# Explosions at Boston Marathon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781 "2013-04-15T19:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/501 "2013-04-17T19:22:00Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > Well…now the Boston Globe is reporting the suspect is in custody and the courthouse is being evacuated due to a possible bomb threat. Maybe they noticed that the suspect has a cellphone sewed into his abdomen. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/502 "2013-04-17T19:34:14Z")
I just got a spam emailed called “Video of Explosion at the Boston Marathon 2013.” Talk about crass- and pointless, since there is video everywhere… ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/503 "2013-04-17T19:39:25Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > Well…now the Boston Globe is reporting the suspect is in custody and the courthouse is being evacuated due to a possible bomb threat. So the bomber is Raoul Silva and was hoping to get caught so he could infiltrate the courthouse? ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/504 "2013-04-17T19:52:57Z")
reported at 2:39 CDT [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-boston-marathon-bombings-20130417,0,661252.story](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-boston-marathon-bombings-20130417,0,661252.story) [QUOTE=Reuters"] Investigators believe they have identified a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing from security video, a U.S. law enforcement source said on Wednesday, but no arrest had yet been made. “Despite reports to the contrary there has not been an arrest in the marathon attack,” Boston police said in a statement. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a statement asking the media to “exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting.” The identification of a possible suspect marked the most significant, publicly-disclosed break since Monday’s blasts at the Boston Marathon’s finish line killed three people and injured 176 others in the worst attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/505 "2013-04-17T20:16:51Z")
From the careful wording I have heard used by the authorities when denying an arrest has been made I am thinking that a “suspect” _is_ in custody but that the legal situation is such that the suspect cannot be arrested yet, but that could happen soon. My way-out guess is that someone appeared in this Lord & Taylor security footage to be the likely culprit and by using cell phone records the cops/FBI were able to apprehend him/her. The resolution of the L&T video is probably not great, but if the person matching the phone records resembles the person in the video there could be enough probable cause for that person to be held in custody. Now I’ll go out further on a limb with what followed: this suspect denied any involvement, then lawyered-up, and now we’re just waiting on some legal-type person (prosecutor/judge/magistrate/whoever) to make the appropriate pronouncement that the subject can be arrested, and then publicly named. It’s also possible that much of that happened–but then it just didn’t pan out. The former suspect and his/her lawyer buddy managed to convince the authorities that they didn’t have legal reason to hold the person any longer, ergo: back to square one (or two or three). ETA: I base my supposition mostly on this quote from CNN: > [@](#): > > One federal law enforcement source told CNN that “anyone who says ‘arrest’ is ahead of themselves.” You can kinda read between the lines there that someone is in custody, but just not arrested yet. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/506 "2013-04-17T20:35:37Z")
I like [Deadspin’s take on it](http://deadspin.com/reports-suspect-identified-in-boston-bombings-arrest-474974054): > [@](#): > > Earlier, CNN’s John King reported that the suspect was a “dark-skinned male.” CBS News now reports that the suspect is a “white male, wearing white baseball cap on backwards, gray hoodie and black jacket.” This probably means the suspect is female. and "Actual quote from CNN: “This individual may be known or unknown.” " Plus the FBI is basically saying ‘no one is under arrest\* and reporters saying otherwise are sure not helping’. \*They specifically mentioned arrest, not custody/questioning. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/507 "2013-04-17T20:52:01Z")
Assuming [these](http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Lord+%26+Taylor,+Boylston+Street,+Boston,+MA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=42.349049,-71.080711&spn=0.002899,0.004769&sll=42.368184,-71.08017&sspn=0.130126,0.305214&oq=lord+%26+tay&t=h&hq=Lord+%26+Taylor,&hnear=Boylston+St,+Boston,+Massachusetts,+United+States&fll=42.348883,-71.080475&fspn=0.002876,0.004769&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.348966,-71.080671&panoid=phcbujU3S3uyGLnkCWYaqA&cbp=12,25.25,,1,-25.16) are the Lord & Taylor security cameras in question, it looks like they could hardly be better placed. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/508 "2013-04-17T20:56:25Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I like [Deadspin’s take on it](http://deadspin.com/reports-suspect-identified-in-boston-bombings-arrest-474974054): Black jacket, white cap, is it [this guy](http://imgur.com/a/7kLk3) in the 2nd and 3rd montages? (Although the cap isn’t on backwards in these pics.) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/509 "2013-04-17T21:13:29Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Black jacket, white cap, is it [this guy](http://imgur.com/a/7kLk3)… “Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac / Yeah, the boy’s a time bo-omb!” – Rancid ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/510 "2013-04-17T21:15:06Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > "Actual quote from CNN: “This individual may be known or unknown.” " “It hasn’t been confirmed that he’s known or unknown, but our sources believe this may be possible.” ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/511 "2013-04-17T21:32:47Z")
All the conflicting news reports remind me of this quote from _Plan 9 From Outer Space:_ “But one thing’s sure. Inspector Clay is dead, murdered, and somebody’s responsible.” ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/512 "2013-04-17T21:33:15Z")
And here I was thinking quantum physics was iffy. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/513 "2013-04-17T21:49:38Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > “It hasn’t been confirmed that he’s known or unknown, but our sources believe this may be possible.” He probably fled in an unknown direction. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/514 "2013-04-17T21:52:30Z")
And I am guessing the perps name is Heisenberg. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/515 "2013-04-17T21:52:41Z")
There are known knowns unknown, and there are unknown known unknowns: there’s stuff you know that you know you don’t know, and there are things you don’t know if you know you don’t know. This is the news on shrooms. ---
**Author:** ![retsin2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@retsin2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retsin2000)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/516 "2013-04-17T21:59:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > There are known knowns unknown, and there are unknown known unknowns: there’s stuff you know that you know you don’t know, and there are things you don’t know if you know you don’t know. This is the news on shrooms. Ah, Donald Rumsfeld. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GiPe1OiKQuk/hqdefault.jpg "Donald Rumsfeld Unknown Unknowns !") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiPe1OiKQuk) ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/517 "2013-04-18T02:37:39Z")
how quickly do groups claim their attacks? even if it’s a lone nut it seems unlikely the type would not gloat or remain quiet about it. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/518 "2013-04-18T02:47:14Z")
Did Eric Rudolph claim responsibility after the Atlanta Olympics bombing? It is entirely possible that the perpetrator(s) of this crime will remain hidden. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/519 "2013-04-18T16:37:06Z")
[Internet sleuthing isn’t going very well.](http://deadspin.com/the-boston-bombing-witch-hunt-bags-another-innocent-kid-476001019) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/520 "2013-04-18T16:54:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [Internet sleuthing isn’t going very well.](http://deadspin.com/the-boston-bombing-witch-hunt-bags-another-innocent-kid-476001019) I would say it is going infinitely better than the NY Post reporting, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=27)