A teen and a man reportedly say the paper incorrectly implied they were suspects. N.Y. Post sued over Boston coverage

The New York Post is facing a defamation lawsuit from a teenager and man who say they were falsely identified on the tabloid’s front page as suspects in the Boston bombing, according to The Boston Globe.

Salaheddin Barhoum, 16, and Yassine Zaimi, 24, say they were the two people featured in a large photograph on an April cover of the New York Post under the headline, “Bag Men.” They claim the paper incorrectly implied they were suspects pursued by the FBI in the attacks, according to the Globe report.


The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, accuses the Post of libel, invasion of privacy and negligent infliction of emotional distress. They seek damages including monetary compensation.

( PHOTOS: Boston bombings manhunt)

Lawyers said the pair are avid runners and were watching the race.

The New York Post declined to comment to the Globe, but the report notes the Post editor defended the coverage to The Associated Press in April, saying the two were not identified as suspects by the paper.

The April 18 cover to the Post read, under “Bag Men”:

“Feds seek these two pictured at Boston Marathon.” And in smaller print: “Investigators probing the deadly Boston Marathon bombings are emailing law-enforcement agencies photos of these two men seen on surveillance near the finish line, The Post has learned. …There is no direct evidence linking them to the crime, but authorities want to identify them.”

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