Latest on Boston trial: US told Tamerlan interested in jihad

In this courtroom sketch, defense attorney David Bruck addresses the jury during the penalty phase in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, seated at right, on Monday, April 27, 2015, in federal court in Boston. Tsarnaev, 21, was convicted in the twin bombings that killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 other people near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. He was also convicted of killing an MIT police officer during the getaway attempt with his brother. (Jane Flavell Collins via AP) In this courtroom sketch, defense attorney David Bruck addresses the jury during the penalty phase in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, seated at right, on Monday, April 27, 2015, in federal court in Boston. Tsarnaev, 21, was convicted in the twin bombings that killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 other people near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. He was also convicted of killing an MIT police officer during the getaway attempt with his brother. (Jane Flavell Collins via AP)

By Associated Press April 29, 2015 2 min read

11:50 a.m.

Jurors have been read portions of a government report detailing how U.S. authorities were warned two years before the Boston Marathon bombings that Tamerlan Tsarnaev (TAM’-ehr-luhn tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) was planning to travel to Russia to join groups engaged in jihad.

The report describes how the FBI received a letter from Russia in 2011 expressing concerns that Tamerlan had become radicalized and could return to Russia to join extremist groups. The letter asked the FBI to notify the Russian government if Tamerlan tried to travel to Russia.

The report says the FBI investigated Tamerlan but closed its review in June 2011 after finding no evidence of terrorist activity.

Tsarnaev and his brother, Dzhokhar, committed the bombings. Dzhokhar is on trial and could be sentenced to death. Tamerlan died days after the bombings.