Boston Marathon hit by explosions

[Steve-O]

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.

"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.

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.

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.

So0urce: BBC News

 

[Ethics]

Was just forwarded an article about this from a friend. There also seems to be quite a few videos and pictures, mainly of the injured being taken away and the blood all over the sidewalks. Seriously fucked scene from what I saw. I'd link them, but the article was on my iPod.

 

[Tyler Breeze]

I cannot believe this has happened. There's already quite a few injuries and even deaths reported. I really hope there are no more reported. I do wonder though whether or not this is terrorist related. Also, I wonder how these just slipped by the staff and security that were setting up the race for so long? Wouldn't they have checked every where around that area to make sure nothing like that would happen?

 

[Steve-O]

2 dead, 23 injered atm#

controlled explosion reported, 2 devices found, 3rd explosion at JFK Library

 

[Shaissa]

Bombs go off in Boston Marathon

(CNN) -- Two bombs struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing two people and injuring dozens of others.
A third blast then followed at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, which authorities believe was related, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.
Figures from three hospitals place the number of injured from the marathon blasts as high as 51.
The explosions, near the finish line, sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square, turning a site of celebration into a mess of destruction.
"It felt like a huge cannon," a witness told CNN about one of theblasts.
Authorities in Boston found at least one other explosive device that they were dismantling, Davis said.
It was unclear who may have planted the bombs. There were no credible threats before the race, a state government official said.
The Marriott hotel at Copley Place was evacuated as a precaution.
The Lenox Hotel was also evacuated as a precaution, the Boston Globe reported.
Massachusetts General Hospital said it was treating 22 injured people,six of them in critical condition. Tufts Medical Center reported that it was treating nine people. Brigham and Women's Hospital said it received between 18 and 20 injured. Combined, that brings the number of injured to as many as 51.
Police said both bombs at the marathon, 50 to 100 yards apart, left casualties. The full number was not immediately known, Davis said.
Crowds were in the area watching the runners.
"This is a horrific day in Boston," Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement.
"My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the President, Mayor (Thomas) Menino and our public safety leaders. Our focus is on making sure that the area around Copley Square is safe and secured. I am asking everyone to stay away from Copley Square and let the first responders do their jobs."
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke with FBI Director Robert Mueller and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, a Justice Department official said.
Holder has directed the full resources of the Justice Department to be deployed to ensure the matter is fully investigated, the official said.
The Federal Aviation Administration placed a flight restriction over the site of the blasts.
Other cities, including New York and Washington, tightened security as a result. Following standard protocol, the White House cleared out an area in front of the West Wing.
"If you see something, say something," Mark Boughton, mayor of Danbury, Connecticut, wrote on Twitter. "All cities will be on a heightened state of alertness per Homeland Security protocols."
Mike Baingon, who works at the Atlantic Fish Company in Boston, said an explosion took place in front of the restaurant and that he was right by the front door at the time.
The explosions occurred at about 2:45 p.m., more than two hours after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line, CNN Producer Matt Frucci reported.
The race was halted as was subway service into the area.
Runners east of Massachusetts Avenue were directed to Boston Common; those west of Massachusetts Avenue were directed to Kenmore Square, the state's emergency management agency said.
Troops from the Massachusetts National Guard were assisting police as well.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/us/boston-marathon-explosions/index.html

 

[Linnaete]

Yes, because I needed yet another reminder of how fucked up things are. My condolences to the dead and the injured. I hope everyone else stays safe.

Someone very visibly posted a graphic photo on Facebook and that was where I first saw it a couple of hours ago. Horrific sight.

I'm not going to immediately jump into conclusions before we know any more.

 

[Ethics]

Threads merged.

 

[Harlequin]

Who did this and why?

 

[Donald Trump]

The who is almost certainly terrorists. Whether these terrorists are Muslim or White or whatever is just pointless speculation. We cant know why until they're caught. In most cases the motivation is always inadequate.

