[Wolf Blitzer:] Happening now, massacre and manhunt. Terrorists storm a museum and slaughter 19 people, most of them tourists. Two gunmen are killed. The search is now underway for three others. Kennedy targeted she's the daughter of JFK and the U.S. ambassador to Japan. Threats to her life are reported on the same day that the first lady, Michelle Obama, arrives in the country. Pleading not guilty a U.S. Air Force veteran accused of trying to help ISIS answers the charges against him. But does the evidence presented in court tell a different story? And ISIS recruiter to millions, he's a symbol of evil, the iconic killer of ISIS shown in videos beheading hostages. But why do some young people see Jihadi John as a hero and a reason to join the terror group? I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in
[The Situation Room. Announcer:] This is CNN breaking news.
[Blitzer:] Let's get right to the breaking news. An urgent manhunt is underway for the gunmen who attacked a museum killing 19 people in Tunisia's capital. Seventeen of the victims were foreign tourists. Thousands of cruise ship passengers were in the city of Tunis at the time. Security forces killed two attackers, described by the interior minister as Islamists. The search is now underway for three others. While Tunisia is a moderate nation and the first country where the Arab Spring took hold, it may also have provided more foreign fighters to ISIS than any other country. I'll talk to Senator Corey Gardner of the Foreign Relations Committee. That's coming up. And our correspondents and analysts, they're all standing by with full coverage. But let's begin with our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr Barbara.
[Barbara Starr, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf, this lovely North African capital, the city the site of bloodshed earlier today, when gunmen opened up in a complex that involves both the parliament and this major museum in downtown Tunis. Seventeen people 19 people killed, 22 wounded. The hunt for additional gunmen is on. It was brutal and it was sudden. Tourists, some of them were getting off buses to visit the museum when they were hit with this hail of gunfire. Fighting broke out. You see pictures of people on the run as security forces rushed to try to bring them to safety. It was what could only be described as a very deadly, very brutal scene. The question now, who was behind it all? And, of course, the finger of suspicion does point, potentially we do not know for sure it points potentially to ISIS. ISIS adherents in Tunisia have been pledging their loyalty to the organization. There's been an awful lot of social media chatter about ISIS extending its reach. We know that they're are they are extending their reach across North Africa into Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. So there is a lot of concern tonight that ISIS has now opened up a new front in Tunisia and that this is another country with a very fragile government where ISIS may try to take hold Wolf.
[Blitzer:] And amidst all of this, Barbara, we're also hearing of new threats against U.S. embassies in that part of the world.
[Starr:] Across the region, Wolf, in North Africa. In the Horn of Africa the nation of Djibouti, the U.S. Embassy there saying that they have a threat stream, closing the embassy to consular services. Basically, the public not allowed in. And across the way in Saudi Arabia now, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and other U.S. facilities, diplomatic facilities across the country closed for several days now. Again, a threat stream that they say that is causing them to shut these areas down for consular services. They are not giving very much in the way of specifics. But let's be clear, Wolf, the State Department doesn't shut things down for no reason Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Yes. And it follows the complete shut down of the U.S. embassies in Somalia, in Libya, in Yemen, certainly in Syria, as well. So these U.S. embassies, they're being shut down across the region. Barbara, thanks very much. As the United States steps up security at some of its embassies, there are now reports of death threats death threats directed at Caroline Kennedy, the United States ambassador to Japan, the daughter of John F. Kennedy. Word of the threat comes on the same day that the first lady, Michelle Obama, arrives in Japan. And the reports follow the recent stabbing of another U.S. ambassador. Let's go to our senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta. He has much more Jim.
[Jim Acosta, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf, it's a very sensitive matter. So the State Department, of course, is saying very little about these reported threats to one of the administration's highest profile ambassadors, Caroline Kennedy in Japan. But these concerns for Kennedy's safety come as the first lady, as you mentioned, is just arriving in Tokyo for an overseas trip. She's due to meet with Kennedy. The State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said the reported phone-in threats to Kennedy and another American diplomat in Okinawa last month have not prompted changes to the security posture at the U.S. Embassy in Japan. That is, despite the fact that First Lady Michelle Obama just landed in Tokyo. And keep in mind, former president Bill Clinton was just in Tokyo yesterday, appearing alongside Kennedy before delivering a speech on her father's legacy, which, of course, was cut short a half century ago. But the State Department says it is making sure that the right precautions are in place.
[Jen Psaki, State Department Spokeswoman:] We take any threats to U.S. diplomats seriously. We take every step possible to protect our personnel. We are working with the Japanese government to ensure that necessary security measures are in place, which is something we would do and continue to do around the world. We're not going to comment on the specific details of any threats or steps we take to address them.
[Acosta:] And diplomatic personnel in Asia, they're already on edge after that knife attack on the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, who's awaiting a security report on that incident. And as for that apparent threat to Ambassador Kennedy, Japanese media reports are saying that it was phoned in by an English speaking man. But, Wolf, authorities at this point, either they don't know or they're not saying at this point who that person could be Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Yes, very worrisome developments. And a lot of us are worried about copycats...
[Acosta:] That's right.
[Blitzer:] especially in the aftermath of that attack, that stabbing attack against the U.S. ambassador, Mark Lippert, in Seoul, South Korea. Apparently he was only accompanied by one unarmed security guard at that time. Very disturbing developments, indeed. Jim Acosta, thank you. It's been a year since Russia grabbed the strategic Crimean Peninsula away from Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin of Russia has thrown a party to celebrate. But he's also doing some military chest- pounding in another hot spot, as NATO intercepts Russian aircraft. Let's go live to our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance He's joining us from Moscow Matthew.
