One of the sisters of the Boston Marathon bombers was arrested on Wednesday for verbally threatening a New York woman, but her friend told NBC News the accusations were fabricated. Ailina Tsarnaeva, 24, was charged with aggravated harassment after she allegedly threatened a woman who used to be involved with her husband, NBC New York reported, citing the NYPD.
According to police, Tsarnaeva told the woman over the phone, "I have people who can go over there and put a bomb on you."
But Britney Smith, 24, a woman who says she's been Tsarnaeva's friend for 10 years, told NBC News that "she would never make a comment like that" because she believes "their phones are tapped." Tsarnaeva is "a very caring and loving mother," Smith said.
"Ailina doesn't want to speak to reporters or do an interview right now," Smith said.
Tsarnaeva lives in North Bergen, New Jersey, but is required to check in with Massachusetts probation officers in relation with a 2010 counterfeiting investigation, according to The Associated Press. Her brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to planting the two pressure bombs at the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others in April 2013.
IN-DEPTH
- Sister of Boston Marathon Bombing Suspects Allegedly Threatened Husband's Ex: Police (NBC New York)
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— Elisha Fieldstadt