Terrorist attack at Boston Marathon

[Archaic]

Videos of suspect's capture

Here's the video I mentioned in the post above, where cops describe he capture: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...speak-out.html,

And one showing them lobbing flash-bang stun grenades at him prior to his surrender: http://gma.yahoo.com/video-dzokhar-t...opstories.html

Archaic

[Archaic]

Just found this- there are some pictures circulating right now that I would really like a better understanding of that show law enforcement officers at the scene of Dzhokhar's capture examining the boat, in which the boat appears to be riddled with bullet holes. In the picture already posted here of Dzhokhar standing up and climbing out of the boat that is not apparent, but maybe it's just bad lighting. I don't think these pictures are fake- just do a Google image search of "bullet riddled boat" and it's the first thing that comes up. I don't know how Dzhokhar could have survived such a bombardment, but it does make it look like the police tried to kill him before they decided to take him alive. For what it's worth. I'm just pointing this out, not placing any judgement on it.

He Kensei.

In all the reports that I have read, the suspect did at some point sit up and fire his gun at the police, and they fired back. Maybe he laid back down to escape the return fire.

My guess is that they wanted to take him alive so he could be questioned as to further links- because obviously they could have had a SWAT team sniper in the helicopter flying overhead (that took the thermal pics of him lying in the boat) or positioned on the upper floor of one of the surrounding houses, and they could have just picked him off.

I don't know if the 'flash-bang' grenades meant to scare, stun & disorient him would have caused any damage to the boat...I believe they're just a very loud powder charge without a projectile.

I read & watched video of an interview with the Boston Transit cops that actually took him into custody. They said the suspect was sitting up on the edge of the boat, seemingly woozy from blood loss, and they were trying to see if he had explosives strapped to his chest. They weren't sure if he was attempting to surrender or about to detonate another bomb.

They ordered him to show his hands. He seemed to have difficulty complying, again due to weakness. The second he had showed each hand and they appeared to be empty, the officers rushed in, grabbed him, got him on the ground, and immediately turned him over to the medics. That's when the famous pic of the suspect on the ground in an oxygen mask was taken. If I come across that video interview again I'll post it.

I think the reason you cant see bullet holes in that pic of him seated on the edge of the boat is just that the police night-vision lights washed them out. I have read comments from others who said the bullet holes are visible. Certainly the shrink-wrapped boat cover was already torn open by the robotic arm of the police vehicle.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Archaic]

Missing Student Falsely Accused As Bomber Found Dead In River

This is so sad... I hope to God it's not Sunil, but police believe it is.

If it is him, I hope to God this poor kid died before the Boston Marathon bombings and never knew he was falsely accused of being the bomber.

My heart goes out to his family and friends, who tried so hard to find him and bring him home.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313870/Sunil-Tripathi-Police-body-missing-college-student-falsely-accused-Boston-Marathon-bomber-internet-sleuths.html

Best regards,
Archaic

[RivkahChaya]

Can I get away with mentioning a couple of things that have been brought up in various sources that the mainstream considers "conspiracy theory"? They are just things that make me raise my eyebrows a bit.

The first thing is that the older brother Tamerlan was interviewed by the FBI five years ago and suspected then of having terrorist ties. He would have been tracked since then, and been on watch lists. His associates would have been known, and especially his family members. Point being, the FBI knew who the brothers were well before the bombing. And yet, post-bombing, when their photos were first released to the public it was as "Persons of interest- can you help us identify these people?"

Well, first of all, the Boston police may not have been aware of them, just because the FBI was, and as far as the FBI is concerned, having dossiers on them is not the same thing as recognizing their faces. The posters you are referring to are from security videos taken around the area of the bomb site of two people who were suspects because of the backpacks they were wearing. An awful lot of people work for the FBI. The people assigned to the Boston case will not necessarily be people who know the suspects by sight because they have previously interviewed them.

[RivkahChaya]

Just found this- there are some pictures circulating right now that I would really like a better understanding of that show law enforcement officers at the scene of Dzhokhar's capture examining the boat, in which the boat appears to be riddled with bullet holes. In the picture already posted here of Dzhokhar standing up and climbing out of the boat that is not apparent, but maybe it's just bad lighting. I don't think these pictures are fake- just do a Google image search of "bullet riddled boat" and it's the first thing that comes up. I don't know how Dzhokhar could have survived such a bombardment, but it does make it look like the police tried to kill him before they decided to take him alive. For what it's worth. I'm just pointing this out, not placing any judgement on it.

Those don't look like penetrating holes. They could be hailstone damage. I can't find an article where there's anything other than speculation that they are bullet holes. Earlier reports said that the boat owner found the suspect hiding in the boat already bleeding, so he already wounded when the police came for him.

[kensei]

Just found this- there are some pictures circulating right now that I would really like a better understanding of that show law enforcement officers at the scene of Dzhokhar's capture examining the boat, in which the boat appears to be riddled with bullet holes. In the picture already posted here of Dzhokhar standing up and climbing out of the boat that is not apparent, but maybe it's just bad lighting. I don't think these pictures are fake- just do a Google image search of "bullet riddled boat" and it's the first thing that comes up. I don't know how Dzhokhar could have survived such a bombardment, but it does make it look like the police tried to kill him before they decided to take him alive. For what it's worth. I'm just pointing this out, not placing any judgement on it.

