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| Boston Marathon blasts: London Marathon to review security | Boston Marathon blasts: London Marathon to review security |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Security for Sunday's London Marathon will be reviewed after two fatal explosions hit the Boston Marathon in the US, British police have said. | Security for Sunday's London Marathon will be reviewed after two fatal explosions hit the Boston Marathon in the US, British police have said. |
| At least two people were killed and 23 injured after the blasts at the finish line of the event in Boston. | At least two people were killed and 23 injured after the blasts at the finish line of the event in Boston. |
| The Metropolitan Police said a security plan was in place for London's race but "we will be reviewing this". | The Metropolitan Police said a security plan was in place for London's race but "we will be reviewing this". |
| The Met added that the blasts would not affect security for Baroness Thatcher's funeral in central London on Wednesday. | The Met added that the blasts would not affect security for Baroness Thatcher's funeral in central London on Wednesday. |
| Police said these plans were extensive and that it was a very different event. | Police said these plans were extensive and that it was a very different event. |
| 'Race goes ahead' | |
| The Met Police's Ch Supt Julia Pendry, the commander in charge of policing the London race, said: "A security plan is in place for the London Marathon. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with London Marathon." | The Met Police's Ch Supt Julia Pendry, the commander in charge of policing the London race, said: "A security plan is in place for the London Marathon. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with London Marathon." |
| London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news from Boston. | London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news from Boston. |
| "Our immediate thoughts are with the people there and their families. It is a very sad day for athletics and for our friends and colleagues in marathon running. | "Our immediate thoughts are with the people there and their families. It is a very sad day for athletics and for our friends and colleagues in marathon running. |
| "Our security plan is developed jointly with the Metropolitan Police and we were in contact with them as soon as we heard the news." | "Our security plan is developed jointly with the Metropolitan Police and we were in contact with them as soon as we heard the news." |
| Mr Bitel later told the BBC that organisers would "definitely not be cancelling" the London Marathon, which first took place in 1981 and was completed by more than 37,000 people last year. | Mr Bitel later told the BBC that organisers would "definitely not be cancelling" the London Marathon, which first took place in 1981 and was completed by more than 37,000 people last year. |
| But BBC sports editor David Bond said the events in Boston had "ensured that the question of terrorism will now hang heavy over Sunday's event". | |
| Globalised sport | |
| BBC Sport news correspondent Richard Conway added: "There will be reviews of security throughout sporting events now, not just in marathons. | |
| "We are in an era of globalised sport, where there are mass events attended by tens, hundreds of thousands of people. Police and organisers will be concerned and worried by these scenes at this sporting event." | |
| The London Marathon route, which is lined by hundreds of thousands of spectators every year, starts in Blackheath and finishes near Buckingham Palace, passing some of the capital's most recognisable landmarks including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and Big Ben. | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected." | Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected." |
| According to the Boston Marathon website, 374 of the more than 25,000 registered entrants to one of the US's biggest sporting events were British, but there has not been any information to suggest British casualties at this stage. | |
| UK Athletics confirmed that none of its elite runners had taken part. | |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the incident and we are trying to gather information." | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the incident and we are trying to gather information." |
| Darren Foy, 40, from Southampton, had finished the marathon about 30 minutes before the explosions happened. | Darren Foy, 40, from Southampton, had finished the marathon about 30 minutes before the explosions happened. |
| He said: "I was getting messages like 'are you ok?' which I never get. It's all quite shocking really. | He said: "I was getting messages like 'are you ok?' which I never get. It's all quite shocking really. |
| "We got home and we looked at the BBC online and saw there had been explosions but we are OK because I finished in three-and-a-half hours and we were on the bus when it happened." | "We got home and we looked at the BBC online and saw there had been explosions but we are OK because I finished in three-and-a-half hours and we were on the bus when it happened." |
| 'Awful news' | |
| Jez Hughes, from Morley, West Yorkshire, had also completed the marathon and was walking to the subway with his wife when he heard two explosions. | Jez Hughes, from Morley, West Yorkshire, had also completed the marathon and was walking to the subway with his wife when he heard two explosions. |
| "I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one. We were a couple of blocks out of the way so it did not affect us," he said. | "I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one. We were a couple of blocks out of the way so it did not affect us," he said. |
| "Our condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones." | "Our condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones." |
| Shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy are both due to run the London Marathon. | Shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy are both due to run the London Marathon. |
| Mr Balls tweeted: "Awful & tragic news from Boston - nothing more uplifting to the spirit than a cheering marathon crowd - terrible to see this happen." | Mr Balls tweeted: "Awful & tragic news from Boston - nothing more uplifting to the spirit than a cheering marathon crowd - terrible to see this happen." |
| And Mr Murphy wrote on Twitter: "Horrible injury and death at Boston. Too early to speculate who did it but need to look again at security for London this Sunday." | And Mr Murphy wrote on Twitter: "Horrible injury and death at Boston. Too early to speculate who did it but need to look again at security for London this Sunday." |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Labour leader Ed Miliband all said on their Twitter accounts that their thoughts were with the victims and their families. | London Mayor Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Labour leader Ed Miliband all said on their Twitter accounts that their thoughts were with the victims and their families. |
| The US embassy in London confirmed that police and security officials in Boston were investigating the cause of the explosions. | The US embassy in London confirmed that police and security officials in Boston were investigating the cause of the explosions. |