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Boston bombings: FBI hunt for answers as Obama condemns 'act of terror' Boston bombings: FBI hunt for answers as Obama condemns 'act of terror'
(35 minutes later)
FBI and police investigators hunting for the perpetrator of the worst domestic attack on American civilians since 9/11 are appealing to the public to submit their video and photographs of the Boston Marathon in the hope that crucial clues will be hidden in the footage. FBI and police investigators hunting for the perpetrator of the worst domestic attack on American civilians since 9/11 are appealing to the public to submit their video and photographs of the Boston Marathon, in the hope that crucial clues will be hidden in the footage.
Copley Square in the heart of Boston is now a massive crime scene, the day after two devices were detonated close to the marathon finishing line. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Ed Davis, the Boston police commissioner, put the current casualty toll at 176 injured, 17 critically, and three dead.Copley Square in the heart of Boston is now a massive crime scene, the day after two devices were detonated close to the marathon finishing line. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Ed Davis, the Boston police commissioner, put the current casualty toll at 176 injured, 17 critically, and three dead.
Less than 24 hours after the blasts, considerable confusion continues to fog the nature and source of the attacks. The authorities have clarified that there were only two explosive devices found – the ones that detonated within seconds of each other – and that speculation of a further five devices had been discounted.Less than 24 hours after the blasts, considerable confusion continues to fog the nature and source of the attacks. The authorities have clarified that there were only two explosive devices found – the ones that detonated within seconds of each other – and that speculation of a further five devices had been discounted.
Speculation that the bombs had been planted in trash cans was also debunked. "There is no evidence of that," Davis told reporters.Speculation that the bombs had been planted in trash cans was also debunked. "There is no evidence of that," Davis told reporters.
The bombs had been packed with metal fragments and placed close to the ground, causing high number of lower body wounds and amputations, doctors treating the victims said Tuesday. The bombs had been packed with metal fragments and placed close to the ground, causing high number of lower body wounds and amputations, doctors treating the victims said Tuesday. George Velmahos, the chief trauma surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital – where many of the injured were taken in the aftermath of the double explosion – said nails and pellets were removed from the bodies of those hit in the blast.
George Velmahos, the chief trauma surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital – where many of the injured had been taken in the aftermath of the double explosion – said nails and pellets were removed from the bodies of those hit in the blast.
Velmahos said surgeons at the hospital had performed four amputations. "They were automatic amputees, we just completed what the bomb had done," he said. The concentration of lower-body injuries was to expected from devices placed close to the ground, he said.Velmahos said surgeons at the hospital had performed four amputations. "They were automatic amputees, we just completed what the bomb had done," he said. The concentration of lower-body injuries was to expected from devices placed close to the ground, he said.
On Tuesday, the eight-year-old boy who was killed in the blast was named as Martin Richard, from the Dorchester area of the city. His mother and sister were badly injured in the attacks, while a third child was unharmed, the Boston Globe reported. On Tuesday, the eight-year-old boy who was killed in the blast was named as Martin Richard, from the Dorchester area of the city. His mother and sister were badly injured in the attacks, while a third child was unharmed, the Boston Globe reported. The death has left Dorchester in shock. "It's very sad. You never know how these things are going to affect you. This is certainly affecting us today," said Jay Richards, whose daughter Christina took her first holy communion with Martin at St Ann's church last year.
The death has left Dorchester in shock. "It's very sad. You never know how these things are going to affect you. This is certainly affecting us today," said Jay Richards, whose daughter Christina took her first holy communion with Martin at St Ann's church last year. In a statement, a school paid tribute to Martin and offered condolences to the family. "The Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy community is offering its every prayer for the Richard family during this heartbreaking time. Martin was a former student of the Academy and was a kind, caring, and loving young boy who had great enthusiasm for learning. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy."
In a statement, his school paid tribute to Martin and offered condolences to the family. "The Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy community is offering its every prayer for the Richard family during this heartbreaking time. Martin was a former student of the Academy and was a kind, caring, and loving young boy who had great enthusiasm for learning. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy."
Special agents of the FBI and about 30 explosives experts form the Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are fanning out across the Boston area and into eastern Massachusetts. Rick DesLauriers, the special agent in charge of the Boston FBI, refused to go into details about specifics of the investigation, but said: "We are working in various locations throughout the area. We continue to interview witnesses and process the crime scene."Special agents of the FBI and about 30 explosives experts form the Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are fanning out across the Boston area and into eastern Massachusetts. Rick DesLauriers, the special agent in charge of the Boston FBI, refused to go into details about specifics of the investigation, but said: "We are working in various locations throughout the area. We continue to interview witnesses and process the crime scene."
He said: "Our mission is clear: to bring to justice those responsible for the marathon bombing. The American public wants answers, and we pledge to do everything possible to get those answers." The investigation would be worldwide, he added, "and we will go to the ends of the earth to identify the suspect or suspects who were responsible for this despicable crime."He said: "Our mission is clear: to bring to justice those responsible for the marathon bombing. The American public wants answers, and we pledge to do everything possible to get those answers." The investigation would be worldwide, he added, "and we will go to the ends of the earth to identify the suspect or suspects who were responsible for this despicable crime."
