Three people have been arrested on charges of obstructing the investigation of last month’s bombing of the Boston Marathon. Police say the three conspired to destroy or hide the backpack and laptop of the surviving bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said the alleged offenses took place after the bombing and that public safety is not at risk.

Gov. Deval Patrick: “Based on the briefings I have — I have had, this is not about — this should not raise any concerns in anyone’s minds about a continuing threat to the public. This is about getting all the way to the bottom of the story of what happened at the marathon.”

Reporter: “Is it your understanding that they did or did not have a role in the bombing incident?”

Gov. Deval Patrick: “It’s my understanding that they did not.”

One suspect is a U.S. citizen, and the other two are foreign students from Kazakhstan who went to school with Tsarnaev at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. On Wednesday, attorneys for the two foreign students said their clients are innocent.

Robert Stahl: “Dias Kadyrbayev absolutely denies the charges. As we’ve said from the very beginning, he assisted the FBI in this investigation. He is just as shocked and horrified by the violence in Boston that took place as the rest of the community is. He did not know that this individual was involved in the bombing.”

Harlan Protass: “My client, Azamat Tazhayakov, feels horrible and was shocked to hear that someone that he knew at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was involved with the Boston Marathon bombing, just like many other individuals who were interviewed on campus. He has cooperated fully with the authorities and looks forward to the truth coming out in this case.”

Prosecutors say the three will be charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements.