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| Three Charged With Hindering Inquiry Into Boston Attack | Three Charged With Hindering Inquiry Into Boston Attack |
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| BOSTON — Two onetime classmates of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, were charged on Wednesday with conspiring to obstruct justice and destroy evidence, accused of taking a laptop computer and a backpack containing fireworks belonging to Mr. Tsarnaev. | |
| The men, Dias Kadyrbayev, 19, and Azamat Tazhayakov, 19, both citizens of Kazakhstan who are in the United States on student visas, appeared in court Wednesday afternoon after having been arrested earlier in the day. | |
| A third man, Robel Phillipos, 19, of Cambridge, Mass., was charged with lying to federal law enforcement officials about what they said was his role in disposing of the material. | |
| Mr. Phillipos hung his head in court, prompting Magistrate Judge, Marianne B. Bowler, to instruct him as she read him his rights: “I suggest you pay attention to me rather than looking down.” | |
| All three suspects appeared in court in bluejeans. They were handcuffed and shackled at the ankles. They were taken into federal custody until their next court appearance. | |
| Lawyers for the three men said outside the courthouse that their clients had had nothing to do with the bombings and had cooperated fully with the investigation. | |
| “My client had no knowledge of the incident,” said Robert Stahl, who is representing Mr. Kadyrbayev, adding later, “He absolutely denies the charges, as we’ve said from the beginning.” He said his client was “shocked and horrified” by the bombings | |
| Mr. Stahl did not deny that his client had taken a backpack with powder in it belonging to Mr. Tsarnaev, but said that his client had told the Federal Bureau of Investigation about it. “He didn’t know the items were involved in the bombing,” Mr. Stahl said. | |
| Mr. Tazhayakov and Mr. Kadyrbayev have been in federal custody for more than a week on allegations they violated their student visas. Mr. Stahl said that Mr. Kadyrbayev was a sophomore engineering major and was in “technical violation of student visa for not regularly attending classes.” | |
| Harlan Protass, a lawyer representing Mr. Tazhayakov, said his client “feels horrible and was shocked to hear that someone he knew was involved with the marathon bombing. He has cooperated fully with the authorities and looks forward to the truth coming out in this case. He considers it an honor to be able to study in the united states.” | |
| Mr. Kadyrbayev and Mr. Tazhayakov are due back in court on May 14. They face a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. | |
| Derege M. Demissie, the lawyer representing Mr. Phillipos, who was arrested Wednesday and charged separately with making false statements, said that his client was innocent and that the details would come out in court. He is due back in court on Monday and faces a maximum sentence of 8 years and a $250,000 fine. | |
| Two explosives detonated April 15 near the finish line of the marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others. | Two explosives detonated April 15 near the finish line of the marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others. |
| Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, are suspected of having set off the bombs. Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a shootout with the police, while Dzhokhar was charged with using a weapon of mass destruction. | Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, are suspected of having set off the bombs. Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a shootout with the police, while Dzhokhar was charged with using a weapon of mass destruction. |
| He was transferred last week from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where he was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds, to a locked medical facility for male prisoners at Fort Devens. | He was transferred last week from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where he was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds, to a locked medical facility for male prisoners at Fort Devens. |
| The three men charged on Wednesday began attending the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth in 2011, at the same time as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Mr. Tsarnaev had become particularly close to Mr. Kadyrbayev and Mr. Tazhayakov, who would frequently visit his family members, an affidavit filed in the case said. | The three men charged on Wednesday began attending the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth in 2011, at the same time as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Mr. Tsarnaev had become particularly close to Mr. Kadyrbayev and Mr. Tazhayakov, who would frequently visit his family members, an affidavit filed in the case said. |
| Mr. Kadyrbayev told the authorities that he suspected that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had been involved in the marathon bombings when he went to his friend’s dorm room with the others three days after the attacks and noticed that several tubes that had previously contained fireworks had been emptied of their powder. | Mr. Kadyrbayev told the authorities that he suspected that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev had been involved in the marathon bombings when he went to his friend’s dorm room with the others three days after the attacks and noticed that several tubes that had previously contained fireworks had been emptied of their powder. |
| Mr. Kadyrbayev said he had shown Mr. Tazhayakov, who, along with Mr. Phillipos, was with him at the time, a text message from Dzhokhar saying, “I’m about to leave if you need something in my room take it,” the affidavit said. | |
| Asked about the text from Mr. Kadyrbayev’s lawyer, Mr. Stahl said: “There was no signal, it means the plain English meaning.” He did not elaborate. | |
