Explosions at Boston Marathon - A2K Runners, Check In Please

The materials believed to have been used in the bombs closely match those that Naser Jason Abdo, a young Texas soldier, had amassed before he was charged by the FBI in Texas in 2011 with plotting to attack fellow soldiers.

An FBI expert testified at his trial that it would have taken about 30 minutes to build a bomb using materials Mr. Abdo had gathered—including a pressure cooker, gunpowder, clocks and electrical tape—by following instructions in an al Qaeda magazine found in his backpack.

Mr. Abdo was convicted and is serving life in prison.

In the foiled Times Square bombing of 2010, authorities said one of the three devices would-be bomber Faisal Shahzad had assembled was a pressure cooker containing more than 100 firecrackers.

U.S. counterterrorism officials have warned for a decade about the use of pressure cookers to manufacture bombs. The warnings came after finding such bomb-making was being taught at terrorist camps in Afghanistan.

.Officials Tuesday cautioned that this type of bomb could have been made by any number of groups or individuals.

In 2010, the Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's Internet magazine carried an article with a step-by-step guide that included the use of a pressure cooker.

The article, headlined "Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom," listed common items including filaments from Christmas light bulbs, gunpowder and a clock.

Dan Defenbaugh, a former FBI bomb technician who led the investigation of the Oklahoma City bombing, cautioned that while al Qaeda has promoted the use of pressure cookers to build bombs, one shouldn't assume the bomber is necessarily an al Qaeda follower

There are plenty of idiots to go around.

There are three generations of pressure cookers:

First generation

Also known as "old type" pressure cookers, these operate with a weight-modified or "jiggly" valve, which releases pressure during operation. Some people might consider them loud or very loud because the weight-modified valve operates similarly to the piston in a steam engine. They typically offer only one pressure level—with the exception of some newer "old style" pressure cookers that allow the operator to change the weight of the weight-modified valve.

Second generation

Also known as "new" or "latest generation" pressure cookers, these operate with a spring-loaded valve that is often hidden from view in a proprietary mechanism. This generation is characterized by two or more pressure settings. Some of these pressure cookers do not release any steam during operation (non-venting) and instead use a rising indicator with markings to show the pressure level. These only release steam when the pan is opened, or as a safety precaution if the heat source is not reduced enough when the pan reaches the required cooking pressure. Others use a dial that the operator can advance by a few clicks (which adjusts a spring underneath) to change the pressure setting or release pressure; these release steam during operation (venting).

Electric pressure cookers

Called "third generation" pressure cookers by their manufacturers, these include an electric heat source that is automatically regulated to maintain the operating pressure. They also include a spring-loaded valve (as described above). Two or more pressure settings are available on this type of pressure cooker, along with features such as a timer and a setting to keep food warm. However, this pressure cooker type cannot be opened with a cold water quick-release method and should be operated with caution when releasing vapour through the valve, especially while cooking foamy foods and liquids (lentils, beans, grains, milk, gravy, etc.).

Jespah, Region Philbus, Thomas, littlek, etc., let us know if you were there and that you are okay.

But it does make logical sense why you would investigate him. They found he wasn't involved and that's it. Better to be cautious and investigate anyone that could be remotely involved than to have others bombed.