Explosions Rock Boston Marathon Finish Line, Three Dead, Dozens Injured

April 16, 2013

At least three people were killed and more than 140 injured Monday after two nearly simultaneous bomb blasts went off near crowds of spectators at the finish line of the prestigious Boston Marathon.

Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said there was “no specific intelligence” warning of an attack, and authorities said there was no immediate claim of responsibility.  The FBI is leading a multi-agency probe into the bombings.

Television footage showed scenes of confusion, streets littered with debris and blood, paramedics carrying stretchers, and damage to nearby buildings.

Bloody spectators, including some with severed limbs, were carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners from the race.

The Boston Globe, citing two law enforcement sources, reported that the dead included an eight-year-old boy.  A number of victims suffered amputations.

The blasts occurred about two hours after the first of the race’s more than 23,000 runners had crossed the finish line.

About 17,600 participants finished before the explosions.  The competition was halted after the bombs went off, as was subway service to the area.

For a related story about local residents at the Boston Marathon, click here.

President Barack Obama said in televised remarks that the United States will find out who was responsible and hold them accountable.

“We still do not know who did this or why. And people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts. But, make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this, we will find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”

While Obama did not call the explosions an attack, a White House official said any event with multiple explosive devices “is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror.”

Cities worldwide stepped up security following the explosions.

In Britain, police said they are reviewing security plans for Sunday’s London Marathon, the next major international marathon.

New York City officials said police have increased security around landmarks in Manhattan, including near prominent hotels, in response to the blast.  Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles also are on a heightened state of alert.

Officials in Boston said an electrical fire that broke out at the John F. Kennedy Library a few kilometers from the marathon’s finish line was not related to the bombings.

Shortly after the explosions, the U.S. Secret Service shut down Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House, cordoning off the area with yellow police tape.  But the White House is not on lockdown.

President Obama called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and told them his administration will provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response.

“Running the race, it was such an amazing experience. The joy of the people is what helped me keep going when I was so tired and how everyone was out, the entire state of Massachusetts was out. Little kids — even if they weren’t part of the marathon staff — little kids hanging around with Dixie cups and people who baked cookies for us, and people were handing out food and telling us to keep going and giving us handshakes as we were running. It was just such a joyful day, and to turn such a joyful day into massacre like this, just can’t help you but feel anything but anger,” said Azeem Khan, a Pakistani-American who was three miles from the race finish at the time of the explosions.

[VOA News]

Do you know anyone from the North Escambia or Pensacola area in Boston today for the marathon? Email news@northescambia.com

Pictured top and inset:  Twitter photo from user Boston_to_a_T shows one of the explosions that rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. Pictured below: The “Running Wild” group from Pensacola running  the Boston Marathon today are reportedly OK, according to the business. They are shown in a photo this morning prior to the race. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.


Comments

5 Responses to “Explosions Rock Boston Marathon Finish Line, Three Dead, Dozens Injured”

  1. Bob Hudsun on April 16th, 2013 4:34 pm

    Prayers, for those injured , and those saving them. Now. Lets see where the facts lead us.

  2. Mark on April 16th, 2013 1:52 pm

    hmmm…. on April 16th, 2013 6:07 am Anybody notice the individual “lurking” on the roof top as the explosion is going off? It is at the top left hand side of the above picture.

    Seriously? You can tell that person is “lurking” from a still photograph? No way it could have just been someone watching the race or working on the roof. Impossible!

    Ladies and gentleman, it is going to be DAYS before we get the facts of what went on. If I believed every “news” report I heard today, I’d be walking around with a bunch of “misinformation” in my head.

    Give the experts a day or two to sort through the BS, and give us the real facts, and help by preventing the spread of BS. At 6:30am this morning I’m reading stories on Face Book about a 8 year old girl that was running the marathon and died in the blast.

    No news reports have talked about ANY young girl dying and yet someone went through all the trouble to come up with a story, find a picture, etc., and post it to Face Book. Idiots.

  3. curious on April 16th, 2013 12:08 pm

    It is very odd that that person looks to be the only one up there, if it would have been more, I would say that they wanted to watch without the crowds, but I wonder bout that one. Someone ought to send it to the officials if they haven’t already.

  4. hmmm.... on April 16th, 2013 6:07 am

    Anybody notice the individual “lurking” on the roof top as the explosion is going off? It is at the top left hand side of the above picture.

  5. Robert S on April 16th, 2013 6:05 am

    Prayers with the victims and their families and loved ones.
    Blessed are the first responders who were immediately in action even though the area was not cleared of other potential explosives.
    Hopefully, the creep(s) who did this will soon be captured and dealt with in the most appropriate manner.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News