Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the sole surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing in April, was formally indicted on Thursday . But the proceedings revealed a detail about his capture that has long stood as a question mark to both the media and the public: What did he write in that boat just before he was captured ?
The tense stand-off between Boston law enforcement officials and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ended in the backyard of a Watertown home, where the suspect hid in a boat, surrounded by police. There was some gunfire exchanged, and Tsarnaev was said to be wounded.
Around the time of his capture, some media outlets reported that he had apparently written a message inside the boat, which may have given insight into his motives. The contents of the message were kept under wraps until his indictment Thursday.
“The U.S. Government is killing our innocent civilians,” Tsarnaev wrote . “I can’t stand to see such evil go unpunished.”
“We Muslims are one body you hurt one you hurt us all,” was also written.
He also reportedly downloaded instructions on making bombs from an al-Qaeda magazine around the time of the attack.
Officials declined to comment on whether or not they viewed the note as a confession.
The 19-year-old has been accused of setting off bombs near the Boston Marathon finish line during the city’s annual race on April 15, along with his brother, Tamerlan. Three died in the attack, and police believe that the Tsarnaev brothers killed a university security officer during their escape.
The 30-count indictment against Tsarnaev includes the use of weapons of mass destruction and killing four people.
Do you think that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s boat message can be interpreted as a confession? Sound off!
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