Witnesses: 2 explosions heard near finish line of Boston Marathon

[Valin]

The Terrorism Era

The Boston incident may be the start of a more dangerous phase.

Conrad Black

4/17/13

 

As this is written, on a transatlantic flight at midday on Tuesday, there is no information about the perpetrator(s) of the attack on the Boston Marathon. A few observations can be made about the explosions. The white smoke indicates that the explosives were probably relatively low-grade; the two bombs that exploded, and the other two that were allegedly found and dismantled, were small by the standards of the IEDs and time bombs that have become regrettably commonplace in terrorist incidents.

 

 

 

This also appears to have been a pretty amateurish effort by the murderously slick standards of this sort of operation in the Middle East, and at targets selected by experienced terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda in Europe, Latin America, and the Far East. Assuming that the objective was to do the maximum damage, the detonations were two hours late and neither of optimal strength nor of optimal location.

 

 

(Snip)

 

The new danger that the Boston incident may presage is the arrival of the copycat amateur, who may not really know how to murder very effectively — though I do not mean to seem blasé about the terrible carnage in Boston, where apparently 140 people, including many children, were injured, and some of them, in addition to the three people already reported dead, are not expected to survive.

 

 

 

This sort of deranged criminal is not well-organized and often has no organization at all, and so is less of a threat to civilization than a terrorist network is. But having no network and not being in any conspiracy, this kind of enemy is much harder to detect in advance, infiltrate, and prevent from committing outrages. The copycat can make up in numbers and unobtrusiveness what he lacks in professionalism and the death-defying fervor of the serious terrorist.

 

(Snip)

 

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

I fear Conrad is correct. Havoc has always been pretty easy to achieve.

[Valin]

OTOH

 

A Light Shines in Dorchester

Daniel Foster

April 17, 2013

 

A Boston community comes together for Martin Richard

 

Dorchester, Mass. — “Would you like a candle?” she asks me, one of the locals who have organized this night on almost no notice.

 

“Here’s a cup. You poke a hole in it and put the candle through.” She shows me how. “You know, in case it gets too windy.”

 

It is a gusty gloaming — and cold — on the baseball field of Garvey Park in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Mass. But at 7:30 the sun is setting against a pink-purple sky and it comprises a pacific backdrop for the many — a thousand? more? — who have come here to pray for the soul of little Martin Richard, the eight-year-old boy from St. Anne’s Parish who for reasons beyond us all was killed by the blasts in Copley Square on Monday.

 

(Snip)

 

Father John Connolly, the pastor of neighboring St. Brendan’s Parish, takes the mic. He is here because the pastor at St. Anne’s, where the Richard family worshipped, is attending to other aggrieved families.

 

He talks of Garvey Park as a field where Martin often played. He gives an affecting homily that touches on the problem of evil and the holiness of those who ran toward the explosions rather than away from them. He reads from the Gospel of Saint Mark – “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” And he leads us in prayer for Martin and his family — fixtures in the neighborhood, ready community volunteers, little-league boosters, givers of block parties — who very much need prayer. People in contact with the family say Martin’s young sister has a grievous leg injury, and doctors have not yet decided on amputation, and Martin’s mother could need multiple surgeries for her eye.

 

When Father John is done, assembled Dorchester crosses itself.

 

(Snip)

[nickydog]

Forget about guns. In order to be safe we need to ban backpacks!

 

This will be covered in the The Comprehensive Bipartisan Anti Bad Things Act of 2013.

 

Is there a published list yet?

[nickydog]

The Terrorism Era

The Boston incident may be the start of a more dangerous phase.

Conrad Black

4/17/13

 

As this is written, on a transatlantic flight at midday on Tuesday, there is no information about the perpetrator(s) of the attack on the Boston Marathon. A few observations can be made about the explosions. The white smoke indicates that the explosives were probably relatively low-grade; the two bombs that exploded, and the other two that were allegedly found and dismantled, were small by the standards of the IEDs and time bombs that have become regrettably commonplace in terrorist incidents.

 

 

 

This also appears to have been a pretty amateurish effort by the murderously slick standards of this sort of operation in the Middle East, and at targets selected by experienced terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda in Europe, Latin America, and the Far East. Assuming that the objective was to do the maximum damage, the detonations were two hours late and neither of optimal strength nor of optimal location.

