Bomber Suspects' Mom Denies Kids' Terror Ties, Adds to Conspiracy Charges: 'This Is a Setup

Zubeidat Tsarnaeva made headlines earlier today over her own alleged criminal history -- a revelation that came to light as her son, Dzhokhar, is on the run from authorities in the Boston Marathon bombing case. In an interview with Russia Today, she said that her boys are "100 percent innocent" and that the incident is a setup.

"It is a really hard thing to hear, being a mother," she said. "My two sons are really innocent. Neither of them never have talked whatever they're saying about now."

Zubeidat Tsarnaeva (Photo Credit: Natick Police)

Tsarnaeva's defense of her children was fervent, as she maintained throughout the exchange that they are blameless.

"This is a set up, my son would never ever carry out such terror attack," she continued. "FBI knew everything what my son was doing, told me he was serious leader, that they were afraid of him."

She went on to tell the outlet that Dzhokhar was raised in the United States and that no one in their home spoke about terror.

Listen to Tsarnaeva's interview with RT, below:

Earlier today, we reported that the mother arrested on June 13, 2012. The charges against her? According to RT, she was charged with larceny of women’s clothing, which was valued at $1,624. Additionally, she was charged with two counts of malicious damage to property. The purported theft took place at Lord & Taylor in Natick, Massachusetts.

A Patch story that was published last summer explains the alleged charges against Tsarnaeva. The description reads, “Loss prevention from Lord & Taylor called to report they had detained a shoplifter. Zubeidat K. Tsarnaeva, 45, of 410 Norfolk St., Apt. 3, Cambridge, was arrested and charged with larceny over $250 (women’s clothing valued at $1,624), and two counts of malicious/wanton damage/defacement to property.”

Click here to read more about the family's reaction to the incident.