've also witnessed amidst this horrific tragedy.
This video you may have already seen, but let me show it to you again. It is the moment that Ahmed al-Ahmed, the son of Syrian refugees, ran towards
one of the shooters, tackled him as you saw them, and wrestled the gun from him. Just the bravery. His actions are believed to have saved multiple
lives. And he's now recovering in hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Ahmed's parents had arrived in Australia just shortly before the shooting, and his father had this to say about his son's bravery. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMED FATEH AL AHMED (through translator): My son is a hero, he served with police and he has the impulse to protect people.
[14:55:00]
When he saw these people on the ground covered in blood his conscience and morals compelled him to attack on of the terrorists and take away his
weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: It's wonderful to hear from his father. Well, more than 40,000 people right across Australia have booked appointments to give blood today,
as you see there. It is the biggest community response since the 2009 bushfires, and that is according to the Australian Red Cross. One woman
queuing to the NATO reporters, she felt it was the most minuscule thing she could do.
And vigils are continuing to be held right around the world, like this one. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: This was at Bondi Beach, where mourners gathered to pay their respects to the victims and join together in solidarity. An important
reminder that even in times of despair, there are still so many acts of courage and compassion.
Thank you for your company. Thanks for watching. And do stay right here, "What We Know" with Max Foster is up next. I shall see you tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
