http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22160691

 

Two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon race have left an unknown number of people injured.

 

Video and photographs from Boston show a scene of confusion, with emergency services descending on the scene and bloodied spectators being taken to a medical tent.

 

"There are a lot of people down," said one runner quoted by AP news agency.

 

The incident reportedly came about three hours after the winners crossed the line.

 

AP said there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the bridge that marks the finish line. Another loud 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 was an explosion, police, fire and EMS are on the scene. We have no indication of how many people are injured," spokeswoman for the Boston Police Department said.

 

Mike Mitchell of Vancouver, Canada, a runner who had finished the race said he was looking back at the finish line and saw a "massive explosion."

 

Smoke rose 50ft (15m) in the air, he told Reuters news agency, and people began running away and screaming after hearing the noise.

 

"Everybody freaked out," he said.

 

Stragglers heading for the finish line were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts as the scene was locked down.

 

The Eastern Massachusetts branch of the Red Cross has set up a disaster response centre in the area.

 

The Boston Marathon is one of the biggest annual athletic events in the United States, attracting a large field of runners and tens of thousands of spectators.

 

 

This is happening now so the story'll be updated. New York police are bracing security in response, and the President will probably issue a statement once things start to get clear.

 

New York Times

just awful images coming out. hope there aren't too many casualties.

ABC have reported two.

German News says three.

 

Jesus, I feel that everywhere were big groups of people gather, fucking bombs are going off. Isn't there any place out there that is safe? :(

Boston police have it at 2 dead and 23 injured at this moment. Their website has crashed.

A third explosion at JFK library has been reported.

^That's a fire that started before the other explosions and apparently un-related.

Well thats according to Dorchester Reporter, Latin Times and other sources say its being investigated possibly as bombs.

^Apparently the police were aware of the library explosion.

I don't really see it being anything else than bombings, gas leaks sound a bit doubtful. BBC were talking to a verteran who commented he smelled gun powder afterwards.

 

edit: Police press conference right now. They're treating the JFK Library explosion as another bomb. There was another explosion that was controlled. Next briefing in two hours. Hotlines have been set up.

Yeah, it's looking that way. It's kinda weird that the news livestream (Sky news) I'm watching haven't mentioned it since it started being reported for the last 40mins or so Ive been watching.

I guess a lot of media outlets don't want to jump the gun. A lot of initial reports coming in. The BBC are being careful to say explosions and not bombs, and have corrected themselves.

Boston globe reports a third controlled blast will. occur. Police are saying the explosions were caused by a small homemade device.

 

 

I have friends there and one from here was running. Prayers for all involved.

Here's hoping the impact was minimised.

 

Muslims, Iraq and Middle East trending on UK Twitter.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/boston-police-no-arrests-have-been-made-in

 

Boston Police: No Arrests Have Been Made In Marathon Bombing

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/erik-rush-kill-all-muslims-response-boston-marathon-attack

they found this?!

The Boston Globe ‏@BostonGlobe 1m

RT @boston_police: Update JFK incident appears to be fire related #tweetfromthebeat via @CherylFiandaca

Here's hoping the impact was minimised.

 

Muslims, Iraq and Middle East trending on UK Twitter.

 

A chunk of those seem to be criticism of media not reporting on bombings in Iraq and the Middle East today, but still, there's gonna be a lot of pointing of fingers.

 

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/erik-rush-kill-all-muslims-response-boston-marathon-attack

 

That's just disgusting.

 

There's a rumor that one of the injured people is a "person of interest"

Here's hoping the impact was minimised.

 

Muslims, Iraq and Middle East trending on UK Twitter.

other rumours it's north korea

I just hope this doesn't spark yet another muslim hate campaign

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/erik-rush-kill-all-muslims-response-boston-marathon-attack

spoke too soon

The Boston Globe ‏@BostonGlobe 3m

MARATHON EXPLOSIONS: Two killed, at least 90 injured in Boston Marathon finish line explosions; third blast reported at JFK Library

The Boston Globe ‏@BostonGlobe 2m

RT @globegideon: Some of 64 injured in Boston #Marathon blasts have had limbs amputated, hospitals report. #marathonbdc

A chunk of those seem to be criticism of media not reporting on bombings in Iraq and the Middle East today, but still, there's gonna be a lot of pointing of fingers.

 

 

 

That's just disgusting.

 

There's a rumor that one of the injured people is a "person of interest"

 

What's a person of interest?

I assume it's someone they're looking into.

I didn't know if it was that or a celebrity.