Boston Suspect Purchased Fireworks [View all]

[dkf]

Last edited Tue Apr 23, 2013, 04:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the elder brother suspected in the Boston Marathon bombings, bought two large pyrotechnic devices in February from a New Hampshire branch of a national fireworks chain, according to executives at the chain's parent company.

William Weimer, a vice president of Phantom Fireworks, said the elder Mr. Tsarnaev on Feb. 6 purchased two "Lock and Load" reloadable mortar kits at the company's Seabrook, N.H. store, just over the border from Massachusetts. Each kit contains a tube and 24 shells, he said. Mr. Tsarnaev paid cash for the kits, which cost $199.99 apiece.

It wasn't clear if the powder from these fireworks was used in the bombings. A Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit filed in the court case against the younger of the two suspected bombers, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, said the bombs contained "low-grade explosives." The affidavit also said a "large pyrotechnic" had been found at the younger brother's college dorm room.

One federal law-enforcement official briefed on the probe said the government's working theory was that the powder used in the bombs could have come from high-powered fireworks. The official said there were other possible sources for similar powder and investigators hadn't drawn any firm conclusions.

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/a/SB10001424127887324235304578440843633991044?mg=reno64-wsj

Saw this tweet:

@lrozen: Tamerlan Tsarnaev paid $399 for 2 lock and load fireworks mortar kits in NH Feb 6, paid cash. Used Inspire recipe http://t.co/0rISsekfpK