# Likely Suspects in Boston Marathon Bombing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946 "2013-04-17T16:40:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/1 "2013-04-17T16:40:14Z")
What sort of group or person do you think is likely behind the bombing? My instinct is that it is the work of a white domestic terrorist similar to Timothy McVeigh and/or Eric Rudolph. It’s entirely baseless, but that’s just my hunch. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/2 "2013-04-17T16:42:45Z")
My first thought was that it was a Boston Tea Party tax day protest similar to Timothy McVeigh or Rudolph, but you never know. As the Onion said, it could be lots of people. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/3 "2013-04-17T16:53:27Z")
If I was a bettin’ man, which I’m not, and if I wanted to bet on who did this, which I dont, I would put my money on a right wing domestic terrorist. If it was RWDT vs. Somebody Else, I’d go with somebody else, but not by a big margin. I don’t think it’s in the style of a left wing/eco terrorist. I’d buy into it being a Muslim terrorist, but the tax day symbolism is pushing me to a right winger. It could of course be a random attack from someone with a unique “reason” for doing this, and the marathon was simply a convenient highly visible choice. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/4 "2013-04-17T16:56:50Z")
It would seem that an organization like Al Quaida would be quick to claim responsibility if they had done this. With the recent mailing of ricin to a Louisiana pol, and now a suspicious envelope to the POTUS [intercepted](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/us/politics/officials-intercept-suspicious-letter-sent-to-obama.html?hp&_r=0), this is sounding like a domestic asshole or assholes. ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/5 "2013-04-17T16:57:36Z")
The Spanish Inquisition 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/6 "2013-04-17T16:57:37Z")
Al Qaeda and their ilk generally don’t pick dates with any historical significance in the West (see 9/11, 7/7, 2/26 WTC bombing, etc.) Based solely on that, I’m leaning toward domestic reactionary. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/7 "2013-04-17T16:58:28Z")
RWDT - Right Wing Domestic Terrorist. Not sure if “he” is a lone wolf or part of a small group. I would also suspect the possibility of former military experience, possibly Iraq/Afghanistan. The IED used was rather crude, probably due to lack of access to better materials. If he doesn’t do this again, and keeps his mouth shut (not likely given typical bravado ego) he will never be caught. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/8 "2013-04-17T17:10:17Z")
4chan has posted some really interesting photos. It could be nothing more than a couple of Richard Jewells. [[Album] bunch of photos and "possible" suspects from the collective free time on the... ![](https://i.imgur.com/6uthUCw.jpeg?fb "bunch of photos and "possible" suspects from the collective free time on the...") ](https://imgur.com/a/sUrnA) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/9 "2013-04-17T17:11:20Z")
Sick fuck. That’s who. I don’t really care about their political affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/10 "2013-04-17T17:19:03Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > 4chan has posted some really interesting photos. It could be nothing more than a couple of Richard Jewells. > > [4chan ThinkTank - Album on Imgur](http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA) Those are just pictures of people with backpacks. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/11 "2013-04-17T17:22:55Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > 4chan has posted some really interesting photos. It could be nothing more than a couple of Richard Jewells. > > [4chan ThinkTank - Album on Imgur](http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA) Just to be clear, Richard Jewell has completely exonerated and was actually something of a hero. But, if I were a betting man, I would also bet on a right-wing nut a la McVeigh. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/12 "2013-04-17T17:23:43Z")
We should know soon. CNN’s website has the “Breaking News” banner that a suspect has been identified. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/13 "2013-04-17T17:25:07Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > 4chan has posted some really interesting photos. It could be nothing more than a couple of Richard Jewells. > > [4chan ThinkTank - Album on Imgur](http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA) Based on those photos, is there anyone at the race who DIDN’T have a suspicious backpack on and happen to be looking in the wrong direction? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/14 "2013-04-17T17:29:24Z")
Another domestic terrorist vote. White. Loner. Late 20s / early 30s. Working, but for low pay in a thankless job. I wouldn’t blame the right wing. This guy may think he’s fighting for the right wing, but he’s simply a nut case. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/15 "2013-04-17T17:33:50Z")
You never know though. It could be some guy who didn’t qualify for the race, or somebody who thought Tweetied Bird told him to do it, or any number of other ‘reasons.’ One thing is for sure, when they catch him and you see his picture, you’ll think: what an insignificant little shit, this asshole caused all this misery? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/16 "2013-04-17T17:34:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > You never know though. It could be some guy who didn’t qualify for the race,.. Damn you! I just popped back into thread to post that. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/17 "2013-04-17T17:39:42Z")
Yeah, it isn’t like there is going to be any reason that makes sense. It’s not like when they catch the guy and he issues his manifesto and we’ll all be, “ohh, well in that case, let him go, he makes a good point.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/18 "2013-04-17T17:41:56Z")
Well, “American bombs killed my family” is _slightly_ less ridiculous than “5’22” is a ridiculous qualifying time!" ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/19 "2013-04-17T17:50:06Z")
Yeah, but neither is a good reason for blowing up an 8 year old kid. CNN is announcing that they have a suspect and an arrest is imminent. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946/20 "2013-04-17T17:51:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Sick fuck. That’s who. > > I don’t really care about their political affiliation. Well, it makes a difference. I mean, if 9/11 had been pulled off by a bunch of Timothy McVeigh types, the history of the last twelve years would have ended up being a lot different. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likely-suspects-in-boston-marathon-bombing/655946.md?page=2)