 

[Exoskeleton]

I heard about this story earlier. It's really something. I was so sad when I heard one of the two killed victims was an 8 year old, but then again any death of an innocent is pretty terrible. I was watching footage of the explosions from The Boston Globe. It's really frightening to see how things go from good to bad in a matter of seconds.

 

[Tucker]

I heard about this story earlier. It's really something. I was so sad when I heard one of the two killed victims was an 8 year old, but then again any death of an innocent is pretty terrible. I was watching footage of the explosions from The Boston Globe. It's really frightening to see how things go from good to bad in a matter of seconds.

You hear about shootings, and terrorist attacks, but to actually see a video of the before and after of something like this really hits you. Just...wow.

The first thing I thought when I heard this happened was, "Who did it?" Too many sick people.

 

[ShadowStar Mila]

I didnt know about it until my friend at work told me, I think its pretty fucked up these terrorist was actually able to sneak in and plant all of that crap without anyone noticing. Really wanna know what action is gonna be taken to counter act this and why did they pick the race to suddenly up and pull a stunt like this e.e

 

[Paddy McGee]

It's such a tragic attack. Many of those athletes were running for great causes(One of those being Justice96), and to strike at such a moment is appalling.

However, one of the major sickening reactions I saw to this was from many of my friends one facebook...


Most of them devalued the lives of those injured and killed in Boston by referring to how the news seems to only focus "When white people die/ What about the hundreds of Africans who have died/ It wouldn't be broadcasted if it was Asia"

Personally, I find this reaction both unnecessary and disgusting. While they did mention some valid points, It's a tragedy when ANY person dies, in any way. A person shouldn't devalue or detract anything from this incident "Just" because they're Americans.

Any prayers I have are with those of the families and victims of the explosions.

 

[Donald Trump]

They have a point, when white people are murdered it's newsworthy, when they're not white it's not. There's a civil war going on in Syria, hundreds of people being killed everyday, there have been numerous bombings in Iraq that often claimed over 100 victims. Yet more will be written about this Boston bombing. That doesn't in anyway diminish the 'tragedy' of the Boston bombing. However, I do think it says something rather unpleasant about our society when we care more about the deaths of two white people than 10,000+ Syrians.

 

[Linnaete]

It is certainly telling when reader reactions to an umpteenth horrific car bomb attack in Iraq are a combination of indifference and even jokes on the lines of "it must pay to be a car dealer in Baghdad!".

Meanwhile, let us not forget that the United States has too, been a perpetrator of terrorism, on top of the fact that it has been a victim of terrorism. Ask yourself for a moment what "terrorism" means. It isn't a word to be exclusively reserved for attacks made on western soil. It has no religion or national borders. It also (very sadly) applies to when US drone attacks are used. It's one thing to comfortably attest that the drone attacks are a good thing for western security because they are designed to take down targets within a certain radius, but it's another thing when it also leads to needless deaths and maiming to innocents.

Don't get me wrong. I am not pushing an anti-American agenda, so please don't lunge at me for that. It is very natural for us to pay disproportionally a lot more focus and attention on terrible events that have occurred to relatively local, nearby and familiar places and you wouldn't expect any less of a society from all walks of life coming together in collective mourning, shock and empathy for the victims. Heck, I heard so much blood was generously donated that no more was needed. And the United States has a government that will go to the ends of the earth to bring the perpetrators to justice. Do you think the current Egyptian government would do anything more for its citizens when demonstrators lose their lives than shrug its shoulders?

But I agree that it's regrettable that barely any of this same heartwarming empathy for victims of terror seems to be replicated for victims in the Middle East. They're no less undeserving of violence than we, even if by the scant media coverage offered for their plight, they seem distant and invisible.

 

[The Welsh Paddy]

It's always sad hearing about this crap, no matter where in the world it is. It's even more sad that we live in a world where none of this comes as so much of a surprise anymore. And what's even more sad is that nowadays it's more of a shock when you hear about someone doing something nice for someone than it is hearing about someone doing something horrible.

But you know what?

