Row over Boston bomber burial
Source: Agencies |
May 12, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BOSTON Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been buried in a rural cemetery in Virginia, infuriating some members of the area's Islamic community who say they weren't consulted and startling officials who said they hadn't been informed.
Local officials said on Friday they would examine whether all laws were followed in the burial and could seek to have his body moved elsewhere if they weren't. They said they are concerned about the site becoming a shrine to anti-United States sympathizers.
The interment this week at a small Islamic cemetery ended a frustrating search for a community willing to take the body, which had been kept at a funeral parlor in Massachusetts, as cemeteries in several states refused to accept the remains.
Tsarnaev was killed on April 19 in a getaway attempt after a gun battle with police. His younger brother, Dzhokhar, was captured later and remains in custody. The ethnic Chechens from Russia are accused of setting off two shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs on April 15 near the marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 260.
The brothers' uncle, Ruslan Tsarni, took responsibility for the body after Tamerlan's wife, Katherine Russell, said she wanted it released to her in-laws. He said his nephew was buried in a cemetery in Doswell, Virginia, with the help of a faith coalition.
"The body's buried," he said. "That's it."
Dozens of communities approached about hosting a gravesite had refused, many with concerns about gravesite vandalism and backlash from the public.
Martha Mullen in Virginia said that she offered to help after seeing news reports about the refusals. She said she is not the only person who helped with arrangements.
She said the backlash from some local officials, some cemetery neighbors and online critics has been unpleasant, but she has no regrets.
Local officials said on Friday they would examine whether all laws were followed in the burial and could seek to have his body moved elsewhere if they weren't. They said they are concerned about the site becoming a shrine to anti-United States sympathizers.
The interment this week at a small Islamic cemetery ended a frustrating search for a community willing to take the body, which had been kept at a funeral parlor in Massachusetts, as cemeteries in several states refused to accept the remains.
Tsarnaev was killed on April 19 in a getaway attempt after a gun battle with police. His younger brother, Dzhokhar, was captured later and remains in custody. The ethnic Chechens from Russia are accused of setting off two shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs on April 15 near the marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 260.
The brothers' uncle, Ruslan Tsarni, took responsibility for the body after Tamerlan's wife, Katherine Russell, said she wanted it released to her in-laws. He said his nephew was buried in a cemetery in Doswell, Virginia, with the help of a faith coalition.
"The body's buried," he said. "That's it."
Dozens of communities approached about hosting a gravesite had refused, many with concerns about gravesite vandalism and backlash from the public.
Martha Mullen in Virginia said that she offered to help after seeing news reports about the refusals. She said she is not the only person who helped with arrangements.
She said the backlash from some local officials, some cemetery neighbors and online critics has been unpleasant, but she has no regrets.
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