HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - The Massachusetts National Guard assisted local and state authorities following the shootout and explosions that occurred early Friday morning.
Just before 9 p.m. EST, the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people was arrested in Watertown, Mass.
Nearly 100 Massachusetts National Guard personnel were on duty to assist local, state and federal authorities and provide support to the civilian law enforcement agencies. Nearly 900 Soldiers and Airmen remain on duty supporting the entire operation.
"Civilian authorities have requested the Guard to provide armored vehicles, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and aviation support," said Lt. Col. James Sahady, spokesman for the Massachusetts National Guard. "Current Guard missions include perimeter security to the main area being searched, traffic control point security and assistance with investigation and reduction of suspected explosive devices," said Sahady.
After a day-long search that resulted in the unprecedented lockdown of a major American city, authorities arrested Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, the brother of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, who died following a shootout with police.
The missions the National Guard supports are requested by local and state civilian authorities and coordinated through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency [MEMA].
The Massachusetts National Guard’s 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade based out of Camp Curtis Guild, Reading, is providing command and control of all Soldiers and Airmen activated for the current mission.
Military Police [211th Military Police Battalion], Security Forces Police [102nd Intelligence Wing and 104th Fighter Wing] and Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel [387th Engineer Company (EOD)] are the majority of the troops deployed.
Contributing: Steve Marshall of the National Guard Bureau