 

 

(Snip)

 

The new danger that the Boston incident may presage is the arrival of the copycat amateur, who may not really know how to murder very effectively — though I do not mean to seem blasé about the terrible carnage in Boston, where apparently 140 people, including many children, were injured, and some of them, in addition to the three people already reported dead, are not expected to survive.

 

 

 

This sort of deranged criminal is not well-organized and often has no organization at all, and so is less of a threat to civilization than a terrorist network is. But having no network and not being in any conspiracy, this kind of enemy is much harder to detect in advance, infiltrate, and prevent from committing outrages. The copycat can make up in numbers and unobtrusiveness what he lacks in professionalism and the death-defying fervor of the serious terrorist.

 

(Snip)

 

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

I fear Conrad is correct. Havoc has always been pretty easy to achieve.

 

This makes sense to me, too.

 

I just read that the 6-year old sister of 8-year old Martin Richard lost a leg. That poor family.

 

Just heard on Fox News that she is in danger of losing her leg. I hope that's the case and that they will be able to save it.

Edited April 17, 2013 by nickydog

[Valin]

Forget about guns. In order to be safe we need to ban backpacks!

 

This will be covered in the The Comprehensive Bipartisan Anti Bad Things Act of 2013.

 

Is there a published list yet?

 

Not at this time. However anything that can be bad will be made illegal...its for the children.

 

You can't be Toooooo Safe!

[Valin]

The Terrorism Era

The Boston incident may be the start of a more dangerous phase.

Conrad Black

4/17/13

 

As this is written, on a transatlantic flight at midday on Tuesday, there is no information about the perpetrator(s) of the attack on the Boston Marathon. A few observations can be made about the explosions. The white smoke indicates that the explosives were probably relatively low-grade; the two bombs that exploded, and the other two that were allegedly found and dismantled, were small by the standards of the IEDs and time bombs that have become regrettably commonplace in terrorist incidents.

 

 

 

This also appears to have been a pretty amateurish effort by the murderously slick standards of this sort of operation in the Middle East, and at targets selected by experienced terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda in Europe, Latin America, and the Far East. Assuming that the objective was to do the maximum damage, the detonations were two hours late and neither of optimal strength nor of optimal location.

 

 

(Snip)

 

The new danger that the Boston incident may presage is the arrival of the copycat amateur, who may not really know how to murder very effectively — though I do not mean to seem blasé about the terrible carnage in Boston, where apparently 140 people, including many children, were injured, and some of them, in addition to the three people already reported dead, are not expected to survive.

 

 

 

This sort of deranged criminal is not well-organized and often has no organization at all, and so is less of a threat to civilization than a terrorist network is. But having no network and not being in any conspiracy, this kind of enemy is much harder to detect in advance, infiltrate, and prevent from committing outrages. The copycat can make up in numbers and unobtrusiveness what he lacks in professionalism and the death-defying fervor of the serious terrorist.

 

(Snip)

 

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

I fear Conrad is correct. Havoc has always been pretty easy to achieve.

 

This makes sense to me, too.

 

I just read that the 6-year old sister of 8-year old Martin Richard lost a leg. That poor family.

 

OTOH a lot of these guys don't know the 1 thing that a successful terrorist group/person needs to do...Keep their mouths shut. When we catch them/him it will because they/he talked to someone.

[clearvision]

The fact that the bombs were not powerful enough to gouge craters in the sidewalk or inflict structural damage on nearby buildings suggested to some investigators that they had a common explosive such as black gunpowder, rather than something like plastic explosive. Black powder is widely sold at sporting goods and discount stores.

Guess what is coming next.

[nickydog]

Forget about guns. In order to be safe we need to ban backpacks!

 

This will be covered in the The Comprehensive Bipartisan Anti Bad Things Act of 2013.

 

Is there a published list yet?

 

Not at this time. However anything that can be bad will be made illegal...its for the children.

 

You can't be Toooooo Safe!

 

LOVE the E.P.A. emissions control system and the non-skid spark suppressors.

[clearvision]

Well maybe that was fast...

 

Investigators have arrested a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing after reviewing photos and video from Monday's event, a federal source confirmed to FoxNews.com.

