FBI accused of 'dropping the ball' on prior questioning of Tamerlan
Tsarnaev
US: The FBI was facing increased scrutiny Sunday over its
prior handling of a case involving suspected Boston bomber Tamerlan
Tsarnaev, with senior congressional figures demanding answers and
accusing the agency of "dropping the ball". As younger brother Dzhokhar
remained in hospital yet to be questioned or charged, Tamerlan - who was
killed in a shootout with police early Friday - has been seen by many as
the key to understanding how the pair seemingly became radicalised.
It is now known that the FBI interviewed the elder Tsarnaev brother
in 2011 at the request of the Russian government, which raised concern
that he had links to radical Islam. On Sunday rebels in his ethnic
homeland of Chechnya denied any link.
But a six-month visit to Russia last year is now being scrutinised to
see if Tsarnaev did visit any other countries in the North Caucuses
region.
Michael McCaul, Republican chair of the House homeland security
committee, told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that the FBI had
questions to answer. "He was interviewed by the FBI in 2011 and let go.
He travelled back to Russia and spent six months there," McCaul said.
On his return he immediately posted jihadist videos on YouTube,
McCaul said. "Clearly something happened in that six-month timeframe. He
radicalised at some point."
McCaul said he wanted to know why no flags were raised on Tsarnaev
that would have helped officials track his movements.
It was reported Sunday that a hold was placed on a citizenship
request by the 26-year-old as a result of the FBI's previous interest in
him.
The New York Times claimed officials at the Department of Homeland
Security decided not to grant his application after a routine background
check uncovered the 2011 interview by agents.
The FBI has not said publicly who requested that they look into the
activities of the elder brother, but it has been assumed that it was the
Russian government. In a statement, the bureau admitted interviewing
Tamerlan and other family members.
"The FBI did not find any terrorism activity, domestic of foreign,
and those results were provided to the foreign government in the summer
of 2011," it said. On Sunday, the FBI was accused of having "dropped the
ball" regarding the older Tsarnaev brother.
"The FBI missed a lot of things is one potential answer, or laws do
not allow the FBI to follow up in a sound, solid way," a Republican
senator, Lindsey Graham, told CNN's State of the Union.
Peter King, chairman of the House subcommittee on counterterrorism,
criticised the FBI.
THE GUARDIAN
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