| In the room, they found a backpack containing “an emptied-out cardboard tube” that had previously contained fireworks and a jar of Vaseline that Mr. Kadyrbayev believed had been used “to make bombs,” according to the affidavit, which was sworn out by Special Agent Scott P. Cieplik of the F.B.I. The men then took the backpack, the Vaseline and Mr. Tsarnaev’s laptop to Mr. Phillipos’ apartment. The affidavit does not indicate that the young men threw the laptop away, and a law enforcement official said t the F.B.I. has it in their possession. | |
| After they saw news reports that Tamerlan Tsarnaev had been killed, Mr. Kadyrbayev said he threw the backpack in the garbage, the affidavit said, “because they did not want Tsarnaev to get into trouble.” | |
| Mr. Phillipos, prosecutors say, initially lied to investigators about whether any items had been removed from the dorm room, although he later acknowledged telling Mr. Kadyrbayev to “do what you have to do” in response to a question about what should be done with the backpack. The backpack, according to the affidavit, contained “seven red tubular fireworks, approximately 6 to 8 inches in length.” | |
| The backpack, which also contained a homework assignment sheet from a class in which Mr. Tsarnaev had been enrolled, was eventually located by investigators at a nearby landfill in New Bedford, Mass., the affidavit said. The complaint does not specify if the laptop was recovered. | |
| The university said Wednesday that neither Mr. Kadyrbayev nor Mr. Phillipos was currently enrolled there and that Mr. Tazhayakov, who is a current student, had been suspended pending the outcome of the case. | The university said Wednesday that neither Mr. Kadyrbayev nor Mr. Phillipos was currently enrolled there and that Mr. Tazhayakov, who is a current student, had been suspended pending the outcome of the case. |
| On Tuesday, President Obama offered measured support for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s handling of a tip from Russian intelligence about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, saying a review would be conducted to determine if more could have been done to prevent the attack. | On Tuesday, President Obama offered measured support for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s handling of a tip from Russian intelligence about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, saying a review would be conducted to determine if more could have been done to prevent the attack. |
| “Based on what I’ve seen so far, the F.B.I. performed its duties,” Mr. Obama said at a White House news conference. “Department of Homeland Security did what it was supposed to be doing. But this is hard stuff.” | “Based on what I’ve seen so far, the F.B.I. performed its duties,” Mr. Obama said at a White House news conference. “Department of Homeland Security did what it was supposed to be doing. But this is hard stuff.” |
| The president suggested that the brothers had been “self-radicalized” and therefore harder to catch than terrorists who are part of a large network. He said Russian officials had been “very cooperative” since the bombings, as American investigators have traveled to Dagestan in southern Russia to try to reconstruct Tamerlan’s activities during a six-month visit last year. | The president suggested that the brothers had been “self-radicalized” and therefore harder to catch than terrorists who are part of a large network. He said Russian officials had been “very cooperative” since the bombings, as American investigators have traveled to Dagestan in southern Russia to try to reconstruct Tamerlan’s activities during a six-month visit last year. |
| Some members of Congress have suggested that the F.B.I. failed to follow up adequately after receiving a warning in March 2011 about Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his mother, Zubeidat, whom Russian intelligence had reportedly overheard talking about jihad on the telephone. The warning, according to the F.B.I., said that Tamerlan was a follower of radical Islam, and that he had changed drastically and planned to travel to Russia to connect with underground groups. | Some members of Congress have suggested that the F.B.I. failed to follow up adequately after receiving a warning in March 2011 about Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his mother, Zubeidat, whom Russian intelligence had reportedly overheard talking about jihad on the telephone. The warning, according to the F.B.I., said that Tamerlan was a follower of radical Islam, and that he had changed drastically and planned to travel to Russia to connect with underground groups. |
| Mr. Obama said that after the Russian warning, federal agents “had not only investigated the older brother; they interviewed the older brother. They concluded that there were no signs that he was engaging in extremist activity.” | Mr. Obama said that after the Russian warning, federal agents “had not only investigated the older brother; they interviewed the older brother. They concluded that there were no signs that he was engaging in extremist activity.” |
| F.B.I. investigators have continued to focus on Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s widow, Katherine Russell, to see whether she played any role in the attack or in helping him and his brother try to cover up their actions, knowingly or unknowingly. | F.B.I. investigators have continued to focus on Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s widow, Katherine Russell, to see whether she played any role in the attack or in helping him and his brother try to cover up their actions, knowingly or unknowingly. |
| After finding traces of female DNA and a fingerprint on bomb remnants, technicians were checking for matches with Ms. Russell and several other people. Ms. Russell’s lawyer said Tuesday that she “will continue to meet with law enforcement, as she has done for many hours over the past week, and provide as much assistance to the investigation as she can.” | After finding traces of female DNA and a fingerprint on bomb remnants, technicians were checking for matches with Ms. Russell and several other people. Ms. Russell’s lawyer said Tuesday that she “will continue to meet with law enforcement, as she has done for many hours over the past week, and provide as much assistance to the investigation as she can.” |
