Two large explosions at Boston Marathon

[Gelston]

The Boston Marathon headquarters has been locked down after an explosion was reported near the finish line, a spokesman told Reuters.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/15/explosion-reported-near-finish-line-boston-marathon-spokesman-says/#ixzz2QYpm3Kml

BOSTON — Authorities are investigating a report of two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
There were two booms heard from near the finish line inside the Fairmount Copley Plaza Hotel.
Race officials locked down the hotel because of the report.
The sound of two booms, which sounded like thunder, had come a short time earlier.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130415/us-boston-marathon-explosions-/?utm_hp_ref=media&ir=media



Just happened, no info out yet.

[Gelston]

CNN is reporting at least 6 injured right now.

[Allereli]

Scary, my dad finished about a half hour ago. I just got a text from his wife and they heard the explosions from the park.

[audioserf]

Seen a report on the CNN affiliate that said people lost limbs.

[Gelston]

CNN bumped their number up to at least 12 now.

[Bobmuhthol]

The number of people injured is definitely larger than 12.

[Gelston]

The number of people injured is definitely larger than 12.

More than likely, and the number will climb as they "confirm".

[Keller]

If we all had improvised explosives, tragedies like this wouldn't occur.

[Bobmuhthol]

Absolutely likely. There are photographs, and I received a text from a friend at work that she felt it.

[BriarFox]

4918

Photo showing some cops and smoke at the finish line, from Steve Silva's FB feed. He's a reporter of some sort.

[Drew]

Live BBC feed: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22160978

[Keller]

Government needs to ban marathons.

[diethx]

Scary shit. I hope our Boston people are ok!

[Archigeek]

Got confirmation that a friend who was there is OK, her brother was running it and she was cheering. There's also a still shot of a bomb exploding on yahoo, bright orange fireball with smoke.

[msconstrew]

My friend's fiancee was running it and he finished well before the explosion occurred, but it definitely happened. Happily, both of them were back at their hotel.

[Gelston]

They are reporting ball bearings and crap around the area. I imagine it can probably be ruled a terror attack now.

So far, 3 dead, 30 injured.

[Catts]

My friend's fiancee was running it and he finished well before the explosion occurred, but it definitely happened. Happily, both of them were back at their hotel.

wow thank god for that

[diethx]

Got confirmation that a friend who was there is OK, her brother was running it and she was cheering. There's also a still shot of a bomb exploding on yahoo, bright orange fireball with smoke.

Are we sure it was a bomb and not some sort of gas line explosion or other accident?


They are reporting ball bearings and crap around the area. I imagine it can probably be ruled a terror attack now.

So far, 3 dead, 30 injured.

Ugh. :(

[Ardwen]

gas lines dont explode above the ground, it was at ground level and seemed in front of the store for the marathon

[Drew]

Picture from above of the aftermath of the attack (warning: blood on the ground) https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546071_10151408549749150_2099999484_n.jpg

[Tisket]

Picture from above of the aftermath of the attack (warning: blood on the ground) https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546071_10151408549749150_2099999484_n.jpg

That's a lot of blood. Fuck.

[Dayko]

My prayers goes out to the people wounded and the two dead.

[Buckwheet]

I think there was some metal scaffolding in that area that collapsed on folks. I also think there was a wooden picket like fence nearby. That could have caused a large amount of puncture wounds. Crazy.

[Fallen]

God damn it.

[Fallen]

Apparently there are several other explosives that were found and disabled.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-explosion_n_3086665.html#PHOTOS

[Gompers]

I sincerely hope they are getting all the injured and emergency personnel out of the area, in case the bastards left more devices.

[Tolwynn]

Fire at the JFK library, conflicting information over whether it's connected or not, though.

[Bobmuhthol]

The JFK library was supposed to be a controlled explosion, so there is pretty sufficient cause for panic if that's not it.

I sincerely hope they are getting all the injured and emergency personnel out of the area, in case the bastards left more devices.Everyone was moved. There are more, but in different places.

[Atlanteax]

Picture from above of the aftermath of the attack (warning: blood on the ground) https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546071_10151408549749150_2099999484_n.jpg

Horrendous.

[Gompers]

http://i.imgur.com/1UFk7nX.gif

Looks to be a relatively small explosion, but it could have been packed with ball bearings, and other shrapnel...looks like that runner in the middle of the screen gets hit with some.

By relatively small, I mean that it could have been much, much bigger. I am so angry right now.

[Gizmo]

That's a lot of blood. Fuck.

Yup, getting your limb blown off from an explosion kind of makes you bleed.