The suspect, who is expected to appear in federal court in Boston later today, has not yet been named by authorities. He was seen on surveillance footage that showed a young man carrying – and perhaps dropping – a black bag at the second bombing scene at the finish line of Monday's race, where two bombs exploded, killing three and injuring 176. The camera at a Boylston Street Lord & Taylor directly across the street from one of the blasts, has given investigators clear video of the area, according to the unnamed official.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/17/fbi-boston-police-say-range-suspects-motives-remains-wide-open/#ixzz2QkKy5B4l

[clearvision]

Ha. Now CNN says in custody, but FOX has pulled their report and so no arrest yet.

[Valin]

Should say they have about 10 other photos at the link of people with backpacks though.

 

The thing is evidently there are a lot of surveillance cameras and CCTV in that area.

[Valin]

Ha. Now CNN says in custody, but FOX has pulled their report and so no arrest yet.

 

Legal Insurrection @LegInsurrection

 

Remind me again why "journalists" attack bloggers

1:42 PM - 17 Apr 2013

[clearvision]

FOX now saying photos of two men who are of interest are being distributed to LE. Reporter has seen the photos, but won't describe them. Both have black backpacks.

[Valin]

FOX now saying photos of two men who are of interest are being distributed to LE. Reporter has seen the photos, but won't describe them. Both have black backpacks.

 

Do you have more? photos...etc?

[clearvision]

FOX reporter has seen them, but will not release them, or describe them until Feds say OK. Two guys, one with backpack, on with bag he says. Not clear if they are together or possibly just two that are suspicious from all the backpackers there.

[clearvision]

 

This photo shows two of the "suspects" (to me they look more like military types) from Valin's links with their backpacks still on after the explosion. They have head buds in other photos and 1 is carrying a very full backpack. So they are not the suspects the FBI is after.

[Rheo]

Anyone hear this or know anything about it? from a FB post on Ulstermann.

 

Did you see the bombshell Mark Fuhrman just dropped? He said the Saudi national that was a 'person of interest' yesterday in the Boston Marathon bombing is being deported next Tuesday, for reasons of national security. Interesting, huh? Especially since Dear Leader met with the Saudi foreign minister today - over Syria. Yea, that's it, Syria.

[clearvision]

CNN seems to confirm it is the two together with the back pack and the duffel bag. The media is really in the tank now as the pictures are already out there (see above)

[clearvision]

OK really stupid. CNN says one guy with backpack and with another guy with duffel. Then say they don't want to show pictures as it could cause major problems for the case..... yet they just confirmed which photos are accurate that already are posted. This is stupid.

[SrWoodchuck]

Anyone hear this or know anything about it? from a FB post on Ulstermann.

 

Did you see the bombshell Mark Fuhrman just dropped? He said the Saudi national that was a 'person of interest' yesterday in the Boston Marathon bombing is being deported next Tuesday, for reasons of national security. Interesting, huh? Especially since Dear Leader met with the Saudi foreign minister today - over Syria. Yea, that's it, Syria.

 

“Innocent” Saudi spotted with two other Saudis at Marathon?

 

http://shoebat.com/2013/04/17/innocent-saudi-spotted-with-two-other-saudis-at-marathon/

 

By Shoebat Foundation on April 17, 2013 in Blog, General

First, a few things that are undisputed. We know that federal, state, and local authorities took interest in a Saudi national named Abdul Rahman Ali Alharbi after the Boston marathon bombings. We also know that he was injured and that those authorities searched his apartment and hauled away bags of stuff.

Add to that the fact that not long after Secretary of State John Kerry secretly met with the Saudi Foreign Minister after an open meeting with a photo spray was abruptly changed to a closed-door meeting. Not long after this meeting, Alharbi was no longer a person of interest.

Ok, so authorities are not denying that Alharbi was injured in the blast and they are not denying that he is a Saudi national (don’t look for them to even acknowledge that six members of the Alharbi clan are with Al-Qaeda and five were detained at Gitmo, to include one on the list of six). These authorities are, however, denying that Alharbi had anything to do with the bombings.

