Reports: Boston Bombing Suspect Awake and Responding 'Sporadically' to Questions

Image source: FBI

ABC News is reporting that Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is awake and responding to questions while under guard at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

The 19-year-old has been unable to speak since he was captured Friday night.  He has been in serious but stable condition, according to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, but was not expected to wake up so soon.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino even said today: “...we don’t know if we’ll ever be able to question the individual."

Dzhokar and his older brother Tamerlan -- who was killed in a shootout with police Thursday night -- are accused of setting off two bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three and injuring at least 180 others.

ABC News' tweets read:

(Photo: @ABC)

(Photo: @ABC)

NBC News adds on Twitter:

(Photo: @NBCNews)

NBC News writes in the linked article:

Despite a serious throat wound that prevents him from speaking, the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect is beginning to respond to questions from investigators, federal officials tell NBC News.

Nearly 48 hours after he was taken into custody following an intense gun battle and manhunt, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was communicating with a special team of federal investigators... He was responding to questions mostly in writing because of the throat wound, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The suspect remains in serious condition.

[...]

Law enforcement sources had said earlier they were putting the final touches on charges against Tsarnaev and would announce them Sunday. However, Justice Department officials said late in the day that charges would not be announced until Monday at the earliest. They did not give a reason for the delay.

Authorities have told NBC News that a special high value detainee interrogation team will question Tsarnaev without advising him of his Miranda rights. A “public safety exemption” allows investigators to question a suspect without being informed of his right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning when it is thought that he or she might have vital information about a threat to public safety.

Here's more on the story, via NBC News:

This is a breaking news story. Updates will be added.