Two bombs struck near the finish line at the Boston Marathon yesterday, turning an annual celebration into a bloody scene that might be caused by terrorism.
Boston Police Commissioner, Ed David said the death toll had risen to three, and one of the dead was an 8-year-old boy.
Hospitals reported that about 138 people are being treated, with 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious condition. Eight of the patients are children.
The first explosion took place around 2.50pm on the north of Boylston Street, just before the finish line, while the second explosion went off just about 10 seconds after the first. The two explosions were only about 500 feet apart.
President Barack Obama said that any of the responsible individuals or groups will “feel the full weight of justice”. He added that Boston “is a tough and resilient town”, stating that Americans will stand by Boston “every single step of the way”.
The authorities have yet to determine if the bombings were a terrorist attack or whether it was a domestic or foreign attack. A federal law enforcement official told CNN that both bombs were small, and that initial tests showed no C-4 or high grade explosive material.