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BREAKING: FBI Hunting 12-Member Sleeper Cell in Boston Bombing

Robert Farago - comments No comments

Infrared imagae of Dzhokar "hiding" (wounded?) in Watertown boat (courtesy Massachusetts State Police)

There’s only one source for this story at the moment: mirror.co.uk. It’s a big, if downmarket, UK tabloid that’s not entirely incredible on matters of fact. With that caveat in mind: “The FBI was last night hunting a 12-strong terrorist ‘sleeper cell’ linked to the Boston marathon bomb brothers. Police believe Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were specially trained to carry out the devastating attack. More than 1,000 FBI operatives were last night working to track down the cell and arrested a man and two women 60 miles from Boston in the hours before Dzhokhar’s dramatic capture after a bloody shootout on Friday.” In other words, it would still be a good idea to carry a gun in The Bay State. Just as it was before the bombing. Also interesting in terms of how the younger Tsarnaev was apprehended . . .

David Henneberry had gone into his garden for a cigarette after police lifted restrictions on people leaving their homes, believing the bomber had left the area. He noticed that the cover over his boat had blood on it and a strap had been cut. He went back into the house to get a stepladder and looked inside.

His stepson Robert said: “He stuck his head under the tarp and noticed a pool of blood and something crumpled up in a ball. Instead of being a hero of the moment and yelling at what we now know was the suspect, he did the right thing and called 911.”

Police immediately evacuated the family and surrounded the house, using a megaphone to tell Dzhokhar to come out with his hands up.

When he failed to respond they opened fire at the boat’s hull. Robert said: “They wound up ­shooting a couple of rounds through the boat. He wasn’t going to like that.”

Dzhokhar was wounded by the volley of gunfire and police were able to move in and arrest him. They later released infrared pictures taken from a helicopter showing Dzhokhar hiding in the boat.

Hiding or wounded? Not that it matters, right?

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Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “BREAKING: FBI Hunting 12-Member Sleeper Cell in Boston Bombing”

  1. I spoke with Boston PD a few weeks ago about getting my Mass permit…but don’t have a magazine made after 1994(because the year of make is labeled on them?) with more than 10 rounds or it’s a felony.

    Needless to say I’ll stay in New Hampshire and not be visiting Boston anymore.

    Reply
  2. Not much talk about how the police were able to search homes? I can understand if the homeowners allow it…but if my city were on lockdown, I’d answer the door with my sidearm on my hip and my AR-15 sitting on my coffee table. I’d assure them the house is secure and that no search is required…would they accept this? Would they do an illegal search? If a criminal being loose is grounds for a warrantless search, then we have no 4th amendment as there is ALWAYS a criminal on the loose SOMEWHERE…

    Reply
    • Didn’t you watch the second video above? The police banged on the door, then shoved a gun in the man’s face and forced him out. Then a squad entered and forced everyone else out at gunpoint. They certainly weren’t asking. Now we get to wait for the government apologists to wake up and start commenting about how the police had every right to violate their 4th amendment rights.

      Reply
  3. Instead of yammering about secession, maybe we could start with sanctions against these human rights-violating, civilian disarming, apartheid loving police states. You won’t see me visiting one, and there will be icicles in hell before I’ll live in one.

    Reply
  4. Searching our own houses and helping our neighbors: I get that, and I totally agree with it. In fact, it turns out that’s what ended the hunt! A homeowner saw blood on the boat in his back yard, and called the cops.

    Still, I *do not* think that you’ve proposed a good idea in general. Several problems:

    -You’re saying that the community at large should go hunting for a “running jihadist”. Particularly in the early part of this manhunt, all we had to go on was a fuzzy picture of the guys on the loose. How many innocent brown people would have been apprehended by vigilantes before they found the right guy?

    -In the Founders’ time, the citizens would have been called upon to do this because we *didn’t* have a police force. We pay the police to catch criminals. There was a criminal on the loose. What’s the problem?

