FBI Says Devices Suggest Expertise

[dkf]

By Evan Perez And Pervaiz Shallwani

A Federal Bureau of Investigation analysis of the bombs used in the Boston Marathon attacks has concluded that makers of the devices had some knowledge beyond the step-by-step recipes already described by the surviving suspect in the attack.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has told interrogators that he and his brother used bomb-making instructions found in Inspire, an online al Qaeda magazine, according to federal officials. His brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the other accused bomber, was killed during a gunfight with police in Watertown, Mass.

The FBI's bomb experts analyzed remnants of both bombs that exploded on April 15 near the marathon's finish line, as well as additional explosive devices that authorities said were recovered after the encounter with the suspects early on April 19.

Their early conclusion is that the bomb makers likely had additional training or expertise, in part because they deviated from two recipes in Inspire, according to a report prepared by the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center and law-enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/a/SB10001424127887324743704578447212196070792?mg=reno64-wsj

[leveymg]

1. As the older brother made the bombs, the testimony of the survivor may be of limited usefulness.

How much did Dzhokhar really know about about what Tamerlan actually did in Chechnya, anyway? Probably not nearly as much as many have been led to believe.

[dkf]

2. Exactly. The key is what Tamerlan did in Dagestan.

I thought this was interesting...

The family friend said that Zubeidat became increasingly worried about Tamerlan, because he had been expected to return earlier than he did from a six-month trip to Dagestan that he had ostensibly undertaken in order to visit relatives. The trip is now under scrutiny by investigators

http://m.guardiannews.com/world/2013/apr/27/boston-marathon-bombings-tamerlan-tsarnaev-islam?CMP=twt_gu

[leveymg]

3. Since the Russians are barely getting cooperation from the US in fighting the Caucasian Emirate, and

since significant aid is coming from sources in the US and other western countries, along with the KSA/GCC, would the Russians be justified in "turning" someone like Tamerlan? Why in the world would the US Government let someone like Tamerlan run around uncontrolled after he returned? Why in the world would the Russians let him in?

Is there more to this than just a couple lone-wolf Jihadi wannabe brothers?

[dkf]

4. For all we know it was Zubeidat on the Russian radar screen.

They were obviously wiretapping her calls as she was tagged in two different cases.

And the US let Tamerlan run around because we didn't realize he had returned. Because they shut his file due to what seems like purely an expiration date, his return trip wasn't "pinged". This looks like a huge loophole where you can leave for an extended trip and because the time lapsed you are "cleared" from further scrutiny.

[leveymg]

5. Makes the questions raised last week about the uncle seem less tinfoil hat.

That OP and thread really seemed to rankle some feathers. I'll go back and get that and post a link - here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022739231

[dkf]

8. You saw my post that Ruslan was married to the daughter of an ex-CIA guy?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022764791

[leveymg]

10. Curiouser and curiouser.

More tomorrow

[dkf]

13. Looks like a coincidence to me but who knows.

[Fumesucker]

15. Oh yes, that thread was very revealing, not the OP so much but the responses

Clearly there were a lot of DUers who were really taken with the uncle and loathed anyone puncturing their bubble.

I always take note when a poster gets personally attacked for a completely non-personal post and that thread was an absolute classic of the genre.

[GeorgeGist]

14. Since bomb making components were found in Dzhokhars dorm room ...

Your assertion seems unfounded.

[leveymg]

16. The older brother reportedly bought the black powder.

As for bombmaking components, the devices were (again, reportedly) pretty rudimentary: black powder, ball bearings, roofing nails, a radio signal activated igniter, and a pressure cooker). Not clear what they did that not listed in the "recipe."

[Downwinder]

6. I will reserve all judgment until the interrogation

videos are made public.

[JaneyVee]

7. Is it possible to view that Inspire magazine online without being wiretapped?

I just want to see what it is like, I'm interested in media propaganda from around the world.

[dkf]

9. Not anymore I imagine.

[JDPriestly]

11. I thought I read that one of the brothers was studying engineering. Am I wrong about that?

[dkf]

12. That is what Tamerlan told Ruslan he wanted to do...

"When Uncle Ruslan visited Anzor's family in 2005, he chatted with Tamerlan about his future. The teenager talked about an engineering degree, perhaps followed by one in law."

http://m.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/04/27/the-tsarnaev-family-a-faded-portrait-of-an-immigrants-american-dream/

But he wasn't accepted to whatever university and went to community college instead.