(NECN/AP) - Three college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were arrested and accused Wednesday of removing a backpack containing hollowed-out fireworks from Tsarnaev's dorm room three days after the attack to keep him from getting into trouble.
Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev, both 19-year-olds from Kazakhstan, were charged with conspiring to obstruct justice by concealing and destroying evidence. Robel Phillipos, 19, who graduated from the prestigious Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School with Tsarnaev, was charged with lying to investigators about the visit to Tsarnaev's room.
The three were not accused of any involvement in the bombing itself.
Phillipos' attorney, Derege Demissie, said outside court: "The only allegation is he made a misrepresentation."
Phillipos was held for a hearing on Monday.
Josh Brogadir reports he lived in Cambridge, Mass. with his mother in a large apartment building. One neighbor, Tecleberhan Mengiseu, says Robel is a good kid and a nice boy.
Josh Brogadir has more on the third suspect arrested Wednesday.
