Two bombs struck near the finish line of the Boston
Marathon on Monday, turning a celebration into a bloody scene of destruction.
Marathon on Monday, turning a celebration into a bloody scene of destruction.
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said Monday
night that the death toll had risen to three. Scores were injured at the scene.
night that the death toll had risen to three. Scores were injured at the scene.
One of the dead was an 8-year-old boy, according to
a state law enforcement source.
a state law enforcement source.
Hospitals reported at least 144 people are being
treated, with at least 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious
condition. At least eight of the patients are children.
treated, with at least 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious
condition. At least eight of the patients are children.
At least 10 people injured had limbs amputated,
according to a terrorism expert briefed on the investigation.
according to a terrorism expert briefed on the investigation.
Several of the patients treated at Massachusetts
General Hospital suffered injuries to lower limbs that will require
“serial operations” in the coming days, trauma surgeon Peter
Fagenholz said Monday night. Some injuries were so severe amputations were
necessary, Fagenholz added.
General Hospital suffered injuries to lower limbs that will require
“serial operations” in the coming days, trauma surgeon Peter
Fagenholz said Monday night. Some injuries were so severe amputations were
necessary, Fagenholz added.
In
Washington, President Barack Obama vowed, “Any responsible individuals,
any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”
Washington, President Barack Obama vowed, “Any responsible individuals,
any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”
Boston “is a tough and resilient town,”
he said, adding that Americans will stand by Bostonians “every single step
of the way.”
he said, adding that Americans will stand by Bostonians “every single step
of the way.”
‘Like a huge cannon’
The terrorist attack, near the marathon’s finish
line, triggered widespread screaming and chaos, shattered windows and
barricades and sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square.
line, triggered widespread screaming and chaos, shattered windows and
barricades and sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square.
The blasts were about 50 to 100 yards apart,
officials said, on a stretch of the marathon course lined with spectators
cheering runners through the final yards of a 26-mile, 385-yard endurance feat.
officials said, on a stretch of the marathon course lined with spectators
cheering runners through the final yards of a 26-mile, 385-yard endurance feat.
“It felt like a huge cannon,” a witness
told Breeze Magazine about one of the blasts.
told Breeze Magazine about one of the blasts.
Allan Panter, a doctor who was near the finish line
waiting for his wife to finish the race, told Breeze Magazine he was standing
about 20 to 25 feet from the first blast. He said he treated victims on the
street after the explosion.
waiting for his wife to finish the race, told Breeze Magazine he was standing
about 20 to 25 feet from the first blast. He said he treated victims on the
street after the explosion.
“I saw at least six to seven people down next
to me,” he said. “They protected me from the blast. One lady expired.
One gentleman lost both his (lower) limbs. Most of the injuries were lower
extremities.”
to me,” he said. “They protected me from the blast. One lady expired.
One gentleman lost both his (lower) limbs. Most of the injuries were lower
extremities.”
Bill Iffrig, 78 and a veteran marathoner, was
nearing the finish when “the shock waves just hit my whole body and my
legs just started jittering around.” Iffrig, who can be seen in video of
the explosion wearing an orange tank top, was helped to his feet by an event
volunteer and had just a scratch from his fall, he told Breeze Magazine.
nearing the finish when “the shock waves just hit my whole body and my
legs just started jittering around.” Iffrig, who can be seen in video of
the explosion wearing an orange tank top, was helped to his feet by an event
volunteer and had just a scratch from his fall, he told Breeze Magazine.
Federal authorities are classifying the bombings as
a terrorist attack, but it’s not clear whether the origin was domestic or
foreign, a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation
said.
a terrorist attack, but it’s not clear whether the origin was domestic or
foreign, a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation
said.
A federal law enforcement official told Breeze
Magazine that both bombs were small, and initial tests showed no C-4 or other
high-grade explosive material, suggesting that the packages used in the attack
were crude explosive devices.
Magazine that both bombs were small, and initial tests showed no C-4 or other
high-grade explosive material, suggesting that the packages used in the attack
were crude explosive devices.
Another explosive device found
Authorities in Boston found at least one other
explosive device that they were dismantling, Boston Police Commissioner Ed
Davis said.
explosive device that they were dismantling, Boston Police Commissioner Ed
Davis said.
Rep. Bill Keating of Massachusetts, meanwhile, said
two more were found.
two more were found.
One unexploded device was found at a hotel on
Boylston Street near the bomb site and another unexploded device was found at
an undisclosed location, Keating, a Democrat and member of the House Homeland
Security Committee, said. He called the bombing a “sophisticated,
coordinated, planned attack.”
Boylston Street near the bomb site and another unexploded device was found at
an undisclosed location, Keating, a Democrat and member of the House Homeland
Security Committee, said. He called the bombing a “sophisticated,
coordinated, planned attack.”
