Patriot Day Attacks

Obama: Bombing an ‘Act of Terror’

Uses phrasing for the first time.

After being criticized Monday night for not alluding to terrorism while discussing the Boston Marathon bombings, President Obama inched closer in that direction in a press conference Tuesday afternoon, saying, “Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror.” He invoked the word several other times, saying that the “FBI is investigating this as an act of terror” and asserting that “the American people refused to be terrorized.” He did not provide any further details on who, specifically, was behind the attacks, instead reassuring that “we will find whoever harmed our citizens and bring them to justice.”