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Boston bomb suspect charged with 'using weapon of mass destruction' Boston bomb suspect charged with 'using weapon of mass destruction'
(35 minutes later)
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the Boston bombings, was charged at his hospital bed on Monday with "using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction", a count that carries a possible death penalty. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, was charged at his hospital bed on Monday with "using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction", a count that carries a possible death penalty.
The charges were announced a week after the bombs killed three people and injured nearly 200 near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. US prosecutors did not announce whether they would seek the death penalty. The charges were announced a week after two devices exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 170. US prosecutors did not announce whether they would seek the death penalty.
A magistrate judge read the charges to Tsarnaev, 19, the younger of two brothers suspected in the bombing, as he lay "seriously injured" with a gunshot wound to his throat at Beth Israel Deaconess hospital in Boston. A magistrate judge read the charges to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, the younger of two brothers suspected in the bombing, as he lay seriously injured in Beth Isreal Deaconess hospital in Boston. According to the criminal complaint, he has gunshot wounds to the head, neck, legs and hand.
"Although our investigation is ongoing, today's charges bring a successful end to a tragic week for the city of Boston, and for our country," said the attorney general, Eric Holder. He escaped police on Thursday night after a bloody shootout in the Boston suburb of Watertown in which his elder brother, Tamerlan, 26, was shot dead. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured on Friday evening, while hiding in a boat after a lockdown in the city.
The US attorney for Massachusetts, Carmen Oritz, said the impact of the crimes had been "far-reaching, affecting a worldwide community that is looking for peace and justice." "Although our investigation is ongoing, today's charges bring a successful end to a tragic week for the city of Boston, and for our country," said the US attorney general, Eric Holder. The US attorney for Massachusetts, Carmen Oritz, said the impact of the crimes had been "far-reaching, affecting a worldwide community that is looking for peace and justice".
The charges include one count of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction – an improvised explosive device or IED – against persons and property within the United States resulting in death, and one count of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device, resulting in death.The charges include one count of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction – an improvised explosive device or IED – against persons and property within the United States resulting in death, and one count of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device, resulting in death.
According to the criminal complaint, which refers to Tsarnaev as "Bomber Two", he had gunshot wounds to his head, neck, legs and hand. The federal complaint gives details of the evidence against Tsarnaev. Video footage, it says, shows him stopping in front of the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street and dropping his backpack to the ground. He then is seen to use his cellphone, finishing the call just seconds before the first explosion.
The complaint gives details of the video evidence against him. The footage, it says, shows him stopping in front of the Forum restaurant and dropping his backpack to the ground. He then is seen to use his cellphone, finishing the call just seconds before the first explosion.
"Virtually every head turns to the east (towards the finish line) and stares in that direction in apparent bewilderment and alarm," the complaint reads. "Bomber Two, virtually alone among the individuals in front of the restaurant, appears calm.""Virtually every head turns to the east (towards the finish line) and stares in that direction in apparent bewilderment and alarm," the complaint reads. "Bomber Two, virtually alone among the individuals in front of the restaurant, appears calm."
Tsarnaev, according to the complaint, then moves rapidly to the west. Ten seconds later, the second blast occurs at the spot where he left his bag. "I can discern nothing in that location in the period before the explosion might have caused that explosion, other than Bomber Two's knapsack," wrote Daniel Genck, the FBI special agent in whose name the complaint is filed. According to the complaint, Tsarnaev then moves rapidly to the west. Ten seconds later, the second blast occurs at the spot where he left his bag.
Dzhokhar, a naturalised US citizen and resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, escaped authorities on Thursday night after a bloody shootout in the Boston suburb of Watertown which left his elder brother, Tamerlan, 26, dead. He was later captured in a boat on Friday evening, after a lockdown in the city. Daniel Genck, the FBI special agent in whose name the complaint is filed, said he had examined video and photographs from the site of the second explosion from a number of different angles and viewpoints, including from directly across the street. "I can discern nothing in that location in the period before the explosion might have caused that explosion, other than Bomber Two's knapsack," he wrote.
The complaint also offers chilling new details of the carjacking that began Thursday night's dramatic chase and shootout. The victim, who is not named in the complaint, told law enforcement that when one of the suspects got into his car, he pointed a gun and said: "Did you hear about the Boston explosion? I did that." He then removed the magazine from the gun to show the victim there was a bullet in it, adding: "I am serious". The complaint offers chilling new details of the carjacking that began Thursday night's dramatic chase and shootout. The victim, who is not named in the complaint, told law enforcement that when one of the suspects got into his car, he pointed a gun and said: "Did you hear about the Boston explosion? I did that." The suspect then removed the magazine from the gun to show the victim there was a bullet in it, adding: "I am serious".