A shame this happened at such an event and people lost limbs and lives because of it

[Tisket]

Yup, getting your limb blown off from an explosion kind of makes you bleed.

No shit, you dumb fuck.

[BriarFox]

YouTube footage from the immediate aftermath: http://t.co/7gpEN67wqA

Police are still looking for other devices, and seem to have found one on Huntington Ave and another up in Harvard Sq. There seems to have been another explosion at the JFK Library, right next to UMass Boston. Classes were all canceled today for Patriot's Day, fortunately.

[TheEschaton]

So that's why I was getting some looks today on the street. Damn, I know quite a few people who run the marathon, especially the types who finish around 3 pm.

[Fallen]

So far the threat level hasn't changed on base. Not quite sure why, but it hasn't.

[Gizmo]

No shit, you dumb fuck.

And bleeding, leads to alot of blood on the ground.

I was just helping you come to realization as to why there would be "alot" of blood on the ground in that picture you saw since you were like, That's alot of blood. Fuck.

You are welcome for the education as to where blood comes from during situations like that.

[Fallen]

Don't fight. It's stupid.

[Dayko]

No shit, you dumb fuck.
Patience, young grasshopper.

[Tolwynn]

counts are up to 2 dead, 64 wounded, according to the Boston Globe.

[Tgo01]

Yup, getting your limb blown off from an explosion kind of makes you bleed.

Thanks for educating us.

[Gelston]

counts are up to 2 dead, 64 wounded, according to the Boston Globe.

Yeah, Fox News dropped their reported 3 dead down to 2 dead a little while back.

[Whirlin]

Co-worker's husband is in the national guard... CERF? unit... a group that deals with Hazmat fires and the such... Both MA and RI groups are on alert.

[Gizmo]

Don't fight. It's stupid.

People fight way too much. It's scary, especially them angry vagina dentata types.

Thoughts and Prayers go out to all the people involved in this stuff too, especially since it's such a huge event for Boston and a huge event in many others lives to accomplish the marathon itself.

[Allereli]

In the news conference the Boston Police confirmed the 3rd explosion at the JFK Library was not one of the controlled ones.

[Fallen]

Investigators have a suspect — a Saudi Arabian national — in the horrific Boston Marathon bombings, The Post has learned.
Law enforcement sources said the 20-year-old suspect was under guard at an undisclosed Boston hospital.

[Jace Solo]

On "Patriots Day". Do you think that was intended or just because the marathon fell on the day?

Everyone in Boston ok? Do we have any PC runners?

[KneeCapper]

Real Time Feed from Boston Police Fire and EMS

http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/6254/web/?rl=rr

This ain't over yet sorry to say.

Cell phone service shut down to prevent anymore bomb detonations

[BriarFox]

The suspect is apparently severely injured. ATF and FBI at the hospital.

[Gelston]

On "Patriots Day". Do you think that was intended or just because the marathon fell on the day?



Don't know yet. It could have been because of Patriots Day, or because of the Marathon, or it could have just been because it was a large, publicized event and the specifics as far as the day or the event didn't matter.

[Latrinsorm]

Off Twitter: "UPDATE: Police are asking everyone in Boston to stay home; if you do go out, do not travel in large groups."

Mob violence?

[Leew]

Off Twitter: "UPDATE: Police are asking everyone in Boston to stay home; if you do go out, do not travel in large groups."

Mob violence?

No, they are finding more unexploded bombs.

[Gelston]

Guy on TV just said the suspect in custody is a false report.

[BriarFox]

"Custody" is the key word there, I think. There are apparently some armed officers guarding a potential suspect.

[Gelston]

"Custody" is the key word there, I think. There are apparently some armed officers guarding a potential suspect.

You are considered in custody when you are under guard.

[TheEschaton]

Hopefully it's not like after Oklahoma City when a bunch of Middle Easterners were put under custody for no reason other than their ethnic origin, while Tim McVeigh was driving away. Lots of Saudi/Middle Eastern students in Boston, after all.

[Liagala]

6:02 pm ET: ATF agents have descended on Brigham and Women’s hospital where they’re questioning one potential person of interest.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/04/live-updates-boston-marathon-explosion/

"Questioning a person of interest" isn't quite having him in custody. They're being careful with handing out information too quickly, but there's probably a reason why there are people in uniform with very large guns hanging outside Brigham and Women's, but not any other hospital in the city.

[BriarFox]

Hopefully it's not like after Oklahoma City when a bunch of Middle Easterners were put under custody for no reason other than their ethnic origin, while Tim McVeigh was driving away. Lots of Saudi/Middle Eastern students in Boston, after all.

