Bomb attack in Boston

[ilikeverin]

BPD says no suspect in custody, no knowledge of a "person of interest": http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/boston-police-no-arrests-have-been-made-in

[ilikeverin]

"CBS News' John Miller: Saudi national detained after bomb blast is being cooperative, denying involvement"

lol oops profiling

[ilikeverin]

"CBS News' John Miller: Saudi national detained after bomb blast is being cooperative, denying involvement"

lol oops profiling

"Those reports are not true, there is no suspect in custody."--Boston Police Comish.

Yes, yes, I already posted that the Boston Police department denied having anyone in custody, but news services are still reporting that there is, and now apparently that this person who may or may not exist denied being involved.  As per usual in these situations, no one knows what's happening.

[ilikeverin]

It really makes perfect sense for a terrorist of any stripe. Tons of people, big event and plenty of video cameras rolling. You get people scared and you get their attention.

But that's not quite right... unless you're blowing yourself up, blowing up things in such a high-attention location is inevitably going to get you arrested.  Just look at how many videos at how many angles of the explosions have been documented!  There are so many videos of the two hours before the explosions that it's nearly inconceivable to think that the identity of the bombers couldn't be discovered just from them, unless somehow the bombers set things up before the race even started getting set up.  And, from what I've heard, the location where the bombs were set off is high-camera anyway.  Yet, despite those facts, we have just one not-confirmed "person of interest", no one is saying that the likely bomber died in the explosions, and no one has claimed responsibility.

I'm with snowguy here.  This whole thing doesn't make much sense.  Given the camera issues, one might presume this is the work of an amateur, but the precision of the bombs (as well as the scope of the attempted bombing; 5+ unexploded bombs were discovered after the fact) suggests otherwise.  I almost wonder if it was a lone wolf attempting to impress some bigger group; but what's the point of that if you're just going to get caught right away?

[ilikeverin]

It really makes perfect sense for a terrorist of any stripe. Tons of people, big event and plenty of video cameras rolling. You get people scared and you get their attention.

But that's not quite right... unless you're blowing yourself up, blowing up things in such a high-attention location is inevitably going to get you arrested.  Just look at how many videos at how many angles of the explosions have been documented!  There are so many videos of the two hours before the explosions that it's nearly inconceivable to think that the identity of the bombers couldn't be discovered just from them, unless somehow the bombers set things up before the race even started getting set up.  And, from what I've heard, the location where the bombs were set off is high-camera anyway.  Yet, despite those facts, we have just one not-confirmed "person of interest", no one is saying that the likely bomber died in the explosions, and no one has claimed responsibility.

I'm with snowguy here.  This whole thing doesn't make much sense.  Given the camera issues, one might presume this is the work of an amateur, but the precision of the bombs (as well as the scope of the attempted bombing; 5+ unexploded bombs were discovered after the fact) suggests otherwise.  I almost wonder if it was a lone wolf attempting to impress some bigger group; but what's the point of that if you're just going to get caught right away?

You are transposing normal thought patterns and behavior on unnatural actions. Having studied terror attacks in some depth, most of the time there is less thought process and planning, if at all, into getting away with it. Of course, the group/individual affiliation, motivation, dynamic has a lot to do with this.  My gut instinct tells me this is lone wolf or very small cell of a couple people. Someone like the Times Square bomber. People willing to take the martyrdom route only if cornered.  That may also be why BPD, FBI etc etc is being tight lipped.  You could have situation like after Madrid where bombers take themselves out once noose tightens.

Well, I wasn't really suggesting they were going to try to get away with it.  It's more that it seems like if they knew anything at all it would be that they wouldn't get away with it, and, if so, why they haven't surfaced yet...

But I'll defer to your expertise.