President Obama surrounded by top advisers as Boston manhunt continues

http://www.nydailynews.com/

President Obama was surrounded by his top advisers on Friday as the city of Boston and its surrounding suburbs were locked down while authorities hunted a suspected terrorist presumed to be armed and dangerous. Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and CIA Director John Brennan were all at the White House Friday afternoon as the massive manhunt continued. "A number of Cabinet Secretaries and other senior officials are at the White House to participate in a previously scheduled meeting of National Security Principals," a White House adviser said. Obama’s former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel was also seen entering the White House on Friday. A White House official told Buzzfeed that Emanuel often stops by the White House when he’s in town and there is no “specific topic” for his visit. Emanuel, now the mayor of Chicago, told an ABC News reporter he was there “to think big thoughts.” The Boston area was on lockdown Friday morning as police hunted for 19-year-old Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, a suspect in Monday’s deadly marathon bombings. His brother, 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was gunned down by police overnight. At the State Department, Kerry declined to comment on the implications of the brothers’ Chechen background. Earlier Friday morning, Obama and Vice President Biden were joined in the Situation Room by their national security advisers for a briefing on the bombing investigation and manhunt. The Situation Room briefing also included FBI Director Robert Mueller, Attorney General Eric Holder and other top aides and advisers. Kerry, Brennan and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano joined the morning meeting by video conference. The Situation Room briefing began shortly after 9:45 a.m. and wrapped up about an hour later. Obama was also updated throughout the night about the developments in Boston and the suburb of Watertown, where the hunt has focused. The White House daily press briefing was delayed until further notice.