Latest news with #BostonMarathon
MTV Lebanon
a day ago
- MTV Lebanon
Boston Marathon bombs: al-Qaeda's Inspire magazine taught pressure cooker bomb-making techniques
A recipe for how to make pressure cooker bombs, which investigators say were used in the Boston Marathon attack, was most notoriously published in the al-Qaeda magazine Inspire. The recipe – along with a rationale for post-9/11 terror – was printed three years ago in al-Qaeda's English-language promotional online magazine, Inspire. In an article, it instructed readers on how, as its headline writers put it, to 'Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom'. It gave the types of explosive, timers and other ingredients needed – along with, it said, a pressure cooker. That article was from the first edition of the magazine. Written in perfect but slightly hysterical English, some thought it was a hoax or satire along the lines of the film 'Four Lions'. In fact, most analysts remain convinced it was the brainchild of Anwar al-Awlaki, the Yemeni-American propagandist for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and was edited by Samir Khan, another American citizen who had travelled to Yemen to join the group. It was clear in its market – the disaffected young men in their mid-twenties, whether converts or of Muslim origin, who studies show are by far and away the biggest source of recruits to the jihadist cause. Subsequent editions suggested even more random forms of violence that anyone could carry out, such as driving a car into crowds as a weapon. The aim was to cause maximum response with a minimum of fuss. Its methodology was in some ways a sign of weakness, an acknowledgement that well-planned, large scale attacks on the scale of 9/11, or for that matter the Oklahoma outrage by a white supremacist, were unlikely to be repeated because of increased security and the erosion of al-Qaeda's command structure by drone strikes. Other 'spectaculars' had failed, such as the attempt to down an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 by the so-called 'underpants bomber', an Awlaki recruit of Nigerian origin, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. By contrast, smaller scale random attacks had notable success: most strikingly, before Inspire's first edition but clearly an incident its authors had in mind, Nidal Malik Hasan, the US army major who shot 13 people dead at his base at Fort Hood, Texas, had been in direct contact with Awlaki. As new editions appeared, investigators took Inspire ever more seriously. A disaffected US army private, Naser Jason Abdo, jailed for life in August 2012 after being found in possession of a bomb with which he said he was going to blow up a restaurant popular with soldiers from Fort Hood in an act of solidarity with Hasan, had a copy of the Inspire article. In his hotel room were all the ingredients listed, including two pressure cookers. Last October, Quasi Muhammad Nafis, accused of attempting to bomb a Federal Reserve Bank building in New York, was said by prosecutors to have read Inspire and even to have written an article in the hope that the magazine would publish it. He, though, was trapped by an FBI sting operation. His car bomb was a fake given him by an undercover operative. Awalaki and Khan were both killed in an American drone strike in Yemen in September 2011. The magazine has continued to publish, however, and while the pressure cookers do not prove Islamist terrorists were involved in the Boston attack, that is only part of the story. For all its semi-comic tone, the magazine's strategy of balancing relatively small-scale bombing with dramatic symbolism for political effect is an important chapter in the modern terror playbook. And its recipes are available for anyone.