It was also revealed that before the marathon was held, two explosive ordnance disposal sweeps had been carried out along its 26-mile route – one early on Monday morning and the second about an hour before the frontrunners crossed the finishing line. But as there was open public access to the race, that failed to stop the bombings. It was also revealed that before the marathon was held, two explosive ordnance disposal sweeps had been carried out along its 26.2-mile route – one early on Monday morning and the second about an hour before the frontrunners crossed the finishing line. But as there was open public access to the race, that failed to stop the bombings.
The FBI refused to comment on whether there were any firm suspects. DesLauriers would not say whether or not an overnight search of an apartment in the Revere neighbourhood of north-east Boston had thrown up any useful evidence, nor would he respond to a reporter's question speculating that a patient in one of the hospitals was being kept under armed guard.The FBI refused to comment on whether there were any firm suspects. DesLauriers would not say whether or not an overnight search of an apartment in the Revere neighbourhood of north-east Boston had thrown up any useful evidence, nor would he respond to a reporter's question speculating that a patient in one of the hospitals was being kept under armed guard.
Davis repeated his insistence of Monday night that no one was in custody. The apparent lack of arrests suggests that the perpetrator or perpetrators are still at large. With that perhaps in mind, senior law enforcers have been stressing that they have no information of any further imminent threat. Davis repeated his insistence of Monday night that no one was in custody. The apparent lack of arrests suggests that the perpetrator or perpetrators are still at large. Perhaps with that in mind, senior law enforcers have been stressing that they have no information of any further imminent threat.
"We know of no additional threats," DesLauriers said. However, his words of calm were apparently contradicted by Police Commissioner Davis, who said: "We want you to go about your business, lead your lives, but there is a threat, and we are working hard to reduce that threat." "We know of no additional threats," DesLauriers said. However, his words of calm were apparently contradicted by Davis, who said: "We want you to go about your business, lead your lives, but there is a threat, and we are working hard to reduce that threat."
In a statement from the White House briefing room, Barack Obama underlined the continued lack of hard information about what he called the "heinous" acts in Boston, but pointedly made clear the US was now viewing it as "an act of terror". In a statement from the White House briefing room, President Barack Obama underlined the continued lack of hard information about what he called the "heinous" acts in Boston, but pointedly made clear the US was now viewing it as "an act of terror".
"We do not know if this was an act of an organisation, an individual or individuals and we don't have a sense of motive yet," he said. "Everything else is speculation.""We do not know if this was an act of an organisation, an individual or individuals and we don't have a sense of motive yet," he said. "Everything else is speculation."
Obama paid tribute to the first-responders, medical staff and those who gave blood in Boston, saying: "If you want to know who we are, what America is, it is these people: selfless and not afraid."Obama paid tribute to the first-responders, medical staff and those who gave blood in Boston, saying: "If you want to know who we are, what America is, it is these people: selfless and not afraid."
Timothy Alben, the superintendent of the Massachusetts police, said there would be an enhanced law enforcement presence throughout Boston and the state, but made of point of saying it was merely to "provide some comfort to the public going about their business" and not in response to any intelligence of continued danger. Timothy Alben, the superintendent of the Massachusetts police, said there would be an enhanced law enforcement presence throughout Boston and the state, but made a point of saying it was merely to "provide some comfort to the public going about their business" and not in response to any intelligence of continued danger.
The FBI says that a phone line set up to receive public information about the incident had brought in "voluminous tips" which officers and agents were now starting to process. As the hours tick by, the pressure is clearly on for some sign of progress in the investigation. The FBI says that a phone line set up to receive public information about the incident had brought in "voluminous tips" which officers and agents were now starting to process. As the hours tick by, the pressure is clearly on for some sign of progress in the investigation. Central to that is likely to be the mountain of digital film footage that detectives will have at their disposal. The centre of Boston is among the world's most heavily videod urban areas, with cameras on virtually every street corner.
Central to that is likely to be the mountain of digital film footage that detectives will have at their disposal. The center of Boston is among the world's most heavily videod urban areas, with cameras on virtually every street corner. Moreover, the marathon had attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators, many of whom were congregated around the finishing line, and many of whom were wielding cameras. Davis appealed for anyone with footage from shortly before or after the blast to come forward. He said: "It's our intention to go through every single frame."
Moreover, the marathon had attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators, many of whom were congregated around the finishing line, and many of whom were wielding moving or stills cameras. Davis appealed for anyone with footage from shortly before or after the blast to come forward. He said: "It's our intention to go through every single frame." As the hunt continues for the perpetrators, Boston authorities are also concentrating on helping the wounded and their families heal from the trauma of the outrage. A support centre has been set up in the centre of the town, and on Wednesday a multi-faith prayer service is likely to be held in the city.
As the hunt continues for the perpetrators, Boston authorities are also concentrating on helping the wounded and their families heal from the trauma of the outrage. A support center has been set up in the centre of the town, and on Wednesday a multi-faith prayer service is likely to be held in the city.
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