warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Bombings Rock Boston Marathon

Brianna Sacks, Jacqueline Jackson |
April 15, 2013 | 2:49 p.m. PDT

Executive Producers

Several explosions erupted near the finish line of the Boston Marathon close to 3 p.m. today, killing two people and injuring more than 65, the Boston Police Department reported.  Another explosion occured at the JFK Library 30 minutes after the first two, which authorities believe to be related, according to CNN. 

Several videos showed runners heading to the end of the 26.2 mile race when an explosion went off on the north side of the Boylston Street, just before the bridge that marks the finish line, shocking runners and thousands of spectators gathered to greet the finishers. 

The  race was rerouted as volunteers and competitors attempted to finish or distance themselves from the chaos as medical tents and authorities entered the area to investigate and aid those injured.

Chris Cassidy, a Boston Harold reporter, was running in the marathon and gave
his account of the explosions, "I saw two explosions. The first one was beyond the
finish line. I heard a loud bang and I saw smoke rising," he told the newspaper. "I
kept running and I heard behind me a loud bang. It looked like it was in a trash can
or something...There are people who have been hit with debris, people with bloody
foreheads.”

The headquarters for the Boston Marathorn is on lockdown as investigators and
authorities comb the area for evidence, more explosives and the injured.

Cellphone service has been shut down in the city to prevent possible future bomb detenations. Authorities say the crisis is ongoing and are asking people to stay inside and out of large parties.

The explosions, which went off near Bolyson Street, are said to have been contained in
packages and trash cans throughout the area. The Associated Press is reporting that
two additional packages/bombs are being dismantled in the area.

Google has offered a person finder service for anyone looking for runners and loved ones, and NBC Sports Twitter reported Marathon runners crossing the finish line and continuing to run to Mass General Hospital to give blood to victims.

Figures from three hospitals place the number of injured from the marathon blasts as high as 51. The Boston Globe reported that Boston hospitals report more than 100 people being treated.

It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties at the library and there is no current information on the motive behind the attack.

President Obama will deliver a statement at 6:10 p.m. from the Briefing Room of the White House with the latest details concerning the Boston bombings. Viewers can watch here.

To Watch Live Coverage of the Recovery

Watch Raw Footage of the Explosion Below



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.