Investigators Say Video Points to Boston Bomb Suspect

[arely staircase]

Source: NYT


BOSTON — Investigators have found video of a man who they believe may have planted the deadly bombs at the Boston Marathon, a person briefed on the matter said Wednesday, saying that they had pinpointed the image on video that was captured shortly before the blast.

The possible break in the case came as investigators pored over scores of videos and photographs that they solicited from surveillance cameras from nearby businesses, smartphone wielding marathon spectators and television crews who were there filming the Boston Marathon when the deadly blasts went off on Monday near the finish line. The revelation of the video was the first sign that the authorities might be moving closer to discovering who was behind the attacks, which killed three people and injured more than 170.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/us/boston-investigation-moves-into-third-day.html?hp

[gcomeau]

1. And it's awesome...

...that this information was leaked to the public before that man was identified and taken into custody so now he can make a run for it!

[arely staircase]

2. how else can they identify him? other than release the tape and hope someone knows him?

I would suspect they should release the tape soon.

[gcomeau]

5. How else...

...than making an announcement that they might have the person on video and providing no other information so the *only* person to get anything useful out of this is the suspect themself?

Joking, yes?

[arely staircase]

7. no, i think it is very possible that they have some sort of video

that is only of use if someone can recognize the person in it.

[gcomeau]

18. And?

Either they have an idea who that person who could recognize them might be and are showing it to *them* right now... in which case announcing it to the rest of the world was stupid. Or, they gave no idea who could identify them and announced this to the world which is stupid.

I'm missing "not stupid" option 3...

[arely staircase]

22. i disagree with your second premise

maybe they have no idea who could identify the person in the video and announcing (and showing it) to the world is smart - or at least the only way to give whoever might know the person a chance to look at it. now, as far as I know they haven't released it. if they don't, you have a point. if they do, I say you don't.

[caseymoz]

19. Maybe they already have agents in place . . .

. . . to watch and see if he tries to run?

Or in our age of surveillance, see what his Internet correspondence says? Or who he calls from his cellphone?

[geek tragedy]

9. Maybe via his cell phone. nt

[arely staircase]

10. how would that work?

there were thousands of cell phones bouncing signals off the nearest towers. I am sure something is being doing regarding those, but I don't see how it is relevant to the photo.

[geek tragedy]

13. They can identify which ones were pay as you go

Instead of subscription based.

[Tien1985]

3. Doesn't seem

Like it was leaked. Just that this is the latest information available.

Especially with the Internet, law enforcement is just going to have to start taking into account public interest.

If the person didn't make a run for it before now, they wanted to get caught.

[arely staircase]

4. yeah, if the person(s) had a plan to flee

they have already done so.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. "a person briefed on the matter said" - sounds like a leak, especially with this:

Contrary to widespread reporting, no arrest has been made in connection with the Boston Marathon attack. Over the past day and a half, there have been a number of press reports based on information from unofficial sources that has been inaccurate. Since these stories often have unintended consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting.

http://www.fbi.gov/boston/press-releases/2013/no-arrest-made-in-bombing-investigation

I think the FBI sound a bit pissed off.

[freshwest]

12. Pretty sure he decided to lay low or leave the area long before this.

[gcomeau]

16. Based on.. ?

[freshwest]

17. An instinct for self-preservation.

[gcomeau]

20. Because clearly...

...whoever would walk into the Boston marathon crowd carrying two explosive devices intended tk kill a bunch of random innocents can be counted on to behave in an otherwise totally predictable and rational manner.

[freshwest]

23. This hasn't been identified as a suicide bomber, rational has nothing to do with the

assumption news will make the guy run, and there is nothing to prove that he has not already left the area. And talking about this on an internet message board is not likely to change what the bomber does, either. I expressed an opinion with my answers and that's all. EOM.

[Gore1FL]

6. The FBI was supposed to have a Press conference at 8 EDT, but then cancelled it. n/t

[arely staircase]

8. interesting eom

[lexw]

14. That's the 2nd time they canceled. I hope they have something solid.

[arely staircase]

15. Mayor's office says significant lead provided by department store footage

Boston investigation gathers pace after reports of CCTV breakthrough

Mayor's office says significant lead provided by department store footage as FBI criticises media for inaccurate reports of arrest

The FBI investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings appeared to gather pace on Wednesday with reports of a breakthrough in the hunt for the suspect behind the attack, which killed three people and injured almost 200 others.

Thomas Menino, the mayor of Boston, said that a significant lead had been provided by video footage recorded by a department store security camera. The footage was reported to show a possible suspect dropping a black bag at the location of the second bomb shortly before the blast.

Two days after the outrage, an element of confusion entered the hunt for the perpetrator of one of the worst attacks on American soil, at least in public. The day was characterised by swirling media speculation, first of a positive identification of a suspect, then of an imminent arrest, and finally of an actual arrest, which was swiftly proven to be wrong.

[LibGranny]

21. CNN jumped the gun and again prematurely announced "Breaking News" that a suspect

had been arrested! Then John King and Fran Townsend both said (King on camera/Townsend on the phone) that they "had information" that a "dark skinned male" had been arrested! This was about 1 pm CDT today. They were the ONLY channel to be so hasty and in their haste they managed to look like the fools they are! CNN is not a news channel but a National Enquirer on the air!

[freshwest]

24. Agreed!! CNN is now Fox-Lite grabbing for sensation and RW overreaction.

CNN & FNN EPIC FAIL's:





More proof they are reading scripts from their owners and DO NOT report anything that is not approved by their bosses!

[Galraedia]

25. Photo of someone who may be the bomber...

Source: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/04/reddit-and-4chan-are-boston-bomber-case/64312/

[Duer 157099]

26. There's another guy in the crowd with a backpack strap just like that one

who I think is a more likely candidate, yet I don't see any of the threads showing him. He is in one photo with the backpack, then another without it. The first shot of him with the backpack shows him almost exactly at the site of the first explosion.

Edit: Oh, here it is.

[yellowcanine]

29. Guy is obviously praying in top right picture. And sending a text to a fellow jihadist in

bottom picture.

[Dash87]

30. Andrew Zimmern, Bizarre Foods noooooo why?

[Psephos]

27. Try these photos. Far more forensic.

http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA/noscript

[Ash_F]

28. Several different suspects(?) in that collection.

Not that there is anything wrong with it. I just hope people don't get crazy on the subjects of those photos before anything is proven.