That leads to what appears to be three Saudis being spotted near the scene of the explosions. Note that one has what appears to be a backpack over his shoulder, via Asian Week:

 

Saudi National in Boston Bombing being deported on "National Security Grounds"

 

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2013/04/saudi-national-in-boston-bombing-being-deported-on-national-security-grounds.html

 

Steve Emerson just broke the shocking news that the Saudi national, Abdul al-Harbi, who was first questioned in the Boston bombing, is going to be deported on "national security grounds." He is from a very powerful Saudi family with many terrorist ties. Abdul al-Harbi is a devout Muslim from Medina.

I said that it takes longer than 15 hours to investigate all of Abdul al-Harbi's relatives, friends, acquaintances, and business and school friends.

Perhaps a quick look at the Arabic sources should raise the eyebrows of every American relative to the extent of the problem at hand. Many from Al-Harbi’s clan are steeped in terrorism and are members of Al-Qaeda. Out of a list of

85 terrorists

listed by the Saudi government shows several of Al-Harbi clan to have been active fighters in Al-Qaeda:

When I heard he was from a very powerful Saudi family, I worried about this kind of thing happening.

Secretary of State Kerry's meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal was abruptly closed to the press the day Abdul al-Harbi was being questioned. There is no doubt in my mind that this was discussed.

Today's embarassing display of rolling incompetence and badly mangled leaks led to numerous cancellations of press conferences, mis-identified suspects, promises of imminent arrest, walking back the arrest announcement, and more. They said they would release a statement and then said they wouldn't.

Very smelly.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU73EZmYjF4&feature=player_embedded

H/T:iOTW

[Valin]

From the You Can't Make This Stuff Up File....

 

WSJ: Video Provides Clues to Bomber

 

 

Lara Spenzak Wrote:

 

This week we saw the hate of the right wing express itself in the form of bombings in Boston. There is no question anymore that there is no valid reason to vote for any Republican, any Conservative or any person associated with the Tea Party.

 

To me, this act of violence in Boston by Conservatives reveals how desperate they truly are. Conservatives are on the wrong side of every issue from Climate Change to Gay Marriage. From the Economy to Foreign Policy.

 

Conservatives lost in November when President Obama was overwhelmingly voted in for a second term. It is no coincidence that the person who opposed President Obama in 2012 was a former governor of Massachusetts. Don't be surprise that when the bomber is captured it turns out to be a Romney supporter.

 

Boston and Boston Marathon represents much of what Conservatives hate: A progresssive city that is gay-friendly, that bans gun violence, a city rich in schools, culture and some of the best hospitals in the country. By attacking the Marathon, Conservatives also reveal their contempt for healthy lifestyle's and modes of transportation that does not involve gas-guzzling cars and SUV's.

 

What do we do now?

 

First, we must continue to move FORWARD with President Obama. Conservatives oppose everything that people want. People want PROGRESS. We want Gay Marriage. We want Health Care. We want the rich to pay their FAIR SHARE in taxes. We want SCIENCE in our classrooms and we want respect for DIVERSITY and TOLERANCE.

 

These are the values that we make us a better people and will transform America into a good place we can call home and feel safe

 

 

[Valin]

Official confirms photo of bombing suspect, possible bomb before explosion

 

 

Vid At Link

[clearvision]

[Valin]

 

 

H/T Slate

[Valin]

Hot Air

Open thread: FBI press conference on Boston bombings; Update: Photos and video added; Update: Do cops have the names? Update: New pic discovered?

Allahpundit

 

(Snip}

 

Update: Steve Emerson told Sean Hannity last night that ICE is planning to deport the Saudi national whom cops initially investigated as a person of interest in the bombing, then cleared. Per the Blaze, Emerson said it was on “national security grounds.” Other sources confirmed Emerson’s claim for the Blaze and basically allege that something suspicious is going on, not just with the Saudi but with his associates. But an ICE official told BuzzFeed this afternoon that it’s not true: The Saudi in the hospital isn’t being deported, a different Saudi national is. And that guy supposedly has nothing to do with the bombing. The Blaze later updated to note that its sources now say ICE has reconsidered and might not deport the Saudi in the hospital. How much of this is true and whether it has anything to do with the bombing is unclear at the moment, but there you go.

 

 

(Snip)

 

Update: Here’s one that caught my eye a few days ago. This isn’t Black Cap, isn’t it? The pants, coat, and bag all look sort of right, but the hat seems lighter in this pic than in the vid. And there’s no white shirt here.