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FBI says it could not have prevented Boston Marathon bombings

WASHINGTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – In the face of criticism, the F.B.I. is saying that there was little agents could have done to prevent the April 15th Boston Marathon bombings, reports the New York Times.

According to the newspaper, the F.B.I.'s conclusion is based on several internal reviews that examined how the bureau handled a request from Russia in 2011 regarding Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who later became known as bomber number one.

In a letter to James Comey, the incoming Director of the F.B.I., Mass. Rep. Bill Keating asked the bureau for answers to several questions, specifically questions surrounding the suspicious travels and activities of the older Tsarnaev.

While Keating said the letter was an effort to improve communications between the FBI and Congress to further the investigation, the congressman hinted there may have been more the FBI could have done prior to the bombings.

F.B.I. officials who conducted the investigation following the Russian request said there was no evidence Tamerlan Tsarnaev had become radicalized during his trips. Furthermore, the F.B.I. said they were constrained from conducting a more extensive investigation due to federal laws and other protocols, reports the New York Times.

Russian officials claimed Tamerlan was a follower of radical Islam and was traveling to Russia to join a terrorist group. The Times report says the F.B.I. opened up an investigation in Boston, looked at Tamerlan's criminal, education, and Internet histories, but found little that made them suspicious.

Agents closed the investigation two months later after interviewing Tamerlan's parents.

The F.B.I. claims it went back to the Russian intelligence service twice and requested more information, but was never sent anything, reports the newspaper.

It wasn't until after the bombings that Tamerlan showed up again on the FBI's radar.

Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are accused of coordinating the bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring close to 300 people.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who was considered to be the mastermind behind the attacks, died during a shootout with police in Watertown.

For more information: The New York Times