abc's senior justice correspondent pierre thomas on the concern here at home. >> reporter: tonight, those hef life armed police officers on guard at christmas markets in new york city. authorities enhancing already broad security, even though they have no evidence of a specific plot. for weeks, fbi and homeland security officials have been warning about the potential of large trucks attacking big crowds during the holiday season. issuing this bull ton, warning that "holiday celebrations lasting through the inauguration could be targeted." >> it takes no special training and, let's face it, there are a lot of crowds out there. >> reporter: the nypd using unprecedented security measures at the thanksgiving parade after that isis threat, filling sanitation trucks with sand to protect against truck attacks. >> and pierre thomas with us authorities not only here in new york city, but across this country on heightened alert tonight. >> reporter: david, they're taking no chances. and you recall, just a few weeks ago, a suspected isis sympathizer tried to run over students at ohio state universit

abc's pierre thomas has the details. >> reporter: it started as a police stop about a stolen car. officer asking the suspect to show his hands then shots fired. >> oh. i'm shot. >> reporter: in a split second an apparently calm suspect firing away. >> oh. >> reporter: captain michael showman is shot under the arm. within seconds his partner jeffrey martin is shot in the hand. but still trying to help his colleague out of harm's way. >> even after jeffrey got shot he's getting michael and pulling him to the car to get him to the hospital. >> reporter: shulman worried he might die. >> i can't -- i can't move. >> reporter: monday's shooting capping a violent week in which half a dozen georgia police officers have been shot. two killed. that suspect in georgia has been caught and charged with attempted murder. pierre thomas, abc news, washington. >>> and check out this dra the make video out of china where firefighters saved a man who was about to jump from the rooftop of a 30-story building. the man had threatened to commit suicide due to relationship problems while hitting himself w

>> pierre thomas tonight. president-elect donald trump, and the hike tech summit at trump tower today. industry executives sitting down with the president-elect today. some of them had publicly supported hillary clinton. tonight, what the president-elect told them in that room, as he also defends his pick for secretary of state, and this evening, how russian tv is now responding to mr. trump's choice of rex tillerson. here's abc's tom llamas. >> reporter: today, trump tower turning into silicon valley. the president-elect summoning the leaders of amazon, google, facebook, paypal and apple. some of whom publicly supported hillary clinton. >> we're going to be there for you, you'll call my people, you'll call me, it doesn't make any difference. we have no formal chain of command around here. >> reporter: but as trump welcomed industry leaders, he's also defending his pick for secretary of state, tillerson, amid charges that he's too tight with russian president vladimir putin. >> rex is friendly with leaders in

>> pierre thomas tonight, thank you. >>> to mexico this evening. the death toll rising from that devastating fireworks explosion. at least 35 people now killed in that blast at a market outside mexico city. some of the youngest of victims who did survive are now being treated at a burn center in texas. investigators now focusing on whether safety violations may be to blame for that explosion this week. >>> there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this thursday. the holiday health concern involving your heart. the new study out tonight with findings about what happens between christmas and new year's. >>> also tonight, the deadly dresser concerns. three young children killed by falling furniture. the massive settlement just announced, and you will see the test results right here after the break. >>> also, the device exmroegd on the city bus. now raising new questions about the batteries inside these devices. >>> and the duke drama tonight. the star player tripping an opponent. a tantrum on the sideline, and this evening, coach k taking

pierre thomas has next. >> reporter: police received calls about a man with an assault rifle. >> they said did you see the guys, he had a big gun. >> reporter: the suspect aimed the rifle in the direction of an employee, firing three shots. after 35 minutes. the restaurant by police and arrested. it's a conspiracy known as pizza gate. there's a false story of child abuse, linking hillary clinton, her campaign managers john podesta and the opener. the owner said he's been besieged by death wishes since the fake story >> what happens today demands that promoting false theories you come with consequences. >> it was found during the election that fake stories outperformed real ones. he surrendered after he realized no children were harmed. the shooting shows how a fake news story can lead to a real-life-threatening situation. >>> a big set back for canadian pennsylvania said damaging testimony in a previous lawsuit can be used. sidney crosby acknowledged that he had given young women drugs and alcohol. >> this weekend's nobel prize banquet will not be attended by bob dylan. he has been si

