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FBI Seeks Bombing Suspects, 'Someone Knows Who Did This'

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep.

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

And I'm David Greene.

When you learn about the simple ingredients in the explosive devices at the Boston Marathon, you sense the challenge investigators face. The bombs included items almost anybody could buy. And so an initial look at the evidence does little to narrow down the list of suspects.

There were pressure cookers filled with nails or ball bearings possibly hidden in nylon bags or backpacks. The challenge now is to move from that physical evidence to someone's name.

NPR's Jeff Brady reports.

JEFF BRADY, BYLINE: The special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston field office wants your help. Rick DesLauriers says his agency has received more than 2,000 tips, but they need more.

RICK DESLAURIERS: But the person who did this is someone's friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative. We are asking anyone who may have heard someone speak about the marathon or the date of April 15 in any way that indicated that he or she may target the event to call us. Someone knows who did this.

BRADY: DesLauriers says no one has claimed responsibility for the explosions. And he says the possibilities are wide open.

As investigators continue their work, more victims have been identified. A vigil was held for eight-year-old Martin Richard last night. And 29-year-old Krystle Campbell was named Tuesday as a second victim. The third fatality has been identified as a Chinese citizen.

Meanwhile, officials say they are concerned about the well-being of those involved in the race but not physically hurt. A center was set up to offer them a variety of services.

Ha Orbon stopped by Tuesday to pick up her marathon medal.

HA ORBON: I was only in there briefly because I have my son with me. So we just stopped in to get the medal. And I know that there were services on offer. I think a lot of people were just going in to pick up bags, and you know, for some people to get information.

BRADY: Jay Hartford also ran in the marathon. He stopped by to pick up a bag he had to leave behind after the explosions. Hartford says he's been thinking back to the September 11 attacks south of here in New York.

JAY HARTFORD: I've always thought that we've been lucky throughout everything that's gone on in the past 12, 13 years. But every since New York, it's felt like it was in our backyard. Now it feels like it's in our front yard.

BRADY: Caring for the community of Boston has become a priority for many here. The Boston Celtics cancelled their Tuesday night game against Indiana. Also, the IRS announced that residents in Suffolk County, Massachusetts - which includes Boston - will receive an extra three months to file and pay their taxes. Residents who are victims of the Boston Marathon explosions who live elsewhere also can delay filing, but they'll have to call the agency to arrange that.

Boston Mayor Tom Menino says a fund has been set up to help those hurt by the tragedy. And he offers this encouragement to residents of his city.

MAYOR TOM MENINO: This tragedy is not going to stop Boston. We are Boston. We are one community and we will not let terror take us over.

BRADY: Around the city, police officers and National Guard troops remain posted. In public transit stations, riders have been warned they may be subject to random searches. Authorities say this is primarily intended to comfort jittery residents - not because they have indications of another attack.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick says the Boston Marathon will back next year with appropriate security.

GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK: I'd just like to remind everyone, we've had 116 years of incident-free marathons. And every year we have learned from the last experience. This is a painful and tragic lesson, but we will learn from this as well, and next year's marathon will be even bigger and better.

BRADY: Patrick says coming up Thursday morning, there will be an interfaith service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. He says President Obama is scheduled to attend.

DESLAURIERS: Jeff Brady, NPR News, Boston. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Jeff Brady is a National Desk Correspondent based in Philadelphia, where he covers energy issues and climate change. Brady helped establish NPR's environment and energy collaborative which brings together NPR and Member station reporters from across the country to cover the big stories involving the natural world.

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