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| Boston Marathon blasts: London organisers review security | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Security for Sunday's London Marathon will be reviewed after two fatal explosions hit the Boston Marathon, but the event will go ahead, officials say. | Security for Sunday's London Marathon will be reviewed after two fatal explosions hit the Boston Marathon, but the event will go ahead, officials say. |
| At least three people were killed and more than 100 injured by the blasts near the finish of Monday's US event. | At least three people were killed and more than 100 injured by the blasts near the finish of Monday's US event. |
| About 375 Britons were listed as taking part, but there has no been no confirmation of any British casualties. | About 375 Britons were listed as taking part, but there has no been no confirmation of any British casualties. |
| Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said he was "absolutely confident" the London Marathon could be kept safe. | Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said he was "absolutely confident" the London Marathon could be kept safe. |
| London had "enormous experience" of delivering major events and the UK had some of the best security professionals in the world, he told the BBC. | |
| He also said he was "horrified" by the Boston blasts. | |
| "This is one of those instances where the best way to show solidarity with Boston is to continue," he added. | "This is one of those instances where the best way to show solidarity with Boston is to continue," he added. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May has been briefed on the bombings by Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick and MI5 chief Sir Jonathan Evans. | |
| At this stage, there are no plans for an emergency Cobra meeting but high-level discussions were already planned and will go ahead because of Baroness Thatcher's funeral. | |
| The police said security for the funeral in central London on Wednesday would not be affected by the Boston explosions. | |
| The Metropolitan Police said these plans were extensive and that it was a very different event. | The Metropolitan Police said these plans were extensive and that it was a very different event. |
| The Met Police's Ch Supt Julia Pendry, the commander in charge of policing the London Marathon, said of Sunday's event: "A security plan is in place. 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 Marathon, said of Sunday's event: "A security plan is in place. 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." |
| Mr Bitel later told the BBC that he "fully expected" the London Marathon, which first took place in 1981 and was completed by more than 37,000 people last year, to go ahead. | Mr Bitel later told the BBC that he "fully expected" the London Marathon, which first took place in 1981 and was completed by more than 37,000 people last year, to go ahead. |
| He said: "The London Marathon has detailed security plans which are developed in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police. | He said: "The London Marathon has detailed security plans which are developed in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police. |
| "They take account of many contingencies, including this type of threat and incident, but one can't be complacent and when it has happened, you need to then review those plans you have in place to see what else may be necessary. | "They take account of many contingencies, including this type of threat and incident, but one can't be complacent and when it has happened, you need to then review those plans you have in place to see what else may be necessary. |
| "That is certainly what we are going to be doing in the forthcoming hours and days." | "That is certainly what we are going to be doing in the forthcoming hours and days." |
| BBC sports editor David Bond said what had happened in Boston "provides another chilling reminder of how vulnerable sport can be". | BBC sports editor David Bond said what had happened in Boston "provides another chilling reminder of how vulnerable sport can be". |
| And BBC Sport news correspondent Richard Conway added: "There will be reviews of security throughout sporting events now, not just in marathons. | And 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." | "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. | 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. |
| Of the deadly Boston blasts, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected." | Of the deadly Boston blasts, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected." |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson described the bombings as "shocking, cowardly and horrific". | |
| He has spoken to Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe about security arrangements for the London Marathon. | |
| "We do have robust security measures in place, but given events in Boston it's only prudent for the police and the organisers of Sunday's race to re-examine those security arrangements," he said. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| UK Athletics confirmed that none of its elite runners had taken part. | 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." |
| Keith Luxom, part of a group of 24 British runners, had already finished when the bombs went off. He told BBC Breakfast the jubilant mood changed to one of "shock, horror and total disbelief that people would target this great institution". | |
| "Lots of runners went to the hospitals and offered blood," he said. "People were sharing mobile phones so people without one could phone home." | |
| Mr Luxom, from Essex, says he will be running the London Marathon this weekend and he will be wearing his Boston finishing shirt. | |
| "This shouldn't be allowed to stop what is one of greatest events of humankind," he added. | "This shouldn't be allowed to stop what is one of greatest events of humankind," he added. |
| 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, who is due to run the London Marathon, tweeted: "Awful & tragic news from Boston - nothing more uplifting to the spirit than a cheering marathon crowd - terrible to see this happen." | Shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who is due to run the London Marathon, tweeted: "Awful & tragic news from Boston - nothing more uplifting to the spirit than a cheering marathon crowd - terrible to see this happen." |
| And shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy, who is also expected to take part in this Sunday's event, 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 shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy, who is also expected to take part in this Sunday's event, 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." |