Injured Saudi National Is a Witness and Not a Suspect in Boston Bombing Case, Reports Say

Earlier today, the roommate of the Saudi national who is connected to the Boston bombing investigation spoke out to media. Not long after reports circulated that the roommate described the unnamed individual at the center of media coverage as a "good" guy who is "quiet and clean," reports began claiming that he is not, in fact, a suspect in the crime.

This new development, if substantiated, seems to corroborate past law enforcement statements that no suspect is being held in police custody.

According to the Washington Post, the Saudi man in question is in the U.S. studying on scholarship and that the man is in his 20s. U.S. authorities purportedly say that he is a witness in the case and not a suspect. The unnamed individual studies at a Boston-area college and is currently recovering from his injuries.

Police conducted an overnight search in this apartment building in the Boston suburb of Revere, photographed Tuesday, April 16, 2013, and removed items from the apartment of a young Saudi national visiting on a student visa who was questioned in connection with the bombings Monday at the finish of the Boston Marathon, a law enforcement official said. Credit: AP

The Post has more about the individual who has been discussed and speculated about extensively in media reports since yesterday's attack:

The federal officials’ explanation echoed comments by a Saudi official at the country’s embassy in Washington. The embassy official said that a Saudi national has been questioned as a witness but is not regarded as a suspect. The Saudi official cited information provided to the embassy by U.S. law enforcement officials.

“We’re not aware of any Saudi suspect or Saudi person of interest,” said the Saudi official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the preliminary nature of the information.

He declined to identify the young man, but said he sustained serious burn injuries. The official said the victim is cooperating with U.S. investigators and granted permission for his Boston area apartment to be searched.

Police continue their search for responsible parties.