| But two law enforcement officials said she had stopped cooperating with the authorities in recent days. “Her and her lawyer have now clammed up,” one of the officials said on Tuesday afternoon. | But two law enforcement officials said she had stopped cooperating with the authorities in recent days. “Her and her lawyer have now clammed up,” one of the officials said on Tuesday afternoon. |
| That has heightened the suspicions of investigators, one of the officials said. Meanwhile, the lawyers for Ms. Russell said in a statement that she had been told by officials from the Massachusetts medical examiner’s office that they were prepared to release Mr. Tsarnaev’s remains. The statement said it was Ms. Russell’s “wish that his remains be released to the Tsarnaev family, and we will communicate her wishes to the proper authorities.” | That has heightened the suspicions of investigators, one of the officials said. Meanwhile, the lawyers for Ms. Russell said in a statement that she had been told by officials from the Massachusetts medical examiner’s office that they were prepared to release Mr. Tsarnaev’s remains. The statement said it was Ms. Russell’s “wish that his remains be released to the Tsarnaev family, and we will communicate her wishes to the proper authorities.” |
| “Katherine and her family continue to be deeply saddened by the harm that has been caused,” the statement said. “They mourn for the loss of life and the terrible consequences these events have had for those who have been injured and for their families.” | “Katherine and her family continue to be deeply saddened by the harm that has been caused,” the statement said. “They mourn for the loss of life and the terrible consequences these events have had for those who have been injured and for their families.” |
| In Russia, officials denied news reports that Tamerlan Tsarnaev had been watched during his visit to Dagestan last year. | In Russia, officials denied news reports that Tamerlan Tsarnaev had been watched during his visit to Dagestan last year. |
| “Tamerlan Tsarnaev was not under the surveillance of the Center for Combating Extremism, or other police agencies,” said Fatina Ubaidatova, a spokeswoman for Dagestan’s Interior Ministry. “He did not commit any offenses in Dagestan, according to our sources. Police do not intervene in law-abiding citizens’ private lives.” | “Tamerlan Tsarnaev was not under the surveillance of the Center for Combating Extremism, or other police agencies,” said Fatina Ubaidatova, a spokeswoman for Dagestan’s Interior Ministry. “He did not commit any offenses in Dagestan, according to our sources. Police do not intervene in law-abiding citizens’ private lives.” |
| American experts on Russian security measures in Dagestan expressed skepticism about the assertion. Because Mr. Tsarnaev had already been flagged as potentially dangerous, they said it was highly likely that he was watched while in Makhachkala, the regional capital. | American experts on Russian security measures in Dagestan expressed skepticism about the assertion. Because Mr. Tsarnaev had already been flagged as potentially dangerous, they said it was highly likely that he was watched while in Makhachkala, the regional capital. |
| In an interview with The New York Times on Tuesday, Mr. Tsarnaev’s parents, Zubeidat and Anzor, rejected reports that their son had been seen meeting with militant suspects in Dagestan. The newspaper Novaya Gazeta, citing an unidentified official in the anti-extremism unit of Dagestan’s Interior Ministry, reported that intelligence services had seen Tamerlan meeting with Mahmoud Mansur Nidal, a militant suspect who was killed on May 19 after a standoff with Russian authorities in Makhachkala. | In an interview with The New York Times on Tuesday, Mr. Tsarnaev’s parents, Zubeidat and Anzor, rejected reports that their son had been seen meeting with militant suspects in Dagestan. The newspaper Novaya Gazeta, citing an unidentified official in the anti-extremism unit of Dagestan’s Interior Ministry, reported that intelligence services had seen Tamerlan meeting with Mahmoud Mansur Nidal, a militant suspect who was killed on May 19 after a standoff with Russian authorities in Makhachkala. |
| “I have never heard this name from the mouth of my son,” Mrs. Tsarnaeva said in a telephone interview. “He never met with any Mahmoud, and I don’t know what all this talk is about.” | “I have never heard this name from the mouth of my son,” Mrs. Tsarnaeva said in a telephone interview. “He never met with any Mahmoud, and I don’t know what all this talk is about.” |
| She said that she was certain that Tamerlan had not connected with underground groups because “he never went out anywhere.” She said he was under scrutiny from his father after he traveled from the United States to join Tamerlan on May 2 — though that was four months after Tamerlan reached Dagestan. | She said that she was certain that Tamerlan had not connected with underground groups because “he never went out anywhere.” She said he was under scrutiny from his father after he traveled from the United States to join Tamerlan on May 2 — though that was four months after Tamerlan reached Dagestan. |
| “His father says that he protected him as a hen protects its egg,” she said. “He came, and he was a very open boy and very naïve.” | “His father says that he protected him as a hen protects its egg,” she said. “He came, and he was a very open boy and very naïve.” |
Katharine Q. Seelye reported from Boston, Michael S. Schmidt from Washington and William K. Rashbaum from New York. Reporting was contributing by Serge F. Kovaleski and Timothy Williams from New York; Scott Shane from Washington; Ellen Barry from Moscow; and Andrew Roth from Makhachkala, Russia. | Katharine Q. Seelye reported from Boston, Michael S. Schmidt from Washington and William K. Rashbaum from New York. Reporting was contributing by Serge F. Kovaleski and Timothy Williams from New York; Scott Shane from Washington; Ellen Barry from Moscow; and Andrew Roth from Makhachkala, Russia. |