The following thermal images were released on Twitter by the Massachusetts State Police, show the Boston Marathon bombings suspect Dzhokhar Tsarneav hiding in a boat in a Watertow backyard during Apr. 19’s manhunt.
Image credit: Massachusetts State Police
FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) pods carried by Police helicopters have been an important tool in helping law enforcement locate suspects of the Boston Marathon bombing.
The helicopter was able to pick up the heat signature of the individual even if he was hiding under a cover on the boat, and direct tactical teams on the ground over to the area.
Modern IR (infrared) cameras are extremely sensitive to heat: they are capable to pick different temperatures at very long distances. They can pick up heat on a wall from where a hand was placed for a few seconds and show its thermal signature.
You can’t hide from these cameras unless wearing special reflective materials/suits, capable to minimize heat gain and loss.
Update: here’s the the Boston Bomber manhunt IR video
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Is that a rifle laying across his legs?
He shoots himself in the neck at the end. He seems to have a gun in his right hand, probably laying across his chest, he then brings it up below his head and shoots. It almost seems like slow motion, but you can see the blood spatter to the right (our right) of his head. Looks like he wanted to do himself and even got that wrong.