Shortly before the charges were announced, the White House insisted that Tsarnaev would be tried in the US civilian court system, despite pressure from Republicans for him to be treated as an enemy combatant in the "war on terror". Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said: "We have a long history here of successfully prosecuting terrorists and bringing them to justice and the president fully believes that the process will work in this case." Shortly before the charges were announced, the White House insisted that Tsarnaev would be tried in the US civilian court system, despite pressure from Republicans for him to be treated as an enemy combatant in the "war on terror". Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said: "We have a long history here of successfully prosecuting terrorists and bringing them to justice and the president fully believes that the process will work in this case."
Carney said the decision was taken by Holder and supported by Barack Obama's national security advisers. "We had no choice under the law," said Carney. "He is a US citizen."Carney said the decision was taken by Holder and supported by Barack Obama's national security advisers. "We had no choice under the law," said Carney. "He is a US citizen."
The Tsarnaevs' father, Anzor Tsarnaev, has said he will fly from Russia to the US to seek "justice and the truth". His wife, Zubeida Tsarnaeva, told journalists on Monday that her husband planned to fly to the US on Wednesday and that the family would try to bring the body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev back to Russia. Tamerlan, 26, died after a fierce gun battle with police on Friday. The Tsarnaevs' father, Anzor Tsarnaev, has said he will fly from Russia to the US, in order to seek "justice and the truth". His wife, Zubeida Tsarnaeva, told journalists on Monday that her husband planned to fly to the US on Wednesday and that the family would try to bring the body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev back to Russia.
In addition to the federal charges, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is likely to face additional state charges in connection with the fatal shooting of MIT police officer Sean Collier in Cambridge, said Stephanie Guyotte, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney's office. In addition to the federal charges, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is likely to face state charges in connection with the fatal shooting of an MIT police officer, Sean Collier, in Cambridge, said Stephanie Guyotte, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney's office.
Meanwhile, authorities were also seeking to interview Katherine Russell Tsarnaev, Tamerlan's American wife, according to the family lawyer, Amato DeLuca. He said that his client had not yet spoken to federal agents: "We're deciding what we want to do and how we want to approach this," he told the AP. Authorities are also seeking to interview Katherine Russell Tsarnaev, Tamerlan's American wife, according to the family lawyer, Amato DeLuca. DeLuca said that his client had not yet spoken to federal agents: "We're deciding what we want to do and how we want to approach this," he told the Associated Press.
DeLuca said that on Thursday, the last day he was alive, Tamerlan Tsarnaev "was home" when his wife left for work. He said that Katherine had been working 70 to 80 hours a week as a home healthcare aide and did not suspect her husband of anything. While she was at work, her husband was looking after their young daughter. DeLuca said that on Thursday, Tamerlan Tsarnaev "was home" when his wife left for work. DeLuca also said that Katherine Russell Tsarnaev had been working 70 to 80 hours a week as a home healthcare aide and did not suspect her husband of anything. While she was at work, her husband was looking after their young daughter.
"When this allegedly was going on, she was working, and had been working all week to support her family," DeLuca told the AP. Nothing seemed amiss, he said. She only learned her husband was a suspect in the bombing when she saw it on the television. "When this allegedly was going on, she was working, and had been working all week to support her family," DeLuca said, adding that nothing had seemed amiss. She had only learned her husband was a suspect in the bombing when she saw it on the television.
DeLuca added that Katherine did not see Dzhokhar, who lived with them, at her apartment "at all", because he was in college.DeLuca added that Katherine did not see Dzhokhar, who lived with them, at her apartment "at all", because he was in college.
In Massachusetts on Monday, Governor Deval Patrick asked residents to observe a moment of silence at 2.50pm, the time the first of the two bombs exploded near the marathon finish line.In Massachusetts on Monday, Governor Deval Patrick asked residents to observe a moment of silence at 2.50pm, the time the first of the two bombs exploded near the marathon finish line.
A private funeral was due to take place on Monday for Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant worker, one of three killed in the blasts. A memorial service will be held in the evening at Boston University for 23-year-old Lu Lingzi, a graduate student from China, who also died. A private funeral took place on Monday for Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant worker, one of three killed in the blasts. A memorial service will be held in the evening at Boston University for 23-year-old Lu Lingzi, a graduate student from China who also died.
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