According to a report by NBC, the Russian government not only knew about Tamerlan Tsarnaev's ties to radical extremists but also warned the U.S. about him back in 2011.
As previously reported shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, Tamerlan Tsarnaev flew to Russia in 2012 where he received training from jihadist extremists for six months. He flew back in July of that same year. (Via ABC)
According to NBC's report, upon Russia's request, the CIA put Tsarnaev's name on a terrorism watch list of people that are supposed to be detained no matter what if they are encountered leaving or entering the U.S.
"The reason Tsarnaev was never pulled aside at American airports? Was because his last name was misspelled in a security database."
Tsarnaev's name is spelled T-S-A-R-N-A-E-V, but the security database put an extra 'Y' in his name. That alone reportedly allowed him to re-enter the country after training in Russia without raising any red flags. (Via CNN )
The investigation into the Boston bombing incident was conducted by the House Homeland Security Committee chaired by Texas Republican Mike McCaul. (Via Fox News)
According to the Boston Globe, the report stops short of blaming the FBI for the missteps but details the "agonizing failures to connect all the dots."
The report comes on the heels of a new report from the Justice Department clearing an FBI agent of wrongdoing in the shooting of Ibragim Todashev — a friend of Tsarnaev's. The FBI agent claims Todashev charged him with a metal pole and he shot Todashev in self-defense. (Via Orange County Corrections Department)
Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in a shootout with police. His brother, Dzhokhar, is facing the death penalty for for federal terrorism charges. He's expected to go on trial November 3.
