FBI releases surveillance video taken on the day of the Boston Marathon blasts which they say shows persons of interest linked to the attack
By Pete Williams, Erin McClam and Tracy Connor, NBC News
The FBI has released video and photos of two "armed and extremely dangerous" suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing and appealed for the public's help in identifying them.
The images show two men in baseball caps and dark jackets who were seen walking together through the crowd at Monday's iconic race.
FBI
These are among the photos of the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing released by the FBI.
One of them set down a backpack at the site of the second blast, minutes before the explosion.
"Somebody out there knows these individuals…though it may be difficult, the nation is counting on those with information to come forward and provide it to us,” Boston FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers said at a Thursday evening briefing.
"We consider them to be armed and extremely dangerous," DesLauriers said of the men. "No one should approach them...If you see these men, contact law enforcement."
He asked the public to call a hotline, 1-800-CALL-FBI, with tips or visit the bureau's website, bostonmarathontips.fbi.gov.
DesLauriers said investigators initially zeroed in on one of the men. By examining photos and videos of the marathon crowd, they were able to identify a second suspect.
"They appear to be associated," he said.
The FBI released no other information about the probe, including the motive for the bombing, which killed three people and wounded 176.
Investigators are casting a wide net for clues. The FBI was canvassing hobby stores in the Boston area to determine whether electrical components in the bombs were bought there, NBC News learned.
Forensic work from the blast zone has helped authorities identify major components of the bombs.
They were housed in metal containers — at least one an everyday kitchen pressure cooker — and studded with metal, including fine nails or brads, to make the devices more lethal. A battery pack typically used on toy cars and a circuit board were also recovered.
FBI
The FBI is looking for these two men, identified as suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing.
But the videos are the biggest break in the case yet. They were unveiled hours after President Obama attended an interfaith prayer service to reassure both the injured and the city.
“You will run again,” he declared at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, less than a mile from the finish line. “Your resolve is the greatest rebuke to whoever committed this heinous act.”
As of Thursday morning, 58 patients were still being treated in hospitals. That was down from 65 on Wednesday.
“In general, people are getting better, and we are happy with their progress,” Dr. Peter Burke, chief of trauma at Boston Medical Center, told reporters early Thursday.
The three people killed in the attack were Lingzi Lu, a Boston University graduate student; 8-year-old Martin Richard of Boston; and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell of Medford, a Boston suburb.
A trauma surgeon said that doctors have pulled fragments as large as 2 inches, including pieces of wood, concrete and plastic, from the bodies of the injured, in addition to metal shrapnel from the bombs.
NBC News’ John Bailey, Richard Esposito and Michael Isikoff contributed to this report.
After releasing photos of two "armed and dangerous" suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing the FBI urges anyone with information to contact them.
Related:
By Pete Williams, Erin McClam and Tracy Connor, NBC News
The FBI has released video and photos of two "armed and extremely dangerous" suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing and appealed for the public's help in identifying them.
The images show two men in baseball caps and dark jackets who were seen walking together through the crowd at Monday's iconic race.
These are among the photos of the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing released by the FBI.
One of them set down a backpack at the site of the second blast, minutes before the explosion.
"Somebody out there knows these individuals…though it may be difficult, the nation is counting on those with information to come forward and provide it to us,” Boston FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers said at a Thursday evening briefing.
"We consider them to be armed and extremely dangerous," DesLauriers said of the men. "No one should approach them...If you see these men, contact law enforcement."
He asked the public to call a hotline, 1-800-CALL-FBI, with tips or visit the bureau's website, bostonmarathontips.fbi.gov.
DesLauriers said investigators initially zeroed in on one of the men. By examining photos and videos of the marathon crowd, they were able to identify a second suspect.
"They appear to be associated," he said.
The FBI released no other information about the probe, including the motive for the bombing, which killed three people and wounded 176.
Investigators are casting a wide net for clues. The FBI was canvassing hobby stores in the Boston area to determine whether electrical components in the bombs were bought there, NBC News learned.
Forensic work from the blast zone has helped authorities identify major components of the bombs.
They were housed in metal containers — at least one an everyday kitchen pressure cooker — and studded with metal, including fine nails or brads, to make the devices more lethal. A battery pack typically used on toy cars and a circuit board were also recovered.
The FBI is looking for these two men, identified as suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing.
But the videos are the biggest break in the case yet. They were unveiled hours after President Obama attended an interfaith prayer service to reassure both the injured and the city.
“You will run again,” he declared at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, less than a mile from the finish line. “Your resolve is the greatest rebuke to whoever committed this heinous act.”
As of Thursday morning, 58 patients were still being treated in hospitals. That was down from 65 on Wednesday.
“In general, people are getting better, and we are happy with their progress,” Dr. Peter Burke, chief of trauma at Boston Medical Center, told reporters early Thursday.
The three people killed in the attack were Lingzi Lu, a Boston University graduate student; 8-year-old Martin Richard of Boston; and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell of Medford, a Boston suburb.
A trauma surgeon said that doctors have pulled fragments as large as 2 inches, including pieces of wood, concrete and plastic, from the bodies of the injured, in addition to metal shrapnel from the bombs.
NBC News’ John Bailey, Richard Esposito and Michael Isikoff contributed to this report.
After releasing photos of two "armed and dangerous" suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing the FBI urges anyone with information to contact them.
Related:
- Bombing victims try to track down heroes who saved them
- Who is the FBI’s agent in charge of Boston marathon case?
- Anatomy of a bombing: Photos show device components
- Full coverage of Boston Marathon bombings from NBC News