Boston

Why Didn't The FBI Do More To Investigate The Boston Bombing Suspect Two Years Ago?

Hunter Walker | April 23, 2013, 6:00AM

FBI agents with an uncle of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects at his home in Maryland.

The news that Russia asked the FBI to investigate Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011 has left many wondering whether an opportunity was missed to detect a future terrorist. TPM talked with a high-ranking former FBI counterterrorism executive who explained what happens when the FBI receives a request from Moscow to start an investigation and why that kind of tip might not have been enough to stop the alleged bomber.

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Boston

The Russian Connection: What Can Moscow's Tip Tell Us About The Boston Bombings?

Hunter Walker | April 20, 2013, 8:31PM

Boston marathon bombing suspects

Now that the suspects in Monday's Boston Marathon bombing have both been taken off the streets, authorities are focused on looking into a 2012 trip one of the alleged bombers, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, took to Russia. Prior to that journey, the FBI was asked to investigate Tsarnaev by the Russian government. TPM talked to experts to find out what this Russian tip may tell us about Tsarnaev's ties to extremist groups in his native land and whether the FBI missed out on a chance to catch a future terrorist.

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Boston

Friend Says Bombing Suspect Switched Between Colleges To Follow The Parties

Hunter Walker | April 19, 2013, 10:54PM

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in photos released by the FBI and Boston police.

As the manhunt for one of the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing continued through the day Friday, UMass Dartmouth undertook a campus-wide evacuation after officials there confirmed that Dzokhar "Jahar" Tsarnaev was registered at the university.

Tsarnaev is even believed to have spent time at the school Wednesday after allegedly participating in Monday's attack.

However, UMass Dartmouth wasn't the only school where the 19-year-old Tsarnaev spent time during his brief college career. Tsarnaev, who was apprehended by authorities Friday night, initially enrolled at UMass Boston, but withdrew before attending a single class, a decision one of his good friends said was motivated by a desire to focus on "parties."

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Boston

Can Pressure Cookers Tell Us About The Culprits In The Boston Bombings?

Hunter Walker | April 16, 2013, 9:41PM

The remains of a pressure cooker that the FBI says was part of one of the bombs that exploded during the Boston Marathon. (AP Photo/FBI)

Over a day after explosions rocked the Boston Marathon, the identity of those behind the attack is still a mystery, but clues are starting to emerge including information about the bombs used in the blasts. At a press conference Tuesday evening, FBI investigators confirmed the marathon bombs may have been made with pressure cookers -- a design commonly associated with Al Qaeda. However, one expert on terrorist weaponry warned TPM that the use of pressure cookers may not be strong evidence linking any one group to the bombing.

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Boston Marathon

Surviving The Boston Bombing: One Couple's Story

Hunter Walker | April 16, 2013, 11:02AM

After the bombing at the Boston Marathon, a photographer captured an image of one of the runners, Susan Darmody, being comforted by her husband, Chris. TPM spoke to Chris Monday night and who spoke about their experience and Susan's determination to cross the finish line eventually in spite of the attack.

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