Community Corner

Sister of Marathon Bombing Suspects Cooperating With Authorities

Investigation leads FBI agents to homes in Bergen and Hudson counties

Federal agents descended on two homes in North Jersey Friday linked to the sisters of the alleged Boston Marathon bombers, according to law enforcement officials and published reports. 

FBI agents and local police arrived earlier Friday at the West New York apartment of Ailina Tsarnaev, 22, the sister of suspected Boston Marathon attackers Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26. 

"This is all new for us,” West New York Police Commissioner Caridad Rodriguez said, northjersey.com reported. “It’s a scary day in West New York."

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Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed early this morning after a police chase in Massachusetts, and a manhunt was underway to locate Dzhokhar. An MIT campus police officer was also slain shortly before the pursuit. The Tsarnaev brothers have been identified by the FBI as suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three and injured more than 170.

Ailina Tsarnaev told reporters Friday she's "hurt for everyone who has been hurt," according to a report on NJ.com.

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“They were great people. I never would have expected it,” the woman told NJ.com. “They are smart — I don’t know what’s gotten into them.

The sister said she has not seen or spoken with her brothers in years, NorthJersey.com reported. Her husband said he had never met his wife’s family, who he said had been unhappy with their marriage because he is not a Muslim.

"At the end of the day, no one knows the truth," she could be heard saying in a video on NJ.com. "I have no idea if that was my brother who planned everything.

"I’m sorry for all the people who are hurt and for all the people who lost their lives," she said.

Investigators also visited an apartment in Fairview where Ailina Tsarnaev and another sister, Bella Tsarnaev, lived months ago, Police Chief Frank DelVecchio told Patch. Authorities responded in December to a reported domestic violence incident at home between Bella Tsarnaev and her boyfriend, police said. 

In a statement, Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan said county police were prepared to assist and officials had increased the county bomb squad's staffing. 

"As the investigation continues, Bergen County will lend any necessary support until any and all accomplices are brought to justice," Donovan said. 


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