Two explosions have been reported near the finish line of the Boston Marthon at 4 hours and 9 minutes and 45 seconds into the Marathon, at approximately 2:50PM ET. Reports indicate one of the explosions occurred inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, and another a few buildings down, approximately 50-100 yards away. The Marathon has been halted and an unknown number of people have been injured. Law Enforcement and medical personnel are on the scene and rendering aid. 3:15PM ET More to follow as facts are known.
Approximately half the field had finished the marathon at the time of the explosion.
A suspicious package has been reported at the Mandarin Hotel. 3:27PM ET.
Lennox Hotel evacuated as a precaution. NYC has increased security around landmarks as a result. 3:45 ET
Two fatalities and 22 injuries are reported. 4:04PM
Two other devices reportedly found. 4:25PM 28 injured.
A third explosion occured at the JFK Library in Boston, at approximately 4:30PM ET, according the Boston Police Spokesman. 4:53 ET A device has been reportedly detonated by EOD, but it is unclear whether this was the device at JFK Library or at another location.
Bridges over Charles River closed. 49 Injured. Security increased in NYC, San Francisco, and Washington DC. 5:08 ET
JFK School of Government evacuated. 5:12ET
NY Post reports Saudi National detained in connection to bombing at Boston Hospital. Los Angeles security tightened. 5:25 ET More than 100 injured.
JFK device reported to be incendiary device or unrelated fire. 5:59pm
POTUS states we "don't know who did this and should not jump to conclusions." Does not mention terrorism, despite MSM stating prior that he had no choice but to call it that, politically. All news agencies and multiple government agencies are now stating that this was a "terrorist attack," not a "gas explosion" as they had previously speculated. MSM has decreased but not completely ended speculation that it was a case of "domestic extremism." 6:10pm
One of the two fatalities reported to be an 8 year old child. 6:35PM ET
Three fatalities have now been reported. Hospitals are reporting the removal of ball bearings from victims. Police are reportedly searching for a man with dark skin, dark clothes, a dark backpack, and possibly a foreign accent, who had previously attempted to gain access to a restricted area. A suspect with injuries is reportedly being held. 141 injured. 11PM ET
RIP Martin Richard, 8 years old, Boston, MA
RIP Krystle Campbell, 29 years old, Medford, MA
A Chinese national graduate student whose family has requested privacy
Authorities are now reporting that they believe the explosive devices used a timer, BB's, and ball bearings inside pressure cookers, and hidden in backpacks, a technique that has been used in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Times Square bombing in NYC, by the Taliban. The explosive compound used was a "slow burning" explosive, meaning it traveled at speeds less than 3300 feet per second.
The Saudi Arabian national previously reported as a suspect is in the US on a valid student visa, and it was his apartment in Revere, MA that was searched. He was injured in the explosion, but LE officials in Boston are downplaying their interest in him as being connected to this act of terrorism. Law Enforcement denied reports at the time of his detention that they had anyone in custody.
Meanwhile, they are searching for a man seen in video carrying two backpacks, for a rental van seen in the area, and for a man photographed on a nearby roof acting suspiciously following the attack. They are asking the public to send all pictures and videos they took of the event in hopes of finding evidence, and have stated that EOD sweeps of the area had occurred prior to the marathon, and again at about 1 hour prior to the bombing. Assuming the areas where the bomb had been placed had been properly searched by a qualified explosives working dog, it would indicate that the bombs had been placed within an hour of detonation. 16 April 2013
The FBI released pictures and video of 2 "suspects." Unfortunately, the quality of the releases was insufficient to distinguish anything of value. It is insufficient to even identify the race of the subjects, or the logos on their hats and clothing.
Earlier, it had released pictures of components of the bomb, and a light colored bag placed in one of the locations of the bombs, which does not match the bags carried by their two suspects. The components included the twisted metal of the pressure cooker, 14 gauge wire made in China, and a battery made in China. 18 April 2013
At approximately midnight, police got in a shootout with two men they claim were the suspects, killing the one listed as "Suspect #1" Tamarlan Tsarnaev, in the black ball cap, and an MIT Police officer, in Watertown, MA. As of 0630, Suspect #2, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, is still on the loose.
More recent news reports indicate the pair are brothers and Russian Chechen residents, while the AP are reporting that the 2nd suspect is a Cambridge, MA resident.
The brothers reportedly immigrated to the US in 2002, and Dzorkhar was reportedly receiving scholarship money for his studies at MIT from the City of Cambridge and the US Government. Tamarlan dropped out of Community College, after studying engineering.
Law Enforcement officials locked down 1 Million plus Americans, as they searched 60-100% of the homes in Watertown, MA, without finding Dzorkhar. All forms of travel were forbidden to those in the search area. The University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth was also shut down as the University reported that a suspect in connection with the crime was reported to be amongst their student body. LE has indicated that they are also looking for a 3rd suspect but have not released a name or picture of anyone new.
The younger brother, the 2nd suspect, was arrested at approximately 8:45PM ET hiding in a boat in a residential neighborhood.
It is now quite apparent that this was an act of Islamist Terrorism. 19 APR 2013.
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