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Report: Russia Withheld Information about Tsarnaev Before Marathon Bombing

Report: Russia Withheld Information about Tsarnaev Before Marathon Bombing

According to a new report from the inspector general, though Russian officials informed the F.B.I. in 2011 that Boston marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev had “changed drastically” and “was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer,” they failed to provide additional information that may have helped prevent the attack. After the F.B.I. followed up on the tip, Russian officials declined multiple requests for more details and information. According to The New York Times, “At the time, American law enforcement officials believed that Mr. Tsarnaev posed a far greater threat to Russia.”

After the bombing in April of last year, the Russians then handed over more intelligence on Tsarnaev, including sharing with them a telephone call they intercepted in which Tsarnaev openly discussed Islamic jihad. A U.S. official told the NYT that it’s not clear if the additional information would have allowed the F.B.I. to stop the attack. “Had they known what the Russians knew they probably would have been able to do more under our investigative guidelines, but would they have uncovered the plot? That’s very hard to say” …

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