Identity of man who pushed Boston suspect to radical Islam established

US investigators have established the identity of a man who, according to relatives, inspired the elder of the Tsarnaev brothers to convert to radical Islam, CNN reports.

Contacts with a certain Mikhail, the Tsarnaevs’ friends say, encouraged Tamerlan Tsarnaev to abandon sports and music in favor of Islam. Mikhail “ruled over Tamerlan’s mind”, Tsarnaev’s uncle said. His father claims, however, that Mikhail who used to live in their neighborhood comes from a well-off family.

According to earlier reports, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was led into radical Islam by his mother, Zubeidat.

The Associated Press has established that Zubeidat Tsarnaeva is a descendant of Dagestan Wahhabis who live in the mountains.