Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
The FBI was closely monitoring a friend of the suspected Boston Marathon bombers last year and even urged him to avoid Boston’s Fourth of July fireworks, the Boston Globe reports.
The agents were ordered to “make sure they stay with Mr. [Khairullozhon] Matanov, and don’t lose him,” Special Agent Timothy McElroy told US Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler in court.
Prosecutors said the 23-year-old Matanov, who was charged with obstruction of justice last week, lied about interacting with the brothers on the week of the attack.
The FBI told Matanov to stay away from the fireworks and the Boston Marathon to avoid alarming people.
Matanov, a native of Kyrgyzstan, faces up to 20 years in prison.
