MA Governor: “Shelter-in-Place” for Boston Until Perpetrator Found

ONE TERRORIST STILL AT LARGE; BOSTON IN LOCKDOWN; SNIPERS AT SCENE

by Sharon Rondeau

(Apr. 19, 2013) — A brief press conference was held at 8:00 a.m. EDT in Watertown, MA at which Gov. Deval Patrick told the public to “shelter in place” until the second suspect of the Boston Marathon bombings is apprehended.

The suspect’s older brother was killed during the overnight hours after the two robbed a convenience store, carried out a carjacking, killed an MIT police officer, and seriously wounded another.

The surviving brother is 19 years old and is being sought by legions of police officers deployed into a residential area of Watertown as of 8:09 a.m. EDT.  He is pictured wearing a white baseball hat in FBI surveillance video released on Thursday evening.  The brothers are reported to be from Chechnya or Turkey.

Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton told Fox News that if the brothers are Chechen, “they could well be supported by a significant international network.”

Bolton said that “radical Islam” could be the ideology which caused the brothers to commit their terrorist acts.  The Council on Foreign Relations describes Chechnya as “a largely Muslim ethnic group that has lived for centuries in the mountainous North Caucasus region.”

In October 2002, Chechen terrorists took over a theater in Moscow to demand that Russians leave Chechnya, killing 130 people.  On September 1, 2004, Chechen terrorists took over a school in North Ossetia, Russia, killing 332 people, most of them children.

Fox News reported at 8:22 a.m. that a Facebook page for the surviving brother expresses “Nazi propaganda,” “hatred toward Russia,” and a statement that he is a Muslim.

Update, 8:33 a.m. EDT:  Fox News has reported that police have “surrounded a perimeter” in a neighborhood in Watertown.  Police are “running” as of 8:34 a.m.   “Guns drawn,” said Gretchen Carlson.  “SWAT teams swarm…neighborhood.”  Police have told reporters to move away.  Police appear ready to shoot.  The sound of gunfire or an explosive has been heard.

8:36 a.m.:  FBI and police are seen live poised outside a Watertown residence.  The camera is being moved and tipped.  An FBI agent said, “Back up.”

“Guns drawn,” Carlson said again at 8:37 a.m.  A woman has reportedly been taken out of the house.  An assault vehicle has arrived.  Bret Baier of Fox News reported at 8:40 a.m. that people with the same last name believed to be family of the two brothers have been located “in the same area.”  The brothers reportedly came to the U.S. in 2003.

A sniper is positioned outside the residence near a brown picket fence. The gunfire has stopped as of 8:40 a.m.

Bill Hemmer has reported that two people were led out of the residence by police.

Griff Jenkins is on the scene and reporting that a helicopter is hovering overhead.  He said he has seen “nine city buses” full of police officers arrive at the scene where an assault vehicle is now positioned labeled “Boston Police.”

Jenkins said that the press has been “pushed back” but he does not see “swarming” police officers at 8:45 a.m.

Baier has reported that “lawmakers” believe that the brothers are part of a larger international terrorist cell.

“The uncle of the brothers is talking,” Brian Kilmeade is reporting at 8:47 a.m.  “They traveled here together from Chechnya,” Kilmeade said.  The year of arrival was again stated as 2003.  The Associated Press is reportedly speaking with the uncle.

Armed FBI agents in vests are seen in the area at 8:49.  Fox News is reporting that the brothers attended a Russian school in Chechnya when they were young.  The surviving brother reportedly attended a prestigious high school in Cambridge called Cambridge Ringe & Latin.

The FBI is being quoted as having said that “Chechnya natives plotted marathon attack.”

Jennifer Griffin is reporting at 8:53 a.m. that the situation was “never contained,” contrary to testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to a congressional committee on Wednesday.

“An increase in activity” by police has been identified by Fox News’ Molly Line at 8:54.

The older brother, identified as “Suspect #1,” died at 1:35 a.m. on Friday from gunshot wounds as a result of the shootout at MIT.  Investigators found traces of explosives on his person.  He is now said to have been 26 years old.

Bill Hemmer is speculating at 8:57 a.m. that the situation “may have been resolved” in a way other than Suspect #2 having been apprehended.  Kilmeade added, “No ambulance followed the shooting,” referring to the gunfire heard approximately 20 minutes ago.

Armed FBI and other agents are gathered outside of the Watertown residence.  “Usually an ambulance would be on its way,” Kilmeade said.

Photos of the perpetrators as children are now being shown on the news labeled “Boston Police.”

Martha McCallum said investigators are researching when the “radicalization” of the two men began.  At 9:02 a.m., Fox News reports that “All Boston residents advised to stay in homes.”

The media in the area have been asked to move again at 9:03.  McCallum is reporting at 9:04 that police are “in a fairly relaxed posture” at the moment.

The dead older brother was reportedly a boxer who frequently posted on a Facebook page.  The younger brother, who is still at large, was reportedly a good student who had received a scholarship from the City of Cambridge.

Jennifer Griffin said that Chechens normally see Russia as their enemy, not the United States.  The two remained in the Boston area after placing explosives in two locations at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three and injuring approximately 170, some very seriously.

A car full of bullet holes which was presumably the vehicle stolen overnight has been taken from the Watertown residence which is surrounded by police.  At 9:11 a.m., a police siren was briefly heard.

Bill Hemmer provided a recap of those killed and injured on Monday.  The first explosion occurred at 2:50 p.m. and killed an eight-year-old boy, a 29-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old female student at Boston University from China. A police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was killed overnight, with a second in critical condition at Beth Israel Hospital.

CBS News is reporting that the brothers’ father describes the younger son as “an angel.”  The father reportedly said that the younger son, Dzhokhar, is a “second-year medical student.”

NPR, which is funded with taxpayer dollars, attempted to imply that “right-wing individuals” are responsible for the bombings, while MSNBC tried to blame the National Rifle Association for blocking an avenue of investigation to find the people responsible.

The explosions occurred on Monday and the FBI identified the two suspects on Thursday.

Eric Holder and FBI Director Robert Mueller are reportedly on their way to briefing Obama on the Boston developments at 9:40 a.m.