[cts2914]

Understand very well

[Phil H]

The US authorities may have unlimited resources, but in the UK I believe that both MI5 (internal) and MI6 (external) have to prioritise suspects and focus available resources on those deemed a higher risk.

Is it not possible that the elder brother was looked into, nothing too suspicious/anything found and that he was relegated to the archive?

If his visit to Russia was in the last year, he could have been clean up to then, so have escaped surveillance.

Secondly, all the security agencies I am aware of, state clearly that sometimes things will get through, they are not infalliable. A judgement might be wrong, an analysis slightly off; information may not be available on a suspect or in the right timescale. You cannot watch everyone - and if you tried in the UK (at least) the libertarians would be on you like a shot arguing harrassment, racial stereotyping whatever.

I don't, by and large, believe in conspiracy theories unless I see solid grounds for such suspicion. As an ex civil servant, I know that people make mistakes, records get lost or - finding links can be like looking for a needle in a haystack such is the sheer volume of records and intelligence to be kept track of. Human error, and sod's law all all that is needed.

Phil

Phil

[kensei]

Can I get away with mentioning a couple of things that have been brought up in various sources that the mainstream considers "conspiracy theory"? They are just things that make me raise my eyebrows a bit.

The first thing is that the older brother Tamerlan was interviewed by the FBI five years ago and suspected then of having terrorist ties. He would have been tracked since then, and been on watch lists. His associates would have been known, and especially his family members. Point being, the FBI knew who the brothers were well before the bombing. And yet, post-bombing, when their photos were first released to the public it was as "Persons of interest- can you help us identify these people?" What gives?

The second thing is that I heard in both an alternative source and very briefly in the mainstream news that some witnesses claim that it was the police who ran over Tamerlan, not his brother. This does not necessarily mean those witnesses are correct, but the claim is out there.

[RivkahChaya]

That is frightening. I was surprised to read after the bombing they went to a party and said to someone something like this sort of thing happens all the time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

and look at this:

Wow. That changes everything. The federal government has stated that he will not be prosecuted as an enemy combatant, because he is a US citizen. However, if he committed a felony while he was in the US, during his period of residency before becoming a citizen, and, I'm assuming, lied about it on his application for citizenship, then his citizenship can be revoked, because it was obtained fraudulently.

[RivkahChaya]

A person who is going to be arrested, but is questioned first about immediate dangers is not read his rights, because his isn't yet technically under arrest, and has a form of immunity, sort of like what people are given sometimes in order to testify under oath about crimes they have committed, without incriminating themselves. He's cautioned that what he says won't incriminate him for the time being, and that revealing danger to prevent further damage can help him in the future, but also that once he is arrested and read his rights, repeating what he has said goes on the record and can be used against him.

In most cases like this, there's already enough evidence to put someone away for life, but cooperation can be a mitigating factor in life vs. death, or life in maximum security, vs. medium security.

Massachusetts does not have the death penalty, but if this guy is tried on federal charges, he can be given the death penalty. If he does, he'll no doubt be executed here in Terre Haute. Even if he is given life, if it is for a federal crime, he'll probably serve it here (that is, Indiana, where I am), in Terre Haute. If he has any interest in staying in Massachusetts for any reason, like having friends or family visit him, he might plea bargain to state charges to stay out of federal court.

[Beowulf]

Today's front page of the New York Times had an item (continued insidide the paper) that suggests a previous comment of mine may be right after all. The authorities are wondering if the two brothers were planning to carry their Jihad campaign elsewhere, and New York City was mentioned as a target of those pipe bombs and pressure cooker bombs.

Jeff

That is frightening. I was surprised to read after the bombing they went to a party and said to someone something like this sort of thing happens all the time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

and look at this:

http://news.yahoo.com/boston-bomb-suspect-eyed-connection-2011-triple-murder-164354976--abc-news-topstories.html

[Mayerling]

Today's front page of the New York Times had an item (continued insidide the paper) that suggests a previous comment of mine may be right after all. The authorities are wondering if the two brothers were planning to carry their Jihad campaign elsewhere, and New York City was mentioned as a target of those pipe bombs and pressure cooker bombs.

Jeff

[Beowulf]

I'm uncomfortable with the decision to not Miranize the suspect immediately. (Read him his Miranda rights.)...

Best regards,
Archaic

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/22/white-house-boston-bombing-suspect-wont-be-charged-as-enemy-combatant/

[Archaic]

Mirand Rights

I'm uncomfortable with the decision to not Miranize the suspect immediately. (Read him his Miranda rights.)

He's an American citizen. Besides, he's a smart, well-educated young man; they should assume he knows his Miranda rights already, if just from watching tv! So they should read him his rights in order to avoid procedural error. And best to do so immediately.

I'm afraid not Mirandizing him could jeopardize any future trial. Although maybe there won't be a trial; maybe he'll plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.

Some politicians want to charge him as an 'Enemy Combatant'. I don't think those charges would stick, though one could argue that they might have with his brother.

So sad that a young man would go from being a lifeguard because he felt good about "saving lives", to being a medical student so he could help people, to being a mass murderer and mass maimer.

I hope that in the future, free from the influence of his older brother, this kid will come to a full realization of what he has done, the grief he has caused fellow human beings, and will genuinely regret it.

-Which isn't to say I don't think he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including terrorism charges and the death penalty, because I do.

Best regards,
Archaic