Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Ex-Fling: Boston Bombing Suspect's Friends 'Idolized' Him

Bombing Suspect's Ex-'Fling' Makes Startling Claim

A woman who said she had a "fleeting fling" with the suspect in the Boston bombing said his friends "idolized" him.

Those friends were arrested yesterday and accused of helping Dzhokhar Tsarnaev after the bombing.

Mother Jones spoke with the woman, whose story was backed up by a fellow resident of the "UMass-Dartmouth dorm where she met and became involved with [Dzhokhar] Tsarnaev," the magazine reports.

The woman, who was granted anonymity, said it was Tsarnaev's face that attracted her to him.

"I met him standing outside a building and honestly, his face was enough to capture my heart," she said.

The woman also said she doubts Tsarnaev's religion would have motivated him to take part in the attack, noting that he rarely discussed his faith.

Prior reports have said Tsarnaev told authorities he and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, were motivated by United States' wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Law enforcement authorities granted anonymity previously told the Associated Press they have reason to believe the attack was in fact driven by the brothers' religion.

Mother Jones' story comes one day after federal prosecutors filed charges against Dias Kadyrbayev, 19, and Azamat Tazhayakov, 19, who allegedly "tried to conceal and destroy a laptop computer and backpack full of fireworks belonging to Tsarnaev."

A third man, Robel Phillipos, 19, was also arrested and accused of lying to law enforcement officials when they questioned him about the bombing.

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