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
80-year-old distance runner doesn't plan to slow down anytime soon
He's taken it all in stride. Long Island senior citizen David Frisone is the talk of the running world, lacing up his sneakers to race — and win — twice a week at the age of 80. 'Most people I run with are a good 15, 20 years younger than me,' the speedy man of New Hyde Park told The Post. 'They always try to beat me, but I win most of them.' Frisone has run the New York City and Boston Marathons in the past, and typically participates in a mix of 5K and 10K races on select weeknights — all while training for larger half-marathons in between. 'People are telling me I should concentrate on shorter races now,' the Nassau resident said. First steps He discovered his knack for the track at Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School, where he ran all three seasons of indoor and outdoor track and cross country in the 1960s. Frisone then attended Staten Island Community College, which did not have a team, and ultimately hung up his shoes for a few decades after. 'That's life. You start raising a family — I have three kids, and a wife, of course,' said Frisone, who worked as a director of engineering implementation and later an accountant. 3 David Frisone, 80, receives a medal after participating in a weekly 5K at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. Heather Khalifa for New York Post However, when his trio of pride and joy discovered the family genetics and wanted to start running as kids, that moved Frisone to come out of retirement in his 40s. 'They were very impressed then — and still are today,' Frisone said. 'Not running for 20 years, that actually probably helped me save my legs, kept my legs fresh. It was an accidental secret weapon.' After catching his second wind, Frisone and his wife, Maureen, took on the gargantuan NYC Marathon, which he finished in about 5 hours in 2010. Then, five years later on a brutally cold April morning, Frisone notched what he called his most significant ever achievement on foot — acing the Boston Marathon in about 4 hours and 34 minutes. 3 David Frisone, 80, runs through a sprinkler on the course of his weekly 5K at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. Heather Khalifa for New York Post 'Boston was bad weather, cold, rain — but when you're addicted to running, you just go for it,' he said. Best foot forward Nowadays, Frisone is a member of the Long Island Road Runners and usually has friendly faceoffs with the same group of people he's gotten to know over the years. He volunteers to help set up and then participates in weekly runs at Eisenhower Park, inspiring other participants, many of whom are much younger, to kick it into high gear. When allowing for age grading — a similar system to a golf handicap — 'usually I get top 10 or top 15 in the whole race,' Frisone said. 3 David Frisone, 80, poses for a portrait after running in a weekly 5K at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. Heather Khalifa for New York Post More than anything, however, running keeps Frisone's mind racing in a good way. It gives him tons of great friends and social activity at a time when medical experts warn that too many seniors are deteriorating from isolation. 'We don't just run. We always do something after. It's either a bagel, pizza, Mexican food, or something like it,' he said, adding that the group went out for a pizza party this week. 'It's a way of celebrating your run, it keeps the conversations going.' Next, Frisone plans to travel to Scotland in September to participate in either a 10K or 5K race, simply for the enjoyment of it. 'I compete hard. It makes me competitive, and it's a form of addiction,' he said. 'If I had to stop running, I would really miss it.'
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Prepared, not paranoid: What you need to know to protect yourself from a possible terror attack
In times like this, you hear the concern from your neighbors. You talk about it with people at the gym. It's the topic of conversation over morning coffee — from small towns to big cities — "Are we going to see an increase in terror attacks here at home?" Now, there are news that Iranian "sleeper cells" pose a dangerous threat. Such cells could carry out attacks on U.S. citizens in retaliation for recent military operations in Iran, it's understandable that Americans are feeling concerned for their safety here at home. People are on edge. If they're not already in a heightened state of awareness, they're at least tuned in — watching the headlines and scrolling through a stream of opinions on social media. This isn't about fear or paranoia. It's a moment to pause and remember: Attacks have happened on U.S. soil before. The truth is there are people who want to harm our country and disrupt our way of life. We've seen these attacks play out — some tied to foreign groups, others carried out by lone attackers inspired by skewed ideologies. Pearl Harbor. 9/11. The Boston Marathon bombing. The Pensacola Naval Air Station shooting. More recently, the Jewish Museum shooting in D.C. Moments like this — especially after international military operations — ignite fears of retaliation. They spark conversations at home, at work, and everywhere in between. With Iranian threats and elevated homeland security alerts making headlines, it's easy to feel uneasy. But fear isn't a strategy — awareness and preparedness are. Social media is one of the greatest modern tools — or the worst — depending on who you ask. It has the power to inform, empower and engage. You can get access to information from some of the world's most influential people — directly from them. But not everything you read online is true. And with AI now capable of generating fake images and audio, misinformation is even harder to spot. While we could talk all day about how narratives shape perception, here are steps to help you stay informed: 1. Follow reputable sources. Federal, state and local government platforms are often your best source of accurate updates. Your local police, sheriff and state patrol agencies routinely push out alerts. If you're not already following them, do that now. Also follow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for terrorism alerts, travel advisories, cyber warnings and more. The State Department offers "know before you go" tips for international travel. 