News
Boston Marathon Blasts
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
UPDATE 6:21 p.m. President Obama vowed those responsible for the explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon "will feel the full weight of justice."
Obama made his remarks Monday evening from the White House about three hours after the blasts. At least two people were killed and 50 injured.
Obama has been in touch with federal law enforcement and Massachusetts officials in the aftermath of the explosions.
UPDATE 5:08 PM Boston police say there's been a third explosion in the city, following two blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed two people and injured many others.
Police Commissioner Edward Davis says authorities aren't certain that the explosion that occurred more than an hour later at the JFK Library was related to the other blasts, but they're treating it as if it was.
Davis says there are no injuries stemming from the third explosion. The total numbers of casualties from the other blasts isn't known.
Davis urged people to stay indoors and not congregate in large groups.
Police say they received no information before the explosions to indicate they were coming.
UPDATE: 4:47 PM Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is directing her agency to provide "whatever assistance" necessary in the wake of two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
About two hours after the winners finished the race there were two explosions near the finish line Monday, killing at least two people and injuring as many as 23 others.
Boston Police and federal authorities are trying to determine what happened.
Spectators and runners are describing the twin explosions that shook the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday.
One woman says she was waiting for her husband to cross the finish line, and, in her words, "it just blew." She described it as "a loud boom, and then glass everywhere." Cherie Falgoust says something hit her head, and she "just ducked."
A runner, Laura McLean of Toronto, says she heard two explosions outside the medical tent. She says, "There are people who are really, really bloody." McLean says, "they were pulling them into the medical tent."
The explosions took place about three hours after the winners crossed the finish line. The second one could be heard a few seconds after the first one.
A runner said, "There are a lot of people down."
Marathon workers were seen carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area as blood gushed from her leg.