Prosecutors paint marathon bombing suspect Tsarnaev as 'soldier in a holy war'

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
(Image credit: FBI via Getty Images)

The trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev began Wednesday with prosecutors arguing that the accused believed he was "a soldier in a holy war against Americans."

In opening arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Weinreb described the attack's carnage in graphic detail, saying Tsarnaev hoped the bombing would help him reach "paradise."

The 21-year-old Tsarnaev faces 30 charges and a potential death sentence in the 2013 terror attack that killed three and wounded more than 260 others. The defense did not deny Tsarnaev's guilt in its opening statement, but rather argued his brother and alleged accomplice, Tamerlan, manipulated him into carrying out the attack.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.