Two explosions have rocked the Boston neighborhood near the finish line of today's Boston Marathon.
The incident mars the 117th running of the event from Hopkinton to Boston. Spectators were being carried to the medical tent and an eyewitness at the finish line is saying there are as many as 12 people with "grave injuries" that have included missing limbs.
Three hours after the winners crossed the line, there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before runners would reach the photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another explosion could be heard a few seconds later- some are saying as few as 20 seconds.
The marathon has been suspended pending a resolution of the incident...
More when we know more...
1545 UPDATE: The marathon has been cancelled and police are looking for secondary devices. The explosion happened 25 yards from the finish in front of the public library. SWAT teams are being told to report to the finish line area.
1555 UPDATE: Local police are admitting that a recent explosion was a controlled detonation of a suspected device... and all off-duty police officers have been called in to work.
23 people are now being listed as injured with 2 more as fatalities...
1605 UPDATE: Sources are telling people in Boston that DC police are on alert now as well...
1612 UPDATE: WCVB-TV's Liam Martin, via his Twitter, is saying that Mass General has 19 patients, six critical, including multiple amputations
1630 UPDATE: Boston Mayor @mayortomenino (Tom Menino) is expected to hold a briefing any minute. A senior U.S. intelligence official says two more explosive devices have been found near the scene of the initial blasts. The official said the new devices were being dismantled.
CNN is reporting the injury numbers to be 28...
1640 UPDATE: Federal law enforcement officials are telling ABC News- "It is clear this was a bombing..."
Sources say this involved small, multiple portable devices that could be carried into a location.. -i.e. Not a car bomb...but homemade bomb.
1650 UPDATE: From FOSG Beau Estes... and this just makes you ill...
@TimWilliamsCBS: #BREAKINGNEWS: AP reporter says Newtown families were in the VIP section right by the explosion. No injury reports.
1700 UPDATE: The injury numbers are now 64, according to the Boston Globe, and scanner traffic is now relaying that a Penske rental truck is now being sought after it tried to gain access to a restricted area.
Steve Silva of Boston.com was there... and this is not pretty stuff...
Update 5:00 p.m---Boston Police confirm that a 3rd explosion took place at the JFK Library in the Downtown District. They have not officially stated the explosion is related to the others--at this time.
1720 UPDATE: The Boston Globe has updated their injury toll to 100 and the New York Post is now saying 12 dead, 50 injured, and a possible suspect being guarded at a local hospital as he's being treated for shrapnel wounds. He is a Saudi national...
Update 5:45 p.m.--NBC News reports police and others do NOT believe the fire at the JFK Library is connected to this. They believe the fire was electrical in nature and accidental.
WCVB-TV has the breakdown of where the injured are currently...
Upwards of 80 people total taken to city hospitals
MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL
22 total, 6 critical, 5 serious
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER
20 total, including 2 children. Most have lower leg injuries
TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER
9
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
9
BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S
18-20 patients, including 2 in critical
Update 6:10 p.m---President Obama vows to bring all law enforcement resources to bear and find who did this. Boston officials vehemently deny they have anyone in custody for this incident.
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