New FBI document outlines 2011 meeting with Tamerlan Tsarnaev

BOSTON — A newly released document from the FBI describes a 2011 meeting they had with Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

The interview was held after four men claiming to be the FBI tried to contact him, but did not leave any contact information and didn't return the next day as they said they would.

During Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial for the Boston Marathon bombing, his defense team indicated that Tamerlan had been approached by the FBI in 2011 about being an informant.

The FBI said neither brother were sources or ever recruited as sources, but according to this new report Tamerlan was "open to all contact with the FBI and report any additional contact with the four unidentified individuals who clamed to be FBI.”

A report by the New York Times in 2014 claimed that in 2011, Russian officials contacted the FBI about concerns Tamerlan "was a follower of radical Islam and a strong believer."

The newly released interview touches on that, saying Tamerlan admitted to having knowledge that “extremist Islamic material” exists online, but he said he doesn’t look at them.

During that FBI interview, Tamerlan told agents he had respect for all religion and felt that any religion made life better.

Tamerlan also spoke about the Mosque he attended in Cambridge, but said he didn't have many Muslim friends. He told FBI agents that he didn't know many people at the mosque, but said he " doesn't think there could be any Islamic radicals in Cambridge."

Radicalization expert Dr. Danna Janbeck said it's nearly impossible to tell of someone may become radicalized from a couple hours of interviews.

“What we have access to is only a tiny bit of perhaps a longer conversation because it is a recollection of Tamerlan,” Dr. Danna Janbeck, an expert on radicalization, said.

Tamerlan also spoke about his personal aspirations, which included moving his family to Revere and pursuing a boxing career.

“Tamerlan wants to box for the US Olympic team but does not have his citizenship. Tamerlan expressed interest in the Spartan warrior culture,” the document reads. “Tamerlan has not thought about joining the military because he wants to become a professional boxer. Tamerlan doesn’t like to fight for the sake of violence.”

Cox Media Group