    -Police were (legitimately!) worried that the guy had a suicide vest or other explosive device. I, with my M&P-15 and my Glock 19, am not equipped to deal with a suicide bomber.

    Reply
  5. the FBI is always hunting for sleeper cells.

    Why would the FBI make this known to a UK rag and compromise the investigation?

    Sound to me that they took a “we are leaving no stone unturned and pursuing every angle” quote and turned it into something sensational.

    Reply
  6. people have abdicated responsibility for themselves to the government. You know, because society is so “civilized” and all…

    Reply
  7. Elections elections elections! Next year’s is very critical to protecting the 2A and if you live in VA, like I do, this year’s is important too!

    Reply
    • Spot on regarding the 2014 Congressional elections. As my for state (Colorado) I’m not optimistic. Repealing the anti-gun bills that were passed this year would require the Republicans taking both houses and the governorship.

      Not likely, to say the least.

      Reply
  8. In the words of:

    Public Enemy-‘Don’t give up the fight’

    Bob Marley-‘Get up, Stand up, Stand up for your rights’

    Good lyrics to remember…………….

    Reply
  9. I certainly hope it’s time for open carry (I live in PA, where only Philadelphia is restricted in that way).

    It’s springtime, and soon the baggy shirts will be uncomfortable. 🙂

    Reply
  10. I’m open carrying right now while I’m out doing laundry. Sometimes new people call the local cops, who show up and greet me by name. The officers usually only scold me for not having a sandwich like mine ready for them! Sure, years ago I have been accosted, cuffed and disarmed (not by my local pd). Lately though I can’t help but feel like my efforts have had an effect to normalize open carry, including the occasional PLR-16 or Tantal session!

    Reply
  11. Normalization will protect us all in the long run.

    Time to put on the half shirt, short shorts, OWB holster and come out of the closet.

    The longer we hide in the shadows the easier it is to demonize us.

    Reply
  12. Well, the message is clear. If you’re having any issues, troubles, anything…

    KEEP IT TO YOURSELF

    Otherwise, society will make things worse for you. Is that the point of it?

    Reply
  13. I heard from a friend’s cousin’s stepdad’s nephew who tried it a couple times back in the day that Mexican weed is complete and utter garbage compared to good ‘ol Made in USA.

    Of course said friend’s cousin’s stepdad’s nephew has no interest in it anymore because he prefers quality beer and quality cigarettes. My kind of guy.

    Reply
  14. And Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold didn’t have a hall pass when they committed the Columbine massacre. I’d have been more surprised if they did have carry permits.

    Reply
  15. I live in a “carry” state meaning I can carry open or concealed. After have the police called twice on me while open carrying , I’ve gone to concealed only. It’s no fun having three LEO’s pointing guns at you.

    Reply
  16. The upgraded version of the streamlight protac 2l now has 260 lumens and includes a ten-tap programmable option
    Check out streamlight website for new model – I just received a new model in mail and love brightness and size

    Reply
  17. Purchased a Mossberg Silver Reserve II was doing very well with it until this week, Started to have issues with the lower Ejector then the round would pass the ejector and I could not close the gun. Then Miss Fires Could not fire the Gun when closed. Selector switch U/O would jam and malfunction. Had to go back to dealer to verify problems they sent it right out to Mossberg. I really like the gun started shooting 18s but now i’m not sure if this is a fluke or I was a sucker for buying one. Very embarrassing at the range people telling me should have purchased a Browning or Beretta.

    Reply
  18. “They can be easily persuaded that the government is on a mission to confiscate their firearms. There is little doubt that paranoia is amplified by the presence of a black president, who represents the deepest fears of right-wing survivalist types.”

    Or maybe they’re persuaded because people like Feinstein and Cuomo coming right out and saying that’s the goal.

    As for Obama, I think the fact he’s the first President to openly order the assassination of an American citizen is plenty of paranoia fuel, and should be for everyone, regardless of race or political affiliation.

    Reply

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