We'd live in a much better world if people would just fucking wake up and set their petty differences aside. Fucking deal with it like a sensible adult instead of some pathetic person who's answer to dealing with something they don't like is to fucking blow it up. What the hell happened to inviting over someone for a cup of tea, or a few beers and just talking?

 

[The Witch]

It is certainly telling when reader reactions to an umpteenth horrific car bomb attack in Iraq are a combination of indifference and even jokes on the lines of "it must pay to be a car dealer in Baghdad!".

Meanwhile, let us not forget that the United States has too, been a perpetrator of terrorism, on top of the fact that it has been a victim of terrorism. Ask yourself for a moment what "terrorism" means. It isn't a word to be exclusively reserved for attacks made on western soil. It has no religion or national borders. It also (very sadly) applies to when US drone attacks are used. It's one thing to comfortably attest that the drone attacks are a good thing for western security because they are designed to take down targets within a certain radius, but it's another thing when it also leads to needless deaths and maiming to innocents.

Don't get me wrong. I am not pushing an anti-American agenda, so please don't lunge at me for that. It is very natural for us to pay disproportionally a lot more focus and attention on terrible events that have occurred to relatively local, nearby and familiar places and you wouldn't expect any less of a society from all walks of life coming together in collective mourning, shock and empathy for the victims. Heck, I heard so much blood was generously donated that no more was needed. And the United States has a government that will go to the ends of the earth to bring the perpetrators to justice. Do you think the current Egyptian government would do anything more for its citizens when demonstrators lose their lives than shrug its shoulders?

But I agree that it's regrettable that barely any of this same heartwarming empathy for victims of terror seems to be replicated for victims in the Middle East. They're no less undeserving of violence than we, even if by the scant media coverage offered for their plight, they seem distant and invisible.

i pretty much agree with this.

anyway;

is the news coverage of these two "bombers" not as focused on overseas? because i really wish the god damn news would change the damn subject once in a while. hearing this story for five damn days is way longer than it needs to be discussed imo.

i don't know about anyone else but it's annoying that pretty much every news outlet is only covering these two guys that made shotty bombs and managed to only kill a small handful of people (i mean no disrespect to those that died/got hurt but it's just the truth). i'm not saying their deaths aren't tragic--i know their deaths were tragic, but seriously, everyone is blowing this WAY out of proportion. that same day Obama droned, like, thirty kids in the middle east which is FAR greater casualties than this incident. when you stop to think about it, this "terrorist" attack isn't even the worst thing that's happened in the country this year (or even including last year) and yet people are now itching to compare it to 9/11 or make this out to be worse than it was--which is insane.

it's making me question why this is such a big deal...

you gotta ask yourself why would they even bomb some small boston marathon (i know hundreds of people were there) but in the grand-scale of it all, they would have made a bigger impact on the american people and for their "cause" (whatever that may be) if they chose to do this "terror" attack during something bigger, especially somewhere bigger. it makes no sense that any terrorist would attack and waste their time and materials on something so small.

i mean, there were navy seals at the site before the bombs even went off and people have been saying that there were even bomb dogs sniffing around, and they expect me to believe they couldn't find the bombs even though they were disguised in the MOST obvious damn way--as flipping backpacks. within hours the fbi/national guard/CIA/ect were there searching for these people but it's taken them five days to catch them both. hell, they put an entire city on complete lockdown--oh, i'm sorry, police state, to find one measly kid. sorry, i find it really damn hard to believe that our highly trained professionals couldn't find some sloppy mediocre duo of "terrorists" (if you can even call them that) in a small town like that. something is extremely fishy about all of this.


i would love to say i have some idea about what's really going on behind this whole thing, but right now--i'm even confused.

whatever, hopefully now that the kid is caught they'll stop talking about it.

 

[CassinoChips]

The violence in Syria/Iraq/etc. is being perpetrated by two groups made up of essentially anonymous people pitched in battle against each other for a specific reason over months/years.

The marathon bombers have names, planned a one-time attack, were until very recently on the run, and their motives were unknown. Psychologically, people tend to fear the latter more, and fear makes for great headlines. Also it's new.