Undated photo of Khairullozhon Matanov. (Boston Globe)
Immigrant cabdriver Khairullozhon Matanov, 23, from Kyrgyzstan was indicted in connection with destroying evidence and lying to the FBI about his relationship with the Boston Marathon bombers. Matanov entered the United States lawfully in 2010. Matanov went to school for two years then applied for asylum and was granted it because of the turmoil in Kyrgyzstan.
The LA Times reported:
An immigrant cabdriver from Kyrgyzstan who was friends with the Tsarnaev brothers has been indicted in connection with destroying evidence from his computer and lying to the FBI about his relationship with the suspected Boston Marathon bombers, federal authorities announced Friday.
Khairullozhon Matanov, 23, of Quincy, Mass., appeared in federal court here, charged with obstructing the FBI’s investigation of the two bombings at the April 2013 marathon that killed three people and injured more than 260.
The indictment does not charge Matanov with knowing or participating in the attacks, but it quoted him as saying that he would support the bombings if it turned out that they were “done in the name of Islam” or “by the Taliban.” And while expressing sympathy with victims, Matanov also reportedly said he could “explain away the significance of the victims’ deaths on the ground that everyone must eventually die.”
Matanov appeared at a brief afternoon court hearing, wearing jeans and a white shirt with “Levi’s” written in red. He was nervous and shaking, telling the court in a slight accent that he did not need a translator. A detention hearing was scheduled for next week.
Khairullozhon Matanov, a committed Islamist, went out to eat with the brothers after the bombing.
