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| Explosions hit Boston Marathon | Explosions hit Boston Marathon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two people have been killed and dozens more injured in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, police say. | Two people have been killed and dozens more injured in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, police say. |
| TV footage showed bloodied runners and spectators being treated at the scene and the road strewn with debris. | TV footage showed bloodied runners and spectators being treated at the scene and the road strewn with debris. |
| Boston police said a third incident occurred at the city's JFK Library and was under investigation. | Boston police said a third incident occurred at the city's JFK Library and was under investigation. |
| In a TV address, President Barack Obama said those responsible would feel the "full weight of justice". | In a TV address, President Barack Obama said those responsible would feel the "full weight of justice". |
| "We don't yet have all the answers," he said. "We still do not know who did this or why." | "We don't yet have all the answers," he said. "We still do not know who did this or why." |
| President Obama said he had called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to offer federal assistance. | President Obama said he had called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to offer federal assistance. |
| He said the government would increase security around the US "as necessary'' but did not say whether the White House thought the incident was part of a larger plot. | He said the government would increase security around the US "as necessary'' but did not say whether the White House thought the incident was part of a larger plot. |
| Mr Obama stopped short of calling the incident an act of terrorism. | Mr Obama stopped short of calling the incident an act of terrorism. |
| The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says perhaps this was merely caution, although given that the president will face criticism for not using that word, it is certainly deliberate and may be significant. | The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says perhaps this was merely caution, although given that the president will face criticism for not using that word, it is certainly deliberate and may be significant. |
| Boston's police commissioner has urged people in the city to stay indoors, and not congregate in large groups. | Boston's police commissioner has urged people in the city to stay indoors, and not congregate in large groups. |
| The city mayor's office has set up an emergency hotline for friends and relatives on +1 617 635 4500. | The city mayor's office has set up an emergency hotline for friends and relatives on +1 617 635 4500. |
| A spokeswoman for Massachusetts General Hospital in the city told Reuters news agency that it was treating 19 victims of the explosions in its emergency room, but information about their condition was not immediately available. | A spokeswoman for Massachusetts General Hospital in the city told Reuters news agency that it was treating 19 victims of the explosions in its emergency room, but information about their condition was not immediately available. |
| The Federal Aviation Administration has created a no-fly zone over the area, while security at key sites in Washington DC and New York has been tightened. | The Federal Aviation Administration has created a no-fly zone over the area, while security at key sites in Washington DC and New York has been tightened. |
| Vice President Joe Biden - breaking off from a telephone conference call on gun control - said: "Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injury." | Vice President Joe Biden - breaking off from a telephone conference call on gun control - said: "Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injury." |
| State police officer Roupen Bastajian had just finished the race when he heard the blasts. | State police officer Roupen Bastajian had just finished the race when he heard the blasts. |
| "I started running toward the blast and there were people all over the floor," he said. | "I started running toward the blast and there were people all over the floor," he said. |
| "We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing." | "We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing." |
| The first explosion came at about 14:50 local time (18:50 GMT), approximately two hours after the winners crossed the line. | The first explosion came at about 14:50 local time (18:50 GMT), approximately two hours after the winners crossed the line. |
| There was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street just before the finish line sending some runners tumbling to the pavement while others were knocked down by those rushing to the scene. | |
| Another loud explosion occurred a few seconds later, and smoke rose from the scene of the blasts. | |
| Bloodied victims were initially rushed to a medical tent set up to care for fatigued runners. | Bloodied victims were initially rushed to a medical tent set up to care for fatigued runners. |
| Emergency services descended on the scene, which was quickly locked down. | Emergency services descended on the scene, which was quickly locked down. |
| Stragglers heading for the finish line were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. | Stragglers heading for the finish line were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. |
| Mike Mitchell of Vancouver, Canada, a runner who had finished the race, said he was looking back at the finish line when he saw a "massive explosion." | Mike Mitchell of Vancouver, Canada, a runner who had finished the race, said he was looking back at the finish line when he saw a "massive explosion." |
| Smoke rose 50ft (15m) in the air, he told Reuters news agency, and people began running away and screaming after hearing the noise. "Everybody freaked out," he said. | Smoke rose 50ft (15m) in the air, he told Reuters news agency, and people began running away and screaming after hearing the noise. "Everybody freaked out," he said. |
| A fire then broke out at the John F Kennedy presidential library a few miles away from the finish line. | A fire then broke out at the John F Kennedy presidential library a few miles away from the finish line. |
| Police said it may have been caused by an incendiary device but did not appear to be related to the bombings. | Police said it may have been caused by an incendiary device but did not appear to be related to the bombings. |
| The annual Boston Marathon this year had a field of about 23,000 runners and was watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators. | |
| It is held on Patriots Day, a Massachusetts state holiday which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775. | |
| British police are reviewing security plans for Sunday's London Marathon, the next major international marathon, following events in Boston. | British police are reviewing security plans for Sunday's London Marathon, the next major international marathon, following events in Boston. |