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| Two dead as double explosion rocks Boston Marathon | Two dead as double explosion rocks Boston Marathon |
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| Two large explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon have killed at least two people and injured at least 23, sending a pall of smoke over the area and staining the sidewalks with blood. | Two large explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon have killed at least two people and injured at least 23, sending a pall of smoke over the area and staining the sidewalks with blood. |
| The explosions occurred at about 2.50pm ET, just feet away from the finishing line along Boylston Street, where hundreds of runners were arriving as the world's oldest annual marathon was in full flow. Photographs on Twitter showed the pavement along the final stretch of the race covered in injured people, with security guards and emergency workers in attendance. | The explosions occurred at about 2.50pm ET, just feet away from the finishing line along Boylston Street, where hundreds of runners were arriving as the world's oldest annual marathon was in full flow. Photographs on Twitter showed the pavement along the final stretch of the race covered in injured people, with security guards and emergency workers in attendance. |
| Eyewitnesses reported on Twitter that they had seen victims who had lost limbs, with local reports suggesting the number of those wounded could be as large as 100. "There were a lot of people down," said Frank Deruyter, who was wearing a Boston Marathon runner's vest. | Eyewitnesses reported on Twitter that they had seen victims who had lost limbs, with local reports suggesting the number of those wounded could be as large as 100. "There were a lot of people down," said Frank Deruyter, who was wearing a Boston Marathon runner's vest. |
| There was no information from police on the cause of the blasts, which occurred without warning. At a media briefing, Boston police commissioner Ed Davis was asked whether the city was under a terrorist attack. "We're not being definitive about this right now, but you can reach your own conclusions based on what happened," he said. | There was no information from police on the cause of the blasts, which occurred without warning. At a media briefing, Boston police commissioner Ed Davis was asked whether the city was under a terrorist attack. "We're not being definitive about this right now, but you can reach your own conclusions based on what happened," he said. |
| The marathon organisers said on their official Facebook page that the explosions were the result of two bombs. | The marathon organisers said on their official Facebook page that the explosions were the result of two bombs. |
| The vice-president, Joe Biden, added to speculation that the explosions were a deliberate attack when he said: "Apparently there has been a bombing. I don't know any of the details about what caused it, [or] who did it. I don't think [the details] exist yet." | The vice-president, Joe Biden, added to speculation that the explosions were a deliberate attack when he said: "Apparently there has been a bombing. I don't know any of the details about what caused it, [or] who did it. I don't think [the details] exist yet." |
| Biden added: "Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injury." | Biden added: "Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injury." |
| There was confusion over a third incident at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on the outskirts of the city, after the police commissioner suggested a possible link to the marathon explosions. "We are not certain these incidents are related, but we are treating them as though they are," David said. | There was confusion over a third incident at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on the outskirts of the city, after the police commissioner suggested a possible link to the marathon explosions. "We are not certain these incidents are related, but we are treating them as though they are," David said. |
| But police later apparently ruled out a connection, using the department's official Twitter feed to say that the incident at the library was caused by a fire. At a second briefing, Davis said his earlier information may have been premature. | But police later apparently ruled out a connection, using the department's official Twitter feed to say that the incident at the library was caused by a fire. At a second briefing, Davis said his earlier information may have been premature. |
| Davis also flatly contradicted media reports that police had arrested a suspect over the explosions. "Those reports are not true. There is no suspect in custody," he said. | Davis also flatly contradicted media reports that police had arrested a suspect over the explosions. "Those reports are not true. There is no suspect in custody," he said. |
| The blasts erupted at the climax of what should have been a day of great celebration for Boston, and for marathon runners from around the world. The 26.2-mile race, which started in 1897 and is one of six World Marathon Majors, has almost 27,000 participants and attracts up to 500,000 spectators, making it a security challenge for the local authorities. | The blasts erupted at the climax of what should have been a day of great celebration for Boston, and for marathon runners from around the world. The 26.2-mile race, which started in 1897 and is one of six World Marathon Majors, has almost 27,000 participants and attracts up to 500,000 spectators, making it a security challenge for the local authorities. |
| The event takes place on Patriots' Day, a Massachusetts state holiday marking the evacuation of Boston by the British in the American war of independence. Monday is also "Tax Day" in the US, the deadline for individuals to file their tax returns. | The event takes place on Patriots' Day, a Massachusetts state holiday marking the evacuation of Boston by the British in the American war of independence. Monday is also "Tax Day" in the US, the deadline for individuals to file their tax returns. |
| After the explosions, the city went into high alert. All off-duty police officers were brought back on the job and told that a maximum alert would remain indefinitely. Tests and controlled explosions were carried out on scores of parcels and backpacks that had been left strewn along the parade line in the panic that followed the blasts. | After the explosions, the city went into high alert. All off-duty police officers were brought back on the job and told that a maximum alert would remain indefinitely. Tests and controlled explosions were carried out on scores of parcels and backpacks that had been left strewn along the parade line in the panic that followed the blasts. |
