Orlando Shooter Referenced Cambridge Men Who Committed Boston Marathon Bombing: State Police

By ALISON BAUTER (Patch Staff)

CAMBRIDGE, MA - The Orlando nightclub gunman reportedly made reference to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers, but has no apparent ties to Massachusetts, state police said Sunday.

"During his rampage, the gunman pledged allegiance to ISIS and referenced the Tsarnaev brothers, the terrorists who exploded bombs at the 2013 Boston Marathon," Massachusetts State Police said in a statement Sunday, citing federal law enforcement officials.

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"In light of that information, the Commonwealth Fusion Center continues to share information and intelligence with federal authorities investigating the Orlando terrorist act as well as with police assigned to the Boston Regional Intelligence Center," the state police press release said.

The names of the gunman and his wife do not appear in any locally maintained databases of potential terrorist suspects, state police said. State police and their partner agencies so far have found no connection to Massachusetts on the parts of suspected Orlando gunman and his spouse, an earlier statement said.

The Tsarnaev brothers had lived and attended school in Cambridge.

"However, law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts continue to work with federal authorities to learn more about the nature of the statement about the Tsarnaev brothers attributed to the Orlando terrorist," the release said.

>> Photo via Massachusetts State Police