2. Subscribe to credentialed news organizations. Major outlets with national security and White House teams often have 24/7 coverage and access to decision-makers. 3. Be cautious of influencers with agendas. Everyone has a platform — but not everyone deserves your trust. Some creators spark engagement, not share truth. Be critical. Vet what you consume. Being alert doesn't require a badge or training. It just requires a decision to pay attention. Many victims of crime or violence are simply too distracted by screens or conversations to notice danger signs. 1. Put the phone down. Your phone is a powerful tool — and your biggest distraction. Whether you're driving, walking or in a crowd, looking down at your screen can cause you to miss warning signs. Talk to your teens too. We can't escape a connected world, but we can move through it smarter. 2. "See something, say something." Trust your gut. If something feels off, speak up. Teach your kids to do the same. A person acting strangely. A vehicle parked out of place. A bag left unattended. Report it. Law enforcement would rather investigate something small than miss something big. If you live in an urban area, encourage neighbors to do the same. Neighborhood Watch programs have been stopping crimes for decades with basic awareness. 3. Mentally rehearse the unexpected. Your brain performs better in a crisis when it's already run the scenario. That's why we practiced fire drills in school. Same principle. Whether you're at a concert, grocery store or your workplace — know your exits. Think about where you'd go. It's not paranoia. It's preparation. 4. Learn "Run, Hide, Fight." This DHS-endorsed model gives civilians a plan for surviving active threats. The guides are free and simple. Download them. Talk through them with your family. That's how you reduce panic and improve survival odds. Law enforcement agencies at every level — local, state and federal — are working together like never before. Real-time intelligence-sharing systems, joint task forces and powerful technologies are helping prevent threats before they happen. Even when we don't see it, the work is happening. 1. Increased patrols in vulnerable areas. Nationwide, police departments are stepping up patrols near houses of worship, cultural centers and critical infrastructure — not just in response to specific threats, but out of caution and commitment. You may not always see them, but trained professionals are on the job. 2. Technology-driven operations. Many cities now operate real-time crime centers, where agencies use facial recognition, license plate readers and integrated systems to track threats and alert officers instantly. This work doesn't make headlines, but it prevents attacks. Sure, overseas missions are for the military. But here at home, safety is a shared responsibility. You don't need a uniform, a badge or fear to be prepared. Many victims of crime or violence are simply too distracted by screens or conversations to notice danger signs. Stay informed. Stay aware. Speak up. Have a plan. Because the best time to build resilience isn't during a crisis — it's before one ever begins. Whether you're walking Main Street or living in a high-rise downtown, safety isn't just about what happens to you. It's about how you respond when it does. If high-profile threats lead to meaningful conversations, let those conversations center around preparedness — not panic. Because when enough of us prepare, the ripple effect can be powerful.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Big names litter top of Boston 10K leaderboard
Advertisement Americans Tatyana McFadden (five Boston Marathon titles) and Daniel Romanchuk (two Boston wins) added to their racing resumes in the wheelchair division. McFadden's winning time in the women's race was 26:48, while Romanchuk took the men's title in 21:27. Before the race, a moment of remembrance was held for Nina Kuscsik, the first official Boston Marathon female winner, Follow Andrew Mahoney
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Trailblazing Sir Thomas Rich's school rowers reunite 50 years on
A group of former schoolboy rowers have reunited - 50 years after they were last in a boat together. The crew of eight had success in the late 1960s, winning the prestigious Boston Marathon in 1972, competing against international-level rowers for Sir Thomas Rich's school in in their 70s, the rowers returned to Gloucester Rowing Club on Saturday, where they trained, under the watchful eye of their original coach Graham Cooper, one of the original crew members, said they are proud of their achievements raising the profile of state school athletes in what he described as public school dominated sport. "We were a state school in what was then a sport very much dominated by public school rowing and we turned that on it's head really."Locally, throughout the South West and the Midlands, we were a force to deal with."Certainly in 1970 we ran silver medal at the national school which was pretty remarkable actually." Mr Cooper said their original coach Graham Middleton, was instrumental in shaping the crew's success."I can remember sitting in science labs reading books on a German crew to see how we could improve," he said. Mr Cooper said: "Places like Gloucester Rowing Club are doing a great job at bringing young people in. "It's a growing sport, but I'd love to see more of it happening in state schools," he added.
