Boston bombingFBI releases images of bombing suspects

The FBI yesterday released videos and photographs of two young men, saying both are suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings. Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Boston, appealed to the public for help in identifying the two men – warning that the two should be regarded as “armed and extremely dangerous.”

The Washington Post reports that the two men appearing in the videos are seen carrying what appeared to be heavy school-type bags on their backs – one of them was also carrying what appeared to be a briefcase.

“We initially developed a single person of interest,” not knowing whether the man was acting alone or with others, DesLauriers said. The FBI later determined that there was a second suspect, he said.

“Today we are enlisting the public’s help to identify the two suspects,” he said. The photos and videos of the men were also placed on the FBI’s Web site.

“Somebody out there” knows who the men are, DesLauriers said, adding: “We consider them to be armed and extremely dangerous.” He warned the public: “No one should approach them…. Do not take any action on your own.” He stressed that people should contact law enforcement.

DesLauriers said investigators first focused on one man, but then realized he appeared to be working with another man.

“Through the last day or so, we developed a single person of interest,” DesLauriers said. “Indeed, though that process we have identified a second suspect. We believe they are associated.”

The second suspect was seen dropping a backpack as both walked single file on Boylston Street, where both of the bombs exploded, DesLauriers said. Fox News reports that it is believed that was the second bomb, which went off 12 seconds after the first one, at about 2:50 p.m.

It could not be determined from the photos whether the suspect terrorists were homegrown of foreign, but DesLauriers said the pictures will be distributed internationally. “Somebody out there knows them as friends, coworkers,” DesLauriers said. “Although it may be difficult, we are counting on those [people] to come forward.”

The FBI and other police agencies believe that at least one of the bombs was a pressure cooker filled with explosives and shrapnel. It may have been concealed in a backpack. A mangled pressure cooker lid found atop a nearby building is believed to have been part of one bomb. A battery and several pieces of shrapnel were also recovered and undergoing analysis at an FBI lab. Fox News learned that the circuit board which was likely used to detonate at least one of the bombs has been recovered. The FBI was also analyzing cellphone tower records to identify positive hits for signs of calls which may have been placed to trigger both explosions remotely.

Fox News notes that the authorities are also interested in a battery believed to be used in one of the bombs. The battery was likely purchased with a remote control toy and then extracted so it could be used in the bomb. That could potentially make it easier to zero in on a suspect.

“We don’t know yet whether the attack was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or if it was an individual act,” James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, told lawmakers during a Hill hearing on worldwide threats. “Lone wolves, domestic extremists and jihad-inspired or -affiliated groups are certainly determined to attack,” he said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.