Agreed.

[Dendum]

Off Twitter: "UPDATE: Police are asking everyone in Boston to stay home; if you do go out, do not travel in large groups."

Mob violence?

probably fear of other attacks, washington security has been raised as has NY security, SOP on terrorist activity probably.

[Androidpk]

This is some scary shit. My youngest brother was on the next street over when it happened.

[Tolwynn]

One of the 2 killed was just 8 years old. Fuck whoever pulled this bullshit.

[AnticorRifling]

Off Twitter: "UPDATE: Police are asking everyone in Boston to stay home; if you do go out, do not travel in large groups."

Mob violence?


I don't think you understand how bombs work....

[diethx]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-explosion_n_3086665.html

"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."

:no:

I really, really hope they find who did this. FFS.

[Fallen]

I'm sure they'll find out who did this, the question is how long and how much it will take to get them.

[Fallen]

CNN's live blog has a lot of good information: ​http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/15/explosions-near-finish-of-boston-marathon/?on.cnn=1

[Buckwheet]

Live Leak has some super graphic images that are being uploaded a long with quite a few detailed videos.

I am not familiar with explosives, but I am wondering if anyone has a good explanation on why so many people lost legs? I am sort of shocked that the number of dead is this low but the number of amputations is very high.

[Fallen]

Live Leak has some super graphic images that are being uploaded a long with quite a few detailed videos.

I am not familiar with explosives, but I am wondering if anyone has a good explanation on why so many people lost legs? I am sort of shocked that the number of dead is this low but the number of amputations is very high.

It might be due to the use of shrapnel in the bombs. The ball bearings and what not may have a shearing effect on the limbs. As for the high number of survivors, i'd say luck that heads weren't hit coupled with the immense presence of EMTs and first responders already at the scene due to the location of the attack (the finale of a marathon). Also, it doesn't hurt to be in the middle of a major metropolitan area within minutes of some of the best hospitals in the country.

[Bobmuhthol]

It was a small device detonated from the ground with a lot of people near it. Legs are going to be the first thing hit.

It was also designed to cause a lot of shrapnel damage, as it was allegedly filled with ball bearings.

[Fallen]

http://www.yourish.com/2006/04/18/1094

Seemingly thorough explanation of shrapnel in terrorist attacks. Err, minus the Pro-Israel slant towards the end.

[SHAFT]

Where did this take place? Boylston and Dartmouth?

Nm I got it. Yeah just before Dartmouth near Copley square and Further up near Fairfield. Holy shit

[Lord Orbstar]

Just an educated guess (like anyone at this point), but I would not be surprised if it was a home grown terrorist that studies the Koran routinely.

[TheEschaton]

Just an educated guess (like anyone at this point), but I would not be surprised if it was a home grown terrorist that studies the Koran routinely.

Isn't that the new concern? American citizens, even white, black, hispanic citizens, who subscribe to Islamic extremism? Scary thought when you can't just look at people like me and judge. ;)

[Gelston]

According to wikipedia sources... The April 15 tax deadline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Day) and Patriots' Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots%27_Day) are both associated with violent acts in the past by militia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_movement) and "patriot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_movement)" groups. It would make more sense to me if it was an organization like that, due to the day.

[Dayko]

Turned to the news this morning, they said 3 are dead 144 wounded and 17 critical wounded. 78-years old Bill Ifrig fell only getting a cut on his leg from shock of the explosion. An 8 years old boy died at the finish line from waiting for his dad. My prayers goes out to the dad whose son died and the others wounded.

[Atlanteax]

Some people did get hit in the head, from being too close nearby the blast origins...

An 8-year-old boy was one of the fatalities, a state law enforcement source said. He has been identified as Martin Richard, The Boston Globe reported. The boy was at the event to watch his father race, CNN affiliate WHDH reported. His mother suffered brain injuries in the blast and his sister lost a leg, the station said.

"Person of interest":

Investigators have warned police to be on the lookout for a "darker-skinned or black male" with a possible foreign accent in connection with Monday's bombings, according to a law enforcement advisory obtained by CNN. The man, seen with a black backpack and sweatshirt, was trying to enter a restricted area about five minutes before the first explosion, the notice says.

Also...

One unexploded device was found at a hotel on Boylston Street near the bomb site and another unexploded device was found at an undisclosed location, said Rep. Bill Keating, D-Massachusetts. Keating, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, called Monday's incident a "sophisticated, coordinated, planned attack

Above from http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/us/boston-marathon-things-we-know/index.html

[Wrathbringer]

Wow, I used to live on Boylston. This just seems like the work of a single amateur nutjob to me. I expect the perp will be in custody inside a month.

[BriarFox]

The press conference that just ended confirmed that there were only two explosive parcels, not the four or more that were being speculated. No one's in custody, and the (huge) joint task force is asking anyone who has any sort of video or pictures to send them in.

[Drew]

Isn't that the new concern? American citizens, even white, black, hispanic citizens, who subscribe to Islamic extremism? Scary thought when you can't just look at people like me and judge. ;)

Hey man, don't worry. We'll keep judging you based on your looks alone so you don't feel left out.


Also you're pretty much waaaay too dark to be any kind of Arab that I've ever seen. I realize the nuance may be lost on some people but at best you could pass for Pakistani.

[Bobmuhthol]

The press conference that just ended confirmed that there were only two explosive parcels, not the four or more that were being speculated. No one's in custody, and the (huge) joint task force is asking anyone who has any sort of video or pictures to send them in.I didn't see it, but what happened at the library then?

[Drew]

I didn't see it, but what happened at the library then?

Unrelated fire.

[BriarFox]

Yeah, they're still investigating it today and UMass Boston has canceled classes out of an abundance of caution and to keep people out of the way, but everything so far says it's unrelated. Odd timing, though.

[Allereli]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/04/15/boston-explosions-new-york-post-better-have-good-sources/?tid=pm_pop

interesting look at front pages of newspapers

[AnticorRifling]

That's definitely important.

[Nieninque]

Some messed up shit. Thoughts with anyone affected.

[Latrinsorm]

Wow, I used to live on Boylston. This just seems like the work of a single amateur nutjob to me. I expect the perp will be in custody inside a month.In addition to obviously being tragic and horrific, I can't shake how odd a situation this is. Put yourself in the mind of a terrorist: couldn't you have done a much, much better job at being evil? The timing especially, but even the devices themselves and the choice of target. As you say, perhaps the work of an amateur, or perhaps it's not terrorism at all and this was a targeted attack on a specific few people or even one person, and the enormous collateral damage was only intended as a distraction or means to avoid suspicion.

[TheEschaton]

Low fatalities but high injuries seem to suggest the detonation and explosion wasn't that powerful, but the shrapnel obviously was. I imagine for an amateur, it's easier to pack the thing in ball bearings, but harder to make the actual explosive device.

[Warriorbird]

I think assumptions are a bad idea.

[Allereli]

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/10010384080855/exclusive-fbi-investigating-photo-that-shows-bag/#?hpt=hp_t2

chilling

also, my dad says he's running Boston next year.

[AnticorRifling]

Low fatalities but high injuries seem to suggest the detonation and explosion wasn't that powerful, but the shrapnel obviously was. I imagine for an amateur, it's easier to pack the thing in ball bearings, but harder to make the actual explosive device.

Ehh....hard to say really. It could be this freak wanted to make a point, in his/her mind required blood to do it as well as spectacle but didn't want a mass death count. We won't know for some time, if ever.

[Keller]

Hodor did it.

http://i.imgur.com/LvoCC5Tl.jpg

[Tisket]

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/10010384080855/exclusive-fbi-investigating-photo-that-shows-bag/#?hpt=hp_t2

chilling

also, my dad says he's running Boston next year.

I'm betting they break the record for participation next year. At least I hope so.

[Atlanteax]

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/10010384080855/exclusive-fbi-investigating-photo-that-shows-bag/#?hpt=hp_t2

chilling

also, my dad says he's running Boston next year.

Welp, this only further strengthened the protocol of reporting bags/containers/etc that are left unattended.

I can see increased participation next year, as people are more hyper vigilant about watching for such suspicious things, and there clearly would be sufficient pairs of eyes to do so.

[Tisket]

Welp, this only further strengthened the protocol of reporting bags/containers/etc that are left unattended.

I can see increased participation next year, as people are more hyper vigilant about watching for such suspicious things, and there clearly would be sufficient pairs of eyes to do so.

I'm hoping increased participation is due more to a "fuck you, terrorists!" attitude than anything else.

[Atlanteax]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/17/us/boston-blasts/index.html?hpt=hp_t1


The bombs, which exploded 12 seconds apart, killed three people and wounded 183.

One was housed in a pressure cooker hidden inside a backpack, the FBI said in a joint intelligence bulletin. The device also had fragments that may have included nails, BBs and ball bearings, the agency said.

The second bomb was also housed in a metal container, but it was not clear whether it too was in a pressure cooker, the FBI said.

The U.S. government has warned federal agencies in the past that terrorists could turn pressure cookers into bombs by packing them with explosives and shrapnel and detonating them with blasting caps.

Photos obtained by CNN show the remains of a pressure cooker found at the scene, along with a shredded black backpack and what appear to be metal pellets or ball bearings.

Scraps of at least one pressure cooker, nails and nylon bags found at the scene were sent to the FBI's national laboratory in Virginia, where technicians will try to reconstruct the devices, the agent leading the investigation said Tuesday.

The pieces suggest each of the devices was 6 liters (about 1.6 gallons) in volume, a Boston law enforcement source said. The recovered parts include part of a circuit board, which might have been used to detonate a device.

A law enforcement official said Monday's bombs were probably detonated by timers. But the FBI said details of the detonating system were unknown.

At least an indication of what the bombs were ... I suppose because it involved pressure cookers, that the explosions were not 'as bad' as they could had been (more deaths), and partially explains the high collateral damage rate (shrapnel).

[Allereli]

I'm hoping increased participation is due more to a "fuck you, terrorists!" attitude than anything else.

actually there won't be additional runners. this is the Boston marathon, not even all the runners who qualify to run it are able to register, the problem got so bad they had to up the standards. They increased registration numbers once for the 100th year.

increased participation will be in the crowds, which are already huge since it's always run on Patriot's Day.

[Drisco]

Pretty sad stuff, I saw some of the pictures and couldn't really imagine it.


With that said.

My prediction of suspect is....

Male
mid 20s
Caucasian
Religious Fundy
no ties to any terrorist group.

[Keller]

Pretty sad stuff, I saw some of the pictures and couldn't really imagine it.


With that said.

My prediction of suspect is....

Male
mid 20s
Caucasian
Religious Fundy
no ties to any terrorist group.

http://i.imgur.com/LvoCC5Tl.jpg

[Methais]

http://i.imgur.com/LvoCC5Tl.jpg

IW?

[Atlanteax]

Welp, it did not take very long for dumb hoaxs/pranks regarding it.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/17/news/companies/family-guy-boston-marathon/index.html?hpt=hp_t2


Fox has removed from its web site a recent episode of "Family Guy," which showed mass deaths at the Boston Marathon.

A doctored version of the clip, which made fun of Monday's terrorist attack at the marathon, has since circulated online.

The online hoax spliced together two clips from the original episode. The hoax showed Griffin appearing to trigger explosions with his cell phone, while depicting the scene of bloody carnage when he drove his car through the runners.

[BriarFox]

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/04/boston-bombing-third-victim/64302/

The Latest:

CNN's John King confirms what local media and the AP had been anticipating: He cites a local law enforcement official in saying that "an arrest has been made." Another CNN federal source said the same. The Boston Globe reports "official said authorities may publicize their finding as early as this afternoon." A news conference is scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern.

CNN's King is reporting that "substantial progress" has been made in the investigation: Boston officials believe they may have identified a bombing suspect. It is said to be a "clear identification of a suspect" based on new video, obtained with help of a local TV station. King's law enforcement source in Boston called it a "significant breakthrough" and a "game changer," having been told there is "one suspect" — though this doesn't necessarily rule out a second suspect.

A second source briefed on the investigation told King that department store video (apparently surveillance footage) from a local Lord & Taylor in Copley Square shows a clear facial recognition; investigators had been looking for video of a suspect placing down a bag and walking away. No confirmation of an arrest has been made and no identifying details have emerged other than what was described to King as a "dark skinned male individual." The Lord & Taylor would appear, from the above Reuters photo that appeared on the front page of today's New York Times, to have been the second blast site.

The Boston Globe is reporting similar news: "Authorities have an image of a suspect carrying, and perhaps dropping, a black bag at the second bombing scene," its homepage reports. And there's more

[BriarFox]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/17/us/boston-blasts/

(CNN) -- [Breaking news update at 1:47 p.m. Wednesday ]
An arrest has been made in the Boston bombings investigation based on two videos showing images of the suspect, a federal law enforcement source told CNN's Fran Townsend.

[Gelston]

(CNN) -- [Breaking news update at 2:44 p.m. Wednesday]
Investigators in Washington and Boston denied Wednesday that an arrest had been made in the bombing of the Boston Marathon. They had earlier said there was "substantial" progress in the case.
[Breaking news update at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday]
There is conflicting information as to whether someone has been arrested in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings. A federal law enforcement source told CNN's Fran Townsend that someone was arrested. But later, two senior administration officials and another federal official told Townsend that there had been a misunderstanding among officials and that no one has been arrested.