pierre thomas, abc news, washington. transition team had been involved in retweeting some fake news stories, this one was retweeted by the son of mike flynn, he's now been selected to serve as national security adviser. so his son, not flynn, his son, tweeted about the pizza-gate conspiracy theories, that is not connected to what this man does, but there have been some questions about retweeting fake news stories. >> there's been so much about the threat of fake news, in terms of keeping the public informed, but in this case, physical threat. >> very scary. >>> coming up, she's back, aunt barbara is here with tupperware tips that are going to make you smile. my cancer started as ovarian cancer and it kept coming back in different places. we went from everything being fine to everything not being fine. i really needed someone who could think outside the box. we did the genomic testing pretty early in christine's course. with our treatments we've had great success for her. there's an atmosphere of hope. i want to be around

abc's pierre thomas with >> reporter: heavily armed police officers on guard at markets in new york city. authorities enhancing already broad security although there's no evidence of a specific plot. for weeks, fbi and homeland security officials have been warning about potential of large trucks attacking big crowds during the holiday season issuing this bulletin warning that holiday celebrations lasting through the inauguration could be targeted. >> it takes no special training, and let's face it, there's a lot of crowds out there. it's very difficult to defend against. >> reporter: the nypd using unprecedented security measures at this thanksgiving day parade after the isis threat, filling trucks with sand to protect against truck attacks. authorities across the united states taking no chance, and for good reason, just a few weeks ago, a suspected isis sympathizer tried to run over students at ohio state university. abc news, washington. >>> and here at home, it is official, donald trump is the presidt- electoral college has officially voted. despite protests in many state capitals whe

here's pierre thomas. >> reporter: police descended on the family-friendly pizzeria after frantic calls about a man inside with an assault rifle. >> one of the hosts runs up and was like, "did you see that guy? he had a big gun." suspect aimed the rifle at an employee, and then fired a shot into the floor. after 45 minutes, 28-year-old edgar welch, was talked out of the restaurant by police yesterday afternoon. police say 28-year-old edgar welch drove six hours to washington from salisbury, north carolina, to "self-investigate" a conspiracy known online as pizzagate. it's an utterly false story about child abuse here at this restaurant, linking the names of hillary clinton, her campaign manager john podesta, and the owner, an egregious and deliberate lie. the owner says he and his employees have been besieged by death threats since the fake news story spread on social media before the election. >> what happened today demonstrates that promoting false and reckless conspiracy theories do come with consequences. >> reporter: one study found that during the election, fake news stories could

here's pierre thomas. >> reporter: tonight, police warning that isis is calling on sympathizers to attack churches over the holiday. while the bulletin makes clear authorities have not identified any specific plot against any specific church, but the list provides them with possible target ideas. >> people inspired by terrorist ideologies, but operate independent of a terrorist organization. >> pierre, what are they reacting to here? >> reporter: isis using social media to put out a hit list of churches to attack. and everyone is on high alert, given what just happened in germany. >>> and donald trump's tweet igniting an uproar. today, suggesting he is in favor of a new arms race. also sharing a very nice christmas letter from vladimir putin. here's mary bruce. >> reporter: today, the president-elect teeing off with tiger woods, leaving the world to wonder whether he is reigniting a nuclear arms race. it seemed to start with this. vladimir putin vowing thursday to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces." hours later, trump took it up a notch. tweeting, "the united

abc's pierre thomas has more. >> reporter: police responded to the home after an >> why does your room smell like chemicals? >> chemicals? >> reporter: the report of a disturbing chemical smell was just the start. >> do you carry a knife in the pocket like that? >> reporter: within seconds, a fight erupts. authorities are investigating whether the chemicals found are explosives. >> you look around the world, see what happened in germany, we treat this as a potential terrorist. >> reporter: sources say he has a criminal record may have mental health issues, but he allegedly said things to his mother suggesting he was at least thinking about isis. >> mom made statements to detectives that when he gets mad, he says things to her, like, i'm a terrorist, i'm going to isis. >> reporter: while no terror ties have been found, authorities say the suspect had, quote, the potential to do bad things. abc news, washington. >>> police are searching for two suspects involved in the driver in florida. the driver was held hostage for 11 hours, and forced to chauffeur captors in a crime spree. they used

here's pierre thomas. >> reporter: tonight, fbi and homeland security officials are warning police that isis is calling on sympathizers to attack churches over the holidays here at home. publishing the addresses and names of thousands of churches on social media. while the bulletin makes clear authorities have not identified any specific plot aimed at any specific church, but it points out the list provides extremists with possible target ideas. >> one of the biggest threats comes from people inspired by terrorist ideologies, but operate independent of a terrorist organization. >> pierre, if this is not a specific plot, what are they reacting to? >> reporter: they're responding to isis using social media to put out a hit list of churches to attack. and everyone is on high alert, given what just happened in germany. >> pierre, thank you. >>> and next to president-elect donald trump. his nuclear proclamations via twitter igniting an uproar. today, suggesting a new arms race. boasting the u.s. would outmatch any rivals. also sharing a very nice christmas letter from vladimir putin. here's

let's bring in pierre thomas and, pierre, so specific this threat, an attack supposed to happen todaynd set off a real scramble among federal authorities. >> reporter: george, it's been an intense 4 hours, as u.s. law enforcement agencies debated how to handle this threat. george, my sources told me they simply ran out of time. that this threat was imminent. not enough time to discount or confirm the threat. so despite the skepticism of some officials, my sources said they had no choice but to warn those commuters. >> there's always so much concern around the holiday season. >> reporter: george, none of this happens in a vacuum. this is an intense moment for law enforcement. we're in the midst of the holiday season that they know al qaeda and isis would like to hit. and there's a backdrop of recent history with the one-year anniversary of the san bernardino massacre and attempted bombing in new york city over the summer and last week a man possibly inspired by isis tried to run over and stab people on the campus of ohio state university. intense times, george. >> cannot be too careful

abc's pierre thomas has the details. >> reporter: police descended on the family-friendly pizzeria after frantic calls about a man inside with an assault rifle. >> one of the hosts said, did you see that guy, he had a big gun? >> reporter: authorities say the suspect, seen here in a facebook posting, aimed the direction of after 45 minutes, 28-year-old edgar welsh was talked out of the restaurant by police and arrested yesterday afternoon. police say welsh drove six hours from salisbury, north carolina, to self-investigate a conspiracy known on line as pizza gate. it's a story about child abuse, at this restaurant, mentioning jon podesta, hillary clinton, it's an egregious and lie. the owner said he and his employees have been besieged by death threats. >> what happens today is that false and reckless conspiracy theories come with consequences. >> reporter: one study found that during the election, fake news stories could out-perform real ones, with millions reading them. authorities say the suspect surrendered after he realized no children were being harmed here. but the shooting incide

pierre thomas, abc news, washington. >> there was a lot of talk that some people on donald trump's transition team had been involved in retweeting some fake news stories, this one was retweeted by the son of mike flynn, he's now been selected to serve as national security adviser. so his son, not flynn, his son, tweeted about the pizza-gate conspiracy theories, that is not connected to what this man does, but there have been some questions about retweeting fake news stories. >> there's been so much about the threat of fake news, in terms of keeping the public informed, but in this case, bizarre to see it lead to a physical threat. >> very scary. >>> coming up, she's back, aunt barbara is here with tupperware tips that are going to make you smile. ♪ ♪ >>> the holidays are now upon us. the host or hostess in each one of us kicks into high gear this time of year, but holiday food preparation and storage doesn't necessarily have to be a drag. it can actually be a cinch to store that year-old fruit cake, if you know what i'm saying. joining us now, the queen of tupperware, aunt barbara. good morni

. >>> to pick up on what he was saying to washington and abc's senior justice correspondent pierre thomas. pierre, matt raised this issue. how is this suspect able to travel so widely even while the subject of a multinational manhunt? >> reporter: good morning, dan. we can't rule out amri had an escape plan to get out of the country immediately after the rampage. it did take some time for german authorities to discover his i.d. or at least make it known to the public. here's where the germans have questions to answer. why didn't they shut down borders quickly after the massacre and we know that amri had already been identified as a terrorism suspect as a threat before the attack. how is someone like that allowed to move so freely, dan? >> they have big questions to answer, no question about that. let's move to australia now, though, where police say they foiled a major terror attack that was planned for christmas day. what are we learning about in this morning? >> reporter: dan, yet more evidence that the isis worldwide call for attacks targeting christmas is indeed being heeded. australi

stabbed a police officer at a south carolina walmart overnight and our chief justice correspondent pierre thomas is tracking the search. good morning, pierre. >> reporter: good morning, george. police believe this convict is armed and dangerous, and they are asking the public for help in finding him. this morning a massive manhunt for an escaped inmate serving life in prison. 47-year-old michael allen williamson slipped out of the mccormick correctional institution in south carolina at 8:50 p.m. police believe an hour later's after that, a female officer at this walmart. pictured on surveillance camera before the stabbing. >> she continued to pursue the suspect to get him off the street. >> reporter: the officer had ll.n responding to a shoplifting authorities believe williamson may have escaped in a food he was sentenced to life in prison in 1997 for armed robbery. authorities believe he received several disciplinary actions involving drug and smuggling contraband. >> we really need your help. unfortunately, these things happen and we'll pursue this person and bring him to discuss 'tis. >> repo

our senior justice correspondent pierre thomas is there in washington and has the details. good morning, pierre. >> reporter: this case shows how fake news can lead to a dangerous situation. edgar welch has been arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. police say that welsh told them he showed up at the d.c. pizza restaurant to get to the bottom of what appears to be an utterly bogus story about child abuse promoted on the internet. how scary was the situation? he allegedly pointed the gun and fired the weapon inside the restaurant. the origin of this crazy story was a posting on wikileaks involving clinton campaign diskidis discussing a fund-raiser with the owner of the restaurant. lies becoming dangerous, george? >> thanks very much, pierre. >>> we move to north dakota. the army's big decision to block a controversial route for the dakota pipeline. the protesters celebrated the decision, but the relief may not last long. the incoming trump administration signaling it may move to reverse the decision. t.j. holmes has the latest. anding rock.e sioux tribe a

senior justice koernd pierre thomas is there in washington and has the details. >> reporter: this case shows how fake news can lead to a dangerous situation. edgar welch has been and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. he showed up at the d.c. pizza restaurant to get to the bottom of what appears to be an utterly bogus story about child abuse promoted on the internet. he alemedly pointed the gun and fired the weapon inside the restaurant. the origin of this crazy story was a posting on wikileaks discussing a fund-raiser. lice becoming dangerous, george? >>> we move to north dakota. the army's big decision to block a controversy route for the dakota pipeline. the relief may not last long. the incoming trump administration signaling it may move to reverse the decision. t.j. holmes has the latest. >> reporter: overnight, a major victory for the rock. they made the decision to halt to explore alternate routes. >> i guess we made it. >> reporter: thousands have taken up on the site. the project would stretch aid cross four states and transport 470,000 barrels a day. intense. >> we

seeing increased police presence in major cities so right to our senior justice correspondent pierre thomasn washington with the latest on that. good morning to you, pierre. >> reporter: good morning, amy. the concern is that it's 48 hours out and no firm suspect is in custody in germany. the key is whether the germans have identified anyone. do they have names or are they flying blind. also interesting they have not released any surveillance footage that might help the public assist in the manhunt. we don't know who did this even though isis is claiming responsibility. i was talking to a senior u.s. official and warned even if isis did inspire this on social media they may have no idea who did it. that shows you just how dangerous the situation is. if radicals are acting without any direct support from the group, my sources say it's sobering. a reminder this truck threat is real and ongoing. >> the threat is real but give us perspective. what do authorities believe? how great is that threat right here in the u.s. where something similar could happen here? >> great, amy. in a bulletin issue

abc's senior justice correspondent pierre thomas is in washington with more on the manhunt and the threat here at home. good morning, pierre. >> reporter: good morning, amy. german authorities clearly considered amri a suspected islamic radical before the attack and being told germans shared some of this intelligence security officials. of particular interest whether he can be tied in any way to isis, there's an urgent investigation under way in germany to determine if he was part of a cell or if he has a support network helping him hide right now. this is a tense moment for law enforcement worldwide especially throughout the holiday season with concern that so-called lone wolves or people inspired by isis might attack on short notice. although no specific plot has been identified, everyone here is on alert, amy. >> speaking to that authorities here in the u.s. put out a security bulletin. >> laying out security concerns for the big celebrations in times square on new year's eve. again, no specific threat has been identified, but this bulletin mentions what just happened in germany. it al