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Bomb Details Emerge in Boston Case Bomb Details Emerge in Boston Case
(35 minutes later)
BOSTON — The explosives used to kill three people and injure 176 at the Boston Marathon on Monday were most likely some kind of “pressure-cooker” devices that sent sharp bits of shrapnel flying into victims in the vicinity of the blast, several law enforcement officials said Tuesday.BOSTON — The explosives used to kill three people and injure 176 at the Boston Marathon on Monday were most likely some kind of “pressure-cooker” devices that sent sharp bits of shrapnel flying into victims in the vicinity of the blast, several law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
Surgeons at several Boston hospitals told televised news conferences on Tuesday that the explosive devices had apparently been packed with small pellets and sharp “nail-like” objects that were designed to maim their victims.Surgeons at several Boston hospitals told televised news conferences on Tuesday that the explosive devices had apparently been packed with small pellets and sharp “nail-like” objects that were designed to maim their victims.
The new details about the explosives emerged as President Obama announced at the White House that the F.B.I. was investigating the attack as “an act of terrorism,” but said that it was unclear if it had been carried out by an individual or a group, foreign or domestic.The new details about the explosives emerged as President Obama announced at the White House that the F.B.I. was investigating the attack as “an act of terrorism,” but said that it was unclear if it had been carried out by an individual or a group, foreign or domestic.
Two of the three people who were killed in the bombing were identified by relatives on Tuesday: Martin Richard, an 8-year-old from Dorchester, and Krystle Campbell, 29, of the Boston suburb of Arlington.Two of the three people who were killed in the bombing were identified by relatives on Tuesday: Martin Richard, an 8-year-old from Dorchester, and Krystle Campbell, 29, of the Boston suburb of Arlington.
Boston University officials Tuesday afternoon said the third victim was a graduate student there but the university did not release the name of the student because it said it is waiting for permission from the family. The student was watching the race close to the finish line, the university said in a post on its news Web site, BU Today.Boston University officials Tuesday afternoon said the third victim was a graduate student there but the university did not release the name of the student because it said it is waiting for permission from the family. The student was watching the race close to the finish line, the university said in a post on its news Web site, BU Today.
Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said the authorities believe that the explosives were similar to improvised explosive devices that have been used against American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. McCaul, a former federal prosecutor who received briefings Tuesday morning from Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security officials, also said that the authorities still did not know whether the attack was a foreign or domestic plot.Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said the authorities believe that the explosives were similar to improvised explosive devices that have been used against American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. McCaul, a former federal prosecutor who received briefings Tuesday morning from Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security officials, also said that the authorities still did not know whether the attack was a foreign or domestic plot.
Richard DesLauriers, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.'s Boston division, said Tuesday evening that investigators officially began recovering forensic evidence from the blast site on Tuesday morning.
“Among items partially recovered are pieces of black nylon, which could be from a backpack, and what appear to be fragments of BBs and nails, possibly contained in pressure cooker device,'’ he said at a news conference, adding that they would be sent to the bureau’s laboratory in Quantico, Va. “In addition, this morning it was determined that both of the explosives were placed in a dark-colored nylon bag or backpack. The bag would have been heavy because of the components believed to be in it.”
Mr. DesLauriers said that the investigation was “in its infancy,” and that there had been no claims of responsibility, leaving the range of possible suspects and motives “wide open.”
“This is a very complicated investigation,'’ he said. “It is going to be pursued methodically, carefully, diligently, but with a sense of urgency. We are barely 24 hours on into this investigation, so I would say that this is still in its early, early stages, and that’s the best way I can characterize it right now.”
A law enforcement official said at least one and probably both of the bombs were pressure cookers filled with nails and ball bearings and black powder that were detonated with rudimentary “kitchen-type” timers. The official said investigators believe the bombs were hidden inside bags or backpacks and left on the street or sidewalk near the finish line.A law enforcement official said at least one and probably both of the bombs were pressure cookers filled with nails and ball bearings and black powder that were detonated with rudimentary “kitchen-type” timers. The official said investigators believe the bombs were hidden inside bags or backpacks and left on the street or sidewalk near the finish line.
A senior government official who had spoken with intelligence and law enforcement officials said Tuesday that there had been “no pre-attack chatter” detected by the government from members of Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups. In two intelligence briefings the official said he had received in recent weeks, “nothing was offered on this” type of attack.A senior government official who had spoken with intelligence and law enforcement officials said Tuesday that there had been “no pre-attack chatter” detected by the government from members of Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups. In two intelligence briefings the official said he had received in recent weeks, “nothing was offered on this” type of attack.
The official said that the intelligence agencies had begun to go back and examine communications they intercepted in recent weeks to determine whether they had missed anything. “Before the 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt, they thought there was no pre-attack chatter,” said the official. “But there had been, but it had not been interpreted. Everything is now being looked at.”The official said that the intelligence agencies had begun to go back and examine communications they intercepted in recent weeks to determine whether they had missed anything. “Before the 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt, they thought there was no pre-attack chatter,” said the official. “But there had been, but it had not been interpreted. Everything is now being looked at.”
Along with having few investigative leads, the official said that the investigation had been hampered, in part, by the fact that no terrorist group had claimed responsibility for the attack. Such a claim of responsibility, the official said, would help investigators as they try and weed out suspects.
Rudimentary explosive devices made from pressure cookers have been widely used in attacks in Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, all countries where the cooking device is common, according to a Department of Homeland Security warning notice issued in 2010. But they have occasionally turned up in attacks in the United States as well: Faisal Shahzad, an American citizen who tried a car-bomb attack on Times Square in 2010, included a pressure cooker loaded with 120 firecrackers in the collection of jury-rigged explosives in his vehicle. The devices smoked but never exploded.
Law enforcement officials urged the public on Tuesday to share any video or photographs they had taken of the marathon or the blast.
F.B.I. agents, Boston police detectives, the state police and investigators from other agencies assigned to Boston’s Joint Terrorist Task Force were being assisted by an F.B.I. Evidence Recovery Team from New York and F.B.I. specialists from the bureau’s laboratory in Quantico, Va., who are expert in the handling of videos and photographs, a law enforcement official said.
“There is a tremendous volume of images that are being evaluated,” the official said.
Martin Richard, the 8-year-old, died while watching the marathon with his family, according to Conor Yunits, a family spokesman; his mother and a sister were badly injured.
Bill Richard, Martin’s father, released a statement on Tuesday in which he thanked people for their prayers and asked for privacy to grieve.
Katharine Q. Seelye reported from Boston, and Michael Cooper from New York. Reporting was contributed by John Eligon and Jess Bidgood from Boston, Steve Eder, Ashley Parker, William K. Rashbaum and Mary Pilon from New York, and Mark Landler, and Michael S. Schmidt, Eric Schmitt and Abby Goodnough from Washington.Katharine Q. Seelye reported from Boston, and Michael Cooper from New York. Reporting was contributed by John Eligon and Jess Bidgood from Boston, Steve Eder, Ashley Parker, William K. Rashbaum and Mary Pilon from New York, and Mark Landler, and Michael S. Schmidt, Eric Schmitt and Abby Goodnough from Washington.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: April 16, 2013Correction: April 16, 2013

 An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to marathon jackets worn by some participants.   They were available for purchase,  they were not given to runners.  

 An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to marathon jackets worn by some participants.   They were available for purchase,  they were not given to runners.