Political Crime and/or Terrorism - Essay Example

Boston Bombing Terrorism has been a worldwide headache for some time since the emergence of Al- Qaeda and their connection with 9/11 event. The reign of terror acts coalesce around the extreme activities of Muslim extremists who believe that they have to cause havoc, panic, suffering and even death to fellow human beings on various reasons most of which I believe are flimsy, for instance, differences in religious views and practices. The Boston Marathon bombing as well as the consequent linked shootings comprised a succession of attacks that commenced on April 15, 2013; the day of the Boston Marathon.

On that day, two pressure cooker bombs detonated resulting in the death of 3 people while injuring approximately 264 others (Russell & Farragher 1). The bombs blasted at an interval of 12 seconds and 210 yards apart next to the finish line within Boylston Street. After the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) undertook the investigations, it released surveillance video and photographs of two suspects, Chechen brothers namely Tamerlan and Dzhorkhar Tsarnaev, who formed a terror cell to plan and thereafter initiate terror activities within the U.

S (Russell & Farragher 1). Immediately after the FBI had released their images, the brothers engaged in a series of criminal activities including murder of an MIT police officer, carjacking of SUV, as well as engaging policemen in a gunfire exchange in Massachusetts and Watertown. At the incident of firefight, an MBTA policeman incurred severe injuries with massive blood loss. Consequently, Tamerlan was shot many times and later ran over by his brother who was driving the stolen SUV during the escape (Russell & Farragher 1).

Tamerlan died on the spot during the incident. Extraordinary manhunt for the escaped Dzhokhar Tsarnaev began thereafter with thousands of officers mounting search in Watertown. The manhunt exercise left residents of Watertown and the suburbs indoors with shut down of public transport system in addition to the closure of several businesses as well as public institutions (Russell & Farragher 1). The search was an unforgettable incident among the residents of Watertown. However, a Watertown resident found Dzhokhar in a boat within his backyard.

This was to the relief of the security officers and the entire state and US. He was found severely injured in an unconscious state and was apprehended and taken to hospital. During the preliminary interrogation at the hospital, Dzhokhar claimed that his brother Tamerlan was the mastermind of the attacks. He asserted that they are Islamic zealots inspired by the extremist Islamist beliefs as well as the urge to be retributive terrorists on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars fronted by the US military that they accuse of killing their innocent brothers (Russell & Farragher 1).

Moreover, he exposed that indeed they were self-radicalized. Moreover, they had no connection to any terrorist groups. The brothers received their knowledge on building explosives from an online magazine affiliated to the Al- Qaeda group in Yemen. Dzhokhar also shocked many by revealing of their intention to move to New York City and bomb Times Square after completion of their mission in Boston. On April 22, criminal charges were initiated against him including use of weapon of mass destruction as well as malicious destruction of property leading to death (Russell & Farragher 1).

The charges bear probable sentences comprising death penalty or life imprisonment. However, he pleaded innocently to the 30 charges accused of doing and remains in solitary confinement in the Federal Medical Center based in Fort Devens with a 23 -hour daily lockdown. He is set for trial in federal court in November 3, 2014.Works citedRussell, Jenna., Farragher, Thomas. “102 hours in pursuit of Marathon suspects”. Metro. The Boston Globe. April 28, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2014 from http://www.

bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/28/bombreconstruct/VbSZhzHm35yR88EV mVdbDM/story.html