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| Boston marathon honours bomb victims | Boston marathon honours bomb victims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of marathoners have begun running through the streets of Boston, after the city honoured those killed and injured in a bomb attack last year. | |
| A moment of silence was held ahead of the start before some 36,000 runners set off, 9,000 more than normal. | |
| Officials have mounted a huge security operation that includes a ban on rucksacks and screening at checkpoints. | Officials have mounted a huge security operation that includes a ban on rucksacks and screening at checkpoints. |
| In last year's race two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and wounding more than 260. | In last year's race two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and wounding more than 260. |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant in Boston says that never before has the marathon been run amid so many layers of security, as 500,000 are expected to watch the activities. | |
| 'Very safe' | 'Very safe' |
| Athletes with disabilities were the first competitors to set off, at 08:50 local time (12:50 GMT). | |
| The elite women's race started at 09:32, with the elite men setting off half an hour later, followed by thousands of other runners. | |
| Protecting the 26.2-mile (42.2km) route has involved a massive mobilisation of law enforcement agencies, including police units, bomb squads and Swat teams from other states. | Protecting the 26.2-mile (42.2km) route has involved a massive mobilisation of law enforcement agencies, including police units, bomb squads and Swat teams from other states. |
| The Boston police department has erected 8,000 steel barricades, 1,200 more than last year. | The Boston police department has erected 8,000 steel barricades, 1,200 more than last year. |
| Before the race, runner Katie O'Donnell, who competed in last year's race, said she could not imagine the range of emotions she would feel this year. | Before the race, runner Katie O'Donnell, who competed in last year's race, said she could not imagine the range of emotions she would feel this year. |
| "I think I'm going to start crying at the starting line and I'm not sure I'll stop until I cross the finish line," she said. | "I think I'm going to start crying at the starting line and I'm not sure I'll stop until I cross the finish line," she said. |
| Many people in the city have been wearing "Boston Strong" T-shirts. | Many people in the city have been wearing "Boston Strong" T-shirts. |
| Last year's winner of the men's elite race, Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, is competing again and has met several victims of the blast. | Last year's winner of the men's elite race, Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa, is competing again and has met several victims of the blast. |
| He said the victims had given him inspiration: "We have to look to the future. There has to be a resilience. I am ready to win again." | He said the victims had given him inspiration: "We have to look to the future. There has to be a resilience. I am ready to win again." |
| Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is due to stand trial in November. He has pleaded not guilty to 30 charges, including 17 that carry the death penalty. | Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is due to stand trial in November. He has pleaded not guilty to 30 charges, including 17 that carry the death penalty. |
| Prosecutors allege that he set off two pressure cooker bombs with his older brother Tamerlan, 26, who later died in a police shootout. | Prosecutors allege that he set off two pressure cooker bombs with his older brother Tamerlan, 26, who later died in a police shootout. |