Obama says capture closes key chapter in bombing tragedy
(CNN) - President Barack Obama said at the conclusion of the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt on Friday night that "we've closed an important chapter in this tragedy," adding that those who carried out the "vicious attack" failed because Americans "refuse to be terrorized."
Speaking at the White House, Obama praised the work of law enforcement after they captured the second of two suspects following a daylong search, and pledged continued federal law enforcement, homeland security and intelligence resources to the ongoing investigation.
Obama maintained "whatever hateful agenda" may have been behind the attack that killed three people and injured 180 others on Monday in two blasts near the finish line of the storied road race "will not and cannot prevail."
The president said there remained many unanswered questions and cautioned against jumping to conclusions as the investigation continues.
More: Obama, Republicans stand with Boston
He urged people not to "rush to judgment" about motivations or entire groups.
Obama expressed gratitude for local, state and federal law enforcement efforts and praised the city and the nation in the face of an attack being investigated as a terrorist act. He noted that it did not ultimately succeed.
"They failed because the people of Boston refused to be intimidated," Obama said. "They failed because as Americans, we refuse to be terrorized."
An Obama administration official said the president heard that suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev, 19, had been taken into custody just outside Boston in Watertown from staff and media reports. FBI Director Mueller called him to brief on details, the official said.
The other suspect, a man identified as his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died early on Friday following a shootout with police, officials said.
- CNN's Jessica Yellin contributed to this report.
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@just askin
how many attacks on the usa is this since obama was elected?
You might want to include how many occurred during GW Bush's terms also if you really want to make a 'fair and balanced'.
Also might want to include the number of lives lost. Something tells me the end sums will be quite telling.
I am "terrorized" every time I hear a knock on my door or an unfamiliar noise if I'm home alone or go anywhere alone. I am a woman. No woman is safe in the United States. When I had small children, I was terrified because children are not safe in the United States. They can't walk a block to school or play at a playground without adult "guards." They can't even be left in the care of some clergymen or sports coaches or teachers. So the "terror" of a bomb explosion or a mass shooter is just another "fact of life" we women have to live with. Freedom? Not really.
Regardless of what Obama said – the U S was terrorized.
Some of these post are just unpatriotic and really stupid.
This was a terrible act and one we hope we do not see again.
We call this terrorism but yet we cannot recognize all the gun violence in this country and say it is done by the mentally ill. Folks, that also is terriorism. Did you know more people in our country (33,000 per year) die of gun violence. We are shocked when we see the injuries of a bomb but think nothing of the thousands of who are killed in gun violence. Did anyone see the bodies of the children that died in the Newton killing? No, pictures not published. Why? Kids with multiple bullets in their bodies, torn apart and unrecognizeable.
46 senators could not even pass legislation to expand background checks at gun shows and internet purchases. Why? The NRA threatened to cancel their A rating and spend million of dollars on adds so they would not get reelected. They lied in their adds: As they claim, this would create a national registry, False, in fact, the law prohibited that from occuring. Would have stopped person to person private sales, family again False.
We are controlled by a minority in this country and the NRA and all their money. Hopefully, the silent majority will wake up and vote these people out of office.
So does this mean the President will stop terrorizing and demonizing everyone who disagrees with him? You know, like his arch enemies – the law-abiding gun owner, the Boy Scouts, Republicans, people who do not eat organic foods and don't drive a Prius. What a self -absorded shallow callous hateful little man.
Obama is the right man at the right time in American history, Just think if the Red Neck Right was in charge, we would now be invading the Czech Republic...never mind that the Czech Republic is not where the two Boston Bomers are from, it would just be close enough. Then, after killing thousands of our own troops and hundreds of thousands of inocent civilans of the Czech Republic, the Red Neck Right would decide to invade Russia.
A job well done by law enforcement. Now if the legal establishment can only treat it like a criminal act, and not a Terrorist act, thereby employing a load of un-American tactics like torture, indefinite detention, and Gitmo.
ask obama why le fired over 200 rounds and he doesn't want me to have an 11 round mazine. Yes they did right this time. Why can't law abiding citizens have the same rights?
@Spgfld Tom
So does this mean the President will stop terrorizing and demonizing everyone who disagrees with him?
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You mean he should be nice like those kind Tea Party people who had racist signs at the rallies? Or the NASCAR fans who booed Michelle Obama (twice) when she was working to help the families of wounded warriors? Or maybe the respectful Republican who yelled "you lie" at the State of the Union Address? How about the "birthers? Or maybe the 350% increase in threats to the President? Maybe the people who call him "Obammy"? Or maybe the Minority Leader who pledged from day one to make President Obama a one-term President – and even filibustered his own proposal? Like that?
@Brian Forbes
ask obama why le fired over 200 rounds and he doesn't want me to have an 11 round mazine. Yes they did right this time. Why can't law abiding citizens have the same rights?
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It's another myth of the right-wing that the 2nd somehow gives citizens the right to overthrow their government and ensures they should have the same weaponry as the police or the military. It does not state or imply that in any way. The terrorists in Boston hated our government and considered it oppressive. Should they have had "arms" like claymore mines, hellfire missles or even nukes? Were they patriots? Think... you're not the only person who can take advantage of a loose system of weapons procurement.
Just heard on TV that the public defenders office in Boston wants to represent the 19 year old. As they are paid by the government, whose interest will they truly be representing? $10 million bet that a plea deal is cut for life in prison so that none of the details comes to light and the failure of the FBI and the Obama administration comes out, just like Benghazi.
The people talking, we dont know what is going to happen next, we dont know if the bombing is over we dont know who he talk to or what, but for one sure thing hes not affraid of the police an no one else. I am praying because that young is not talking to no one an the po po need to watch their backs an front.
Closure? Or just the beginning I hope that terrorist survive to tell his side of the story.