MONDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) — Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon, killing at least three people and injuring more than 100 people, according to published reports.
The dead included an 8-year-old boy, the Boston Globe reported, citing a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.
Blood and broken glass covered the sidewalks near the blasts. Some of the injured had lost limbs. Others were unconscious, the Globe reported.
The first explosion occurred about four hours after the winners crossed the finish line for the marathon, held every year on Patriots Day, a state holiday that commemorates the start of the American Revolution. Another blast rocked the area a few seconds later.
Authorities streamed onto the race course to carry away the injