FBI Faces Scrutiny over Handling of 2011 Boston Suspect Tip
World | April 23, 2013, Tuesday // 15:34| views
Tamerlan Tsarnaev. File photo
The FBI is facing scrutiny from Congress about its handling of a 2011 Russian tip that might have averted the Boston Marathon bombing.
When Russia asked the FBI in 2011 to check out Tamerlan Tsarnaev because of his shift toward increasing Islamic extremism, the bureau interviewed him and his family as part of a review that found no ties to terrorism, CNN has reminded.
Two years later, Tsarnaev, 26, and his younger brother Dzhokhar allegedly set off two bombs at the Boston Marathon that killed three people, then killed a university police officer and sparked a manhunt that paralyzed the city last week.
US Security Officials will brief the Senate Intelligence Committee in a closed hearing, after some Congress members accused the FBI of failing to act on Russia’s concerns back in 2011.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in hospital last week, but his wounded brother has been charged over the bombings.
Federal prosecutors charged him in hospital with using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death. He could be sentenced to death if convicted on either count.
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