Surveillance Video Footage May Show Two Suspects In Boston Marathon Bombing

UPDATE 12 A.M.: CNN has confirmed reports that federal investigators are relying on surveillance video footage, adding that authorities have been following two suspects. Both of the suspects are reportedly men shown in video footage taken just before the bombs exploded. In addition to the man with a black bag, the second suspect mentioned by CNN was reportedly wearing a backwards white baseball cap, a light hoodie and a black jacket just before the bombing.

CNN confirms that neither suspect appears to have been named or identified. It also added that investigators will not release images of the men out of fear that it could impede the investigation.

11:30 P.M.: In a major break in the Boston Marathon bombings case, federal authorities speaking to the Associated Press have announced that they may have video footage of a suspect. So far, it appears that federal investigators only have video footage of the suspect and do not have a name or further details.

The AP reports that frame-by-frame analysis of video footage captured by a nearby department store’s surveillance camera shows a person carrying a dark duffel bag matching those found near the bomb scene. Investigators determined that the explosives used in the Boston Marathon bombings were left in black duffel bags.

Several eyewitnesses reportedly gave descriptions of the suspect that match the video footage captured by the department store. Authorities reportedly state that the suspect in the video footage was carrying “dark, heavy” bags.

Boston City Council President Stephen Murphy spoke with the Associated Press to confirm the news of a possible suspect, stating that the department store video footage “has confirmed that a suspect is seen dropping a bag near the point of the second explosion and heading off.”

"I know it's very active and very fluid right now -- that they are on the chase," Murphy added. "They may be on the verge of arresting someone, and that's good."

While federal investigators believe that video footage may have identified the suspect, they still only appear to have images of the suspect -- not a name or a location. An anonymous source spoke to the AP to confirm that the subject seen in the footage had not been detained or questioned.

Earlier on Wednesday, an unnamed source leaked erroneous information to several media outlets stating that an arrest had been made in the Boston Marathon bombings; however, the reports were later shown to be false.

Media outlets such as CNN and the Boston Globe ran with the false story that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings. The outlets later backtracked on their stories after the FBI and Boston Police Department denied the reports of a suspect's arrest.

“Contrary to widespread reporting, no arrest has been made in connection with the Boston Marathon attack," the FBI wrote in an official statement on the suspect. "Over the past day and a half, there have been a number of press reports based on information from unofficial sources that has been inaccurate. Since these stories often have unintended consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting.”