[Matthew Chance, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf, thanks very much. Well, the relationship with Russia just continues to deteriorate. More saber rattling, as Russian war planes are intercepted in international air space, but as they approach NATO air space. Also, tension in the north, as well, as Russia places its Arctic Fleet on high alert for maneuvers, forty thousand troops involved in that. In response, the NATO maneuvers across the border in Norway. All this happening as Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, celebrates a year since Crimea, that Ukrainian territory, was annexed. And tens of thousands of Russians were in Moscow today joining him in those celebrations.
[Chance:] There was music and dancing and Vladimir Putin on a jumbo screen near Red Square. This to mark the one year anniversary since Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine a land grab that redrew Europe's map and shattered ties with the West. [on camera]: Well, the annexation of Crimea was extremely popular. And this whole event has turned into a celebration of Russian nationalism. The opinion polls say the country is fully behind the decision to annex Crimea and only a tiny minority believe that it would be justified to ever consider giving it back. [voice-over]: But at the same time, on Wednesday, NATO jets were scrambled to intercept a number of Russian military aircraft as they neared Latvian air space. Latvia, a tiny Baltic nation where U.S. troops and equipment just arrived for NATO training and where fears are growing about Putin's next move.
[Maj. Gen. John O'connor, U.s. Army:] Now we're going to demonstrate that same resolve, as we lean forward and demonstrate to Russia and to Putin that we are not broken in our efforts to stand together through this type of aggression.
[Chance:] But Putin has been flexing Russia's military might. Russia's Northern Fleet has been placed on full combat alert for Arctic exercises involving nearly 40,000 troops and 50 warships, rattling nerves in some NATO states.
[Unidentified Male:] They're nervous in Poland, but particularly in the Baltic states, especially Estonia and Latvia. And that goes back to, for a number of years, the Kremlin has talked about this right that Russia has to defend ethnic Russians or Russian speakers wherever they're located and whatever their citizenship.
[Chance:] The U.S. Army says it will soon be sending armored Stryker vehicles on an 1,100 mile convoy through six European countries to show solidarity with NATO allies. And Washington is sending a strong message to Moscow.
[Ashton Carter, Secretary Of Defense:] We just want to make the point that as far as NATO allies are concerned, that raises a whole other set of issues that I hope anyone who is considering encroaching upon a NATO ally takes seriously.
[Chance:] Well, there are already U.S. and European sanctions, of course, on Russia over its actions in Crimea and elsewhere in Ukraine, as well. Tomorrow, European leaders are going to be meeting to discuss what else they can do, what next Steps they can take to get Russia to change its course Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Matthew Chance in Moscow, thanks very much. Let's get some more now. Joining us, Senator Corey Gardner. He's the freshman Republican from Colorado. He's a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Thanks so much, Senator, for joining us. Let's talk about what's going on over there. Russian military jets, they were intercepted near Latvian air space. Latvia, of course, a member of NATO. U.S. troops had just arrived there for NATO training. What is going on? Is this a direct threat from Putin?
[Sen. Corey Gardner , Colorado:] Well, again, I think we have to make it very clear that the illegal annexation that occurred a year ago, of Crimea will never be accepted by the international community. This is a violation of international law. What we have to do at this moment is make sure that we are reassuring our NATO allies that we are standing strong behind our commitments. Our European partnership and NATO allies need to know we are there fully committed to our NATO alliance.
[Blitzer:] So far, it's been a year and certainly, the Russians under Putin have no inclination to withdraw from Crimea. Is that going to be a fait accompli, if you will?
[Gardner:] No. This is, again, an illegal act. It was an illegal annexation under international law. The communities around the world will not accept this. But I think in hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hearing from President Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia who was acting as President Poroshenko's spokesperson around the globe as this crisis goes on, we hear from him the need for the United States to encourage and increase its commitment to speed the deployment of lethal and non-lethal assistance. And our conversations with Victoria Nuland and others to make sure that we are doing everything we can to live up to the promises that we have made to the people of Ukraine. The people of Ukraine, who have alerted us that they believe there are right now 10,000 Russian fighters still in Eastern Ukraine. And obviously, still supplying heavy weaponry to rebels.
[Blitzer:] Victoria Nuland, the assistant secretary of State for European Affairs. So what does Putin ultimately want? What is he up to right now?
[Gardner:] Well, I think he's right now flexing his muscle. He's testing the temperament of the United States and the allies that we have in NATO to see what he can get away with. And I think we have to send a very strong message that we will not accept this. This is something that the international community will not stand for. But along those lines, I think we have to do our part in stepping up what we have committed to do. Talking to various Department of Defense officials, talking to the State Department, understanding what it would take when we send the assistance that we have promised under legislation that we have agreed to, the length of time that it would take to train and provide training to Ukrainian forces to utilize that equipment, that's something that can no longer wait. And the longer we wait, according to people like President Saakashvili, the more serious the situation becomes and the further into the
[Blitzer:] A lot of nervousness going on right now in Eastern Europe. Senator, please stand by. We have much more to talk about, including ISIS. Was ISIS behind the massacre in Tunis today? Much more with the Senator Corey Gardner, when we come back.