On Wednesday, the FBI denied a flurry of reports from CNN and other media outlets that initially said a suspect had been arrested in the Boston Marathon bombings, The Blaze reported. Federal authorities said in a statement that media outlets should “exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting.”
“Despite reports to the contrary there has not been an arrest in the Marathon attack,” Boston Police said in a tweet.
Initial reports said authorities had identified a “dark-skinned male” as a possible suspect from surveillance video taken at a store on Boylston Street located between the two blast sites.
CBS, however, reported that the possible suspect is a “white male, wearing white baseball cap on backwards, a gray hoodie and a black jacket.”
CBS News correspondent Bob Orr said the man was apparently seen talking on a phone at the second bomb site when the first bomb exploded.
CNN said they were told by a “source” that a suspect was in custody.
“A Boston law enforcement told CNN, ‘We got him,’ but won’t clarify whether that means a suspect has been identified or arrested,” the network said.
As news of a possible arrest began to circulate, a crowd began to form outside the federal courthouse in South Boston, CBS added.
WBZ-TV’s Karen Anderson then reported that the courthouse was evacuated after a bomb threat was called in and the crowd was moved about 100 yards away.
On Tuesday, Salon’s David Sirota expressed hope that the bomber was a white American.
Three people, including an eight-year-old boy were killed in Monday’s blasts, and over 170 were injured.
Related:
- Salon contributor: ‘Let’s hope the Boston Marathon bomber is a white American’
- Westboro Baptist Church: ‘Thank God for the Boston Marathon bombs’
- Forest Service representative blames Tea Party for Boston Marathon bombing
- Michael Moore hints conservatives may be behind Boston Marathon bombings
- Democrat-media complex blames Boston bombings on conservatives
- New York Times’ Nick Kristof politicizes Boston Marathon bombing, backtracks
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