United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz
District of Massachusetts
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
APRIL 22,
2013
PHONE: (617)748-3122
SUSPECT IN
BOSTON MARATHON ATTACK CHARGED WITH USING
A WEAPON OF
MASS DESTRUCTION
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric
Holder announced today that Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, a U.S. citizen and
resident of Cambridge, Mass., has been charged with using a weapon of mass
destruction against persons and property at the Boston Marathon on April 15,
2013, resulting in the death of three people and injuries to more than 200
people.
In a criminal complaint unsealed
today in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Tsarnaev is
specifically charged with one count of using and conspiring to use a weapon of
mass destruction (namely, an improvised explosive device or IED) against
persons and property within the United States resulting in death, and one count
of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device resulting
in death. The statutory charges authorize a penalty, upon conviction, of
death or imprisonment for life or any term of years. Tsarnaev had his initial
court appearance today from his hospital room.
“Although our investigation is
ongoing, today’s charges bring a successful end to a tragic week for the city
of Boston, and for our country,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “Our
thoughts and prayers remain with each of the bombing victims and brave law
enforcement professionals who lost their lives or suffered serious injuries as
a result of this week’s senseless violence. Thanks to the valor of state
and local police, the dedication of federal law enforcement and intelligence
officials, and the vigilance of members of the public, we’ve once again shown
that those who target innocent Americans and attempt to terrorize our cities
will not escape from justice. We will hold those who are responsible
for these heinous acts accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The events of the past week
underscore in stark terms the need for continued vigilance against terrorist
threats both at home and abroad,” said John Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney
General for National Security. “Friday’s arrest and today’s charges
demonstrate what can be achieved by a collaborative, round-the clock response
involving law enforcement officers, intelligence professionals, prosecutors and
the general public.”
“Today’s charges are the
culmination of extraordinary law enforcement coordination and the tireless
efforts of so many, including ordinary citizens who became heroes as they
responded to the call for help in the hours and days following the Marathon
tragedy,” said Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of
Massachusetts. “The impact of these crimes has been far-reaching,
affecting a worldwide community that is looking for peace and justice. We
hope that this prosecution will bring some small measure of comfort both to the
public at large and to the victims and their families that justice will be
served. While we will not be able to comment on any possible
communications between the suspect and law enforcement at this time, as a
general rule, the government will always seek to elicit all the actionable
intelligence and information we can from terrorist suspects taken into our
custody.”
“The events of this week have moved
at a breakneck pace. Yet the one consistent element of this investigation
has been the collective efforts of our law enforcement and intelligence
partners, working side-by-side, day and night, to identify and find those
responsible for this attack, while keeping the public safe,” said Rick
DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “We are
grateful to the American people for their assistance; we would not be
successful without their trust and support. We will continue to
investigate this matter with the greatest diligence and expediency, and we will
do all that we can to protect those we serve.”
“Friday night’s capture of the
suspect brought immediate relief to a community from a public safety viewpoint.
However, much work remains and many questions require answers. Today’s charges
represent another step on the long road toward justice for the victims of these
crimes. On behalf of the citizens of this great Commonwealth, the Massachusetts
State Police will continue to work diligently with our federal and local
partners to bring this defendant to justice for his alleged acts and ensure the
public’s safety,” said Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the
Massachusetts State Police.
“Finding the alleged perpetrators
of this savage act of terrorism four days after the attack on the City of
Boston was a herculean effort and shows the true cooperation and dedication of
the law enforcement community,” said Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. “We
were relentless in our pursuit of the suspects. The arrest of Tsarnaev and
today’s charges should send a clear message to those who look to do us harm,
the entire law enforcement community will go after you, find you and bring you
to justice.”
This investigation was conducted by
the FBI’s Boston Division, the Boston Police Department, the Massachusetts
State Police, and member agencies of the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force,
which is comprised of more than 30 federal, state and local enforcement
agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations,
U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, the Massachusetts Bay Transit
Authority and others. In addition, the Watertown Police Department, the
Cambridge Police Department, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Police Department, the Boston Fire Department, the National Guard and police,
fire and emergency responders from across Massachusetts and New England played
critical roles in the investigation and response.
This case is being prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Weinreb and Aloke Chakravarty from the
Anti-Terrorism and National Security Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
District of Massachusetts, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of
the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The public is reminded that charges
contained in an indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and
that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
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