It was
unclear who may have planted the marathon bombs. There were no credible threats
before the race, a state government official said.
unclear who may have planted the marathon bombs. There were no credible threats
before the race, a state government official said.
There is no suspect in custody, but many people are
being questioned, Davis said.
being questioned, Davis said.
Investigators warned police to be on the lookout
for a “darker-skinned or black male” with a possible foreign accent
in connection with the attack, according to a law enforcement advisory obtained
by Breeze Magazine. The man was seen with a black backpack and sweatshirt and
was trying to get into a restricted area about five minutes before the first
explosion, the lookout notice states.
for a “darker-skinned or black male” with a possible foreign accent
in connection with the attack, according to a law enforcement advisory obtained
by Breeze Magazine. The man was seen with a black backpack and sweatshirt and
was trying to get into a restricted area about five minutes before the first
explosion, the lookout notice states.
Also, a Saudi national with a leg wound was under
guard at a Boston hospital in connection with the bombings, but investigators
cannot say he is involved at this time and he is not in custody, a law
enforcement official said Monday evening.
guard at a Boston hospital in connection with the bombings, but investigators
cannot say he is involved at this time and he is not in custody, a law
enforcement official said Monday evening.
In addition to scrutinizing images of surveillance
cameras in the area, the FBI likely was issuing subpoenas for records from cell
towers in the area to isolate and trace calls from around Copley Square at the
time of the blasts, according to a former federal law enforcement official who
now works in the intelligence community.
cameras in the area, the FBI likely was issuing subpoenas for records from cell
towers in the area to isolate and trace calls from around Copley Square at the
time of the blasts, according to a former federal law enforcement official who
now works in the intelligence community.
The unexploded devices that were recovered could
provide a treasure trove of information such as fingerprints and indications of
the bomb maker’s design, and from the bombs that did explode, investigators
would be looking for fragments and anything indicating the
“signature” of the bomb makers, the official told Breeze Magazine.
provide a treasure trove of information such as fingerprints and indications of
the bomb maker’s design, and from the bombs that did explode, investigators
would be looking for fragments and anything indicating the
“signature” of the bomb makers, the official told Breeze Magazine.
As authorities searched the scene, numerous
suspicious packages were found, possibly because people fled the area, leaving
items behind. Investigators were checking them.
suspicious packages were found, possibly because people fled the area, leaving
items behind. Investigators were checking them.
All off-duty Boston police were called in.
The Marriott hotel at Copley Place was evacuated as
a precaution.
a precaution.
The Lenox Hotel was also evacuated as a precaution,
the Boston Globe reported.
the Boston Globe reported.
‘Horrific day’
Crowds were in the area watching the runners take
part in the world’s oldest annual marathon.
part in the world’s oldest annual marathon.
It was also Patriots Day, commemorating the opening
battle of the Revolutionary War.
battle of the Revolutionary War.
Within seconds, the festive occasion turned into
devastation.
devastation.
“This is a horrific day in Boston,”
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those who
have been injured. I have been in touch with the president, Mayor (Thomas)
Menino and our public safety leaders. Our focus is on making sure that the area
around Copley Square is safe and secured. I am asking everyone to stay away
from Copley Square and let the first responders do their jobs.”
have been injured. I have been in touch with the president, Mayor (Thomas)
Menino and our public safety leaders. Our focus is on making sure that the area
around Copley Square is safe and secured. I am asking everyone to stay away
from Copley Square and let the first responders do their jobs.”
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke with FBI
Director Robert Mueller and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, a Justice Department
official said.
Director Robert Mueller and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, a Justice Department
official said.
Holder has directed the full resources of the
Justice Department to be deployed to ensure the matter is fully investigated,
the official said.
Justice Department to be deployed to ensure the matter is fully investigated,
the official said.
The Federal Aviation Administration placed a flight
restriction over the site of the blasts.
restriction over the site of the blasts.
Other cities, including New York and Washington,
tightened security as a result. Following standard protocol, the White House
cleared out an area in front of the West Wing.
tightened security as a result. Following standard protocol, the White House
cleared out an area in front of the West Wing.
Mike Baingon, who works at the Atlantic Fish
Company in Boston, said an explosion took place in front of the restaurant and
that he was right by the front door at the time.
Company in Boston, said an explosion took place in front of the restaurant and
that he was right by the front door at the time.
The explosions occurred at about 2:45 p.m., more
than two hours after the first of the race’s nearly 27,000 runners had crossed
the finish line.
than two hours after the first of the race’s nearly 27,000 runners had crossed
the finish line.
The race was halted as was subway service into the
area.
area.
Troops from the Massachusetts National Guard,
already at the site as part of the marathon’s security and crowd-management
plan, were assisting police as well.
already at the site as part of the marathon’s security and crowd-management
plan, were assisting police as well.
