NATIONAL POST: Two bombs exploded near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing at least two people, injuring at least 64 others, according to local reports, and sending authorities rushing to aid wounded spectators, race organizers and police said.
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said the two explosions occurred about 50 to 100 metres apart “simultaneously” on Boylston Street and there was multiple casualties at each location.
One runner, a Rhode Island state trooper, said he saw at least two dozen people with very serious injuries, including missing limbs.
A third explosion occurred at the JFK Library at about 4:00 p.m. but no injuries were reported, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said at a press conference Monday afternoon. Davis said numerous bags were left at the scene by runners and each is being treated as a possible threat.
Davis said police have not called the incident a terrorist attack, but “you can reach your own conclusion.”
A law enforcement official says cellphone service has been shut down in the Boston area to prevent any potential remote detonations of explosives.
Authorities have not identified what caused the explosives that erupted at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
The New York Post is reporting that 12 people were killed, with twice as many injured. The Post is also reporting authorities are guarding a “suspect” in hospital.
Roupen Bastajian, a 35-year-old state trooper from Greenville, R.I., had just finished the race when they put the heat blanket wrap on him and he heard the first blast.
“I started running toward the blast. And there were people all over the floor,” he said. “We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. A lot of people amputated. … At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing.”
Police have not indicated what the source of the two explosions could be. The blasts went off at 4:10 into the marathon, which is minutes away from last year’s peak time for marathon finishers.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden used the word “bombing” to describe the incident while speaking on a conference call on gun control, but did not indicate if he was just learning of the incident from television reports or was briefed by officials.
“Apparently there has been a bombing. I just turned on the TV… I don’t know any of the details,” Biden said. “Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injuries. I don’t know how many there are.”
Competitors and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners.
“There are a lot of people down,” said one man, whose bib No. 17528 identified him as Frank Deruyter of North Carolina. He was not injured, but marathon workers were carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area as blood gushed from her leg. A Boston police officer was wheeled from the course with a leg injury that was bleeding.
“There are people who are really, really bloody,” said Laura McLean, a runner from Toronto, who was in the medical tent being treated for dehydration when she was pulled out to make room for victims of the explosions. “They were pulling them into the medical tent.”
About three hours after the winners crossed the line, there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another explosion could be heard a few seconds later.
Smoke rose from the blasts, fluttering through the national flags lining the route of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. TV helicopter footage showed blood staining the pavement in the popular shopping and tourist area known as the Back Bay.
“There are people who are really, really bloody,” said Laura McLean, a runner from Toronto, who was in the medical tent being treated for dehydration when she was pulled out to make room for victims of the explosions. “They were pulling them into the medical tent.”
Cherie Falgoust was waiting for her husband, who was running the race.
“I was expecting my husband any minute,” she said. “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.”
Runners who had not finished the race were diverted straight down Commonwealth Avenue and into a family meeting area, according to an emergency plan that had been in place.
UPDATE: WASHINGTON (CBS/AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration is warning pilots that it has created a no-fly zone over the site of two explosions at the annual Boston marathon.
The agency said in a notice issued Monday about an hour after the explosions that a no-fly zone with a 3.5-mile radius has been created over 811 Boylston Street. The zone is limited to flights under 3,000 feet in altitude, which is lower than most airliners would fly except when taking off or landing.
The notice says the no-fly zone is effective immediately, and will remain in effect until further notice. Pilots planning flights were urged to call their local flight service station.
In a tweet, Philadelphia International Airport said there is a ground stop in Boston, with no flights allowed in or out.
UPDATE: CELL SERVICE NOT SHUT DOWN:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cellphone companies say service is operating in the Boston area, but with heavy traffic following of the explosions at the Boston Marathon.
A law enforcement official, citing an intelligence briefing, said cellphone service had been shut down Monday in the Boston area to prevent any potential remote detonations of explosives.
But officials with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel said there had been no such requests.
Sprint spokeswoman Crystal Davis said: "Minus some mild call blocking on our Boston network due to increased traffic, our service is operating normally."
Two people were killed and scores injured when two explosives detonated near the finish line of the marathon.
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