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Boston Marathon bombing

The Boston Marathon bombing, sometimes referred to as simply the Boston bombing, was an Islamist domestic terrorist attack that took place during the 117th annual Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Four hours into the race, Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev detonated two homemade pressure cooker bombs containing explosives and steel shrapnel. The bombs were hidden inside two backpacks dropped in the cheering crowds just minutes prior, and remotely detonated near the finish line of the race in central Boston, 14 seconds and 210 yards (190 m) apart. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured, including 12 victims who suffered traumatic limb amputations.

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  1. StopNotice a strong emotion (anger, fear, 'they don't want you to know') before you share. Pause first.
  2. Investigate the sourceWho is making the claim, what's their expertise, and what do they gain if you believe it?
  3. Find better coverageRead laterally: open new tabs and see what independent outlets and fact-checkers say.
  4. Trace claims to the originFind the original study, video or document. Check dates and whether quotes are cut.
  5. Ask what would change your mindReal theories can be tested. If every piece of counter-evidence 'proves' the cover-up, it can't be.
  6. Count the peopleBig secret plots need thousands of people to stay silent for years. That rarely happens.
  7. Talk, don't mockWith friends or family, ask questions, listen, share your own sources calmly. Shame backfires.
  8. PrebunkLearn the common tricks (cherry-picking, fake experts, false dilemmas) so you spot them early.

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