Report: Tsarnaev Admits to Detonating Marathon Bombs
The Boston Marathon bombing suspect currently hospitalized admitted to FBI agents that he and his brother detonated the bombs planted near the finish line, the Boston Globe reports. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, made the reported admission on Sunday from his bed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and had not yet been given a Miranda warning, the Globe reported. A “senior police official” told the Globe that authorities were not concerned about Tsarnaev not being read his Miranda rights, which means any statements he made would not be admissible in court, due to testimony of the Tsarnaev brother’s alleged carjacking victim. According to the criminal complaint filed against Tsarnaev, during the carjacking on Thursday night one of the brothers pointed a firearm at the victim and said, “Did you hear about the Boston explosion?” and “I did that.” U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz previously said that Tsarnaev was not read his Miranda rights when taken into custody due to a public safety exemption in cases of national security and acts of terrorism. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday that Tsarnaev will be tried in civilian court and not treated as an Enemy Combatant. Carney noted that Tsarnaev is a naturalized American citizen and thus cannot be tried in front of a military tribunal, as an enemy combatant would. Tsarnaev is charged with unlawfully using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction (namely, an improvised explosive device) against persons and property within the United States. He is also charged with maliciously damaging and destroying, by means of explosive, real and personal property used in interstate and foreign commerce and actively affecting interstate and foreign commerce resulting in personal injury and death. His brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed when he was run over by his brother, suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a lengthy battle with law enforcement early Friday morning. Read the full Boston Globe report on boston.com. South End Patch
FBI: Forensic Evidence Recovered From Bombs Used in Marathon Attack
The FBI has recovered several pieces of forensic evidence from Monday’s attacks at the Boston Marathon, officials said on Tuesday night, but said they still have no suspects and no one has yet claimed responsibility. FBI Special Agent Rick DesLauriers said the forensic evidence found at the scene of the blasts on Boylston Street included potential pieces of a pressure cooker device with BB gun bullets, nails and possibly gunpowder, stuffed into a black nylon backpack. Debris and evidence were found inside stores and along rooftops of buildings in the area, officials said. “That gives you an idea of the power of the blast,” said Special Agent Gene Marquez of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The evidence has been expedited to a lab in Virginia for processing. Officials said those at the scene should contact them if they saw anyone with a heavy black backpack in the area before the blasts occurred, and to note if any friends or family had spoken of an attack on April 15 or that they were targeting the marathon. Police said there might have been “test” bombs blown up prior to the event, and want to know of any other explosions that may have happened in the area prior to Monday. “The person who did this was someone’s friend, neighbor or co-worker,” DesLauriers said. DesLauriers said the FBI has received more than 2,000 tips from the public thus far, but they still need more to piece together a “meticulous” investigation, and the investigation is “still in its infancy.” Businesses with security cameras are asked to turn in their security footage from the area. “We’re literally going over the crime scene with a fine tooth comb,” said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. “There is not a rush to any end.” South End Patch