| A no-fly zone was imposed in the immediate zone of the incidents, and flights into local airports were suspended briefly. Boston residents and visitors to the marathon were advised to return to the homes or stay in the hotel rooms, and to avoid congregating in public spaces. "People should be calm, but they should understand this is an ongoing event," the police chief said. | A no-fly zone was imposed in the immediate zone of the incidents, and flights into local airports were suspended briefly. Boston residents and visitors to the marathon were advised to return to the homes or stay in the hotel rooms, and to avoid congregating in public spaces. "People should be calm, but they should understand this is an ongoing event," the police chief said. |
| Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick said: "This is a horrific day in Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the President, Mayor Menino and our public safety leaders. | Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick said: "This is a horrific day in Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the President, Mayor 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." | "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." |
| Wounded individuals were taken to the medical tent that had been set up to treat weary runners. One of the victims included a Boston police officer seen being wheeled away from the scene with a bleeding leg. Cherie Falgoust, who was waiting for her husband to finish the race, said: "I was expecting my husband any minute. I don't know what this building is … it just blew. Just a big bomb, a loud boom, and then glass everywhere. Something hit my head. I don't know what it was. I just ducked." | Wounded individuals were taken to the medical tent that had been set up to treat weary runners. One of the victims included a Boston police officer seen being wheeled away from the scene with a bleeding leg. Cherie Falgoust, who was waiting for her husband to finish the race, said: "I was expecting my husband any minute. I don't know what this building is … it just blew. Just a big bomb, a loud boom, and then glass everywhere. Something hit my head. I don't know what it was. I just ducked." |
| Dennis Crowley, the founder of social media company Foursquare, was running in the race. He used Twitter to reassure family and friends that he was safe. His cousin witnessed the explosion and was "shaken but OK. FYI no one at mi 26 has any idea what's happening," he tweeted. | Dennis Crowley, the founder of social media company Foursquare, was running in the race. He used Twitter to reassure family and friends that he was safe. His cousin witnessed the explosion and was "shaken but OK. FYI no one at mi 26 has any idea what's happening," he tweeted. |
| Crowley said cell phone service had been swamped by worried callers, mobile batteries were running out and runners were struggling to get through to their friends and relatives. | Crowley said cell phone service had been swamped by worried callers, mobile batteries were running out and runners were struggling to get through to their friends and relatives. |
| A spokesman for the White House said the administration is in contact with state and local authorities, with White House officials instructed to provide whatever assistance was necessary in the investigation and response. | |
| The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were recruited to join the investigation, as well as state police. | The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were recruited to join the investigation, as well as state police. |
| Chris Cassidy, a reporter with the Boston Herald who was taking part in the marathon, said he saw two explosions, accompanied by a loud bang and then smoke rising. | Chris Cassidy, a reporter with the Boston Herald who was taking part in the marathon, said he saw two explosions, accompanied by a loud bang and then smoke rising. |
| "I kept running and I heard behind me a loud bang. It looked like it was in a trash can or something. That one was in front of Abe and Louie's. There are people who have been hit with debris, people with bloody foreheads." | "I kept running and I heard behind me a loud bang. It looked like it was in a trash can or something. That one was in front of Abe and Louie's. There are people who have been hit with debris, people with bloody foreheads." |
| There were accounts that the windows of a local restaurant were blown out, and security was stepped up in hotels and public buildings throughout the city. Security was also stepped up in New York City, with the NYPD's critical response vehicles being deployed, though it was not clear whether the move was a routine precaution or based on any specific intelligence. | There were accounts that the windows of a local restaurant were blown out, and security was stepped up in hotels and public buildings throughout the city. Security was also stepped up in New York City, with the NYPD's critical response vehicles being deployed, though it was not clear whether the move was a routine precaution or based on any specific intelligence. |
| The explosions took place about three hours after the race was won, with about a half of the total number of runners yet to complete the course. A CNN producer at the finish line said that the blasts occured on either side of Boylston Street. | The explosions took place about three hours after the race was won, with about a half of the total number of runners yet to complete the course. A CNN producer at the finish line said that the blasts occured on either side of Boylston Street. |
| "I heard an explosion, turned, and saw a huge plume of smoke coming from off the street. Then about 20 seconds later, on the other side of the avenue, there was another explosion, a smaller one, and that's when there was a mad scramble to get out of the area." | "I heard an explosion, turned, and saw a huge plume of smoke coming from off the street. Then about 20 seconds later, on the other side of the avenue, there was another explosion, a smaller one, and that's when there was a mad scramble to get out of the area." |
| This year's Boston Marathon, the 177th annual race in the city, was being staged in commemoration of the Newtown school shooting, in which 20 young children and six educators were killed in December. The finishing mile was dedicated to the victims of the Newtown tragedy. | This year's Boston Marathon, the 177th annual race in the city, was being staged in commemoration of the Newtown school shooting, in which 20 young children and six educators were killed in December. The finishing mile was dedicated to the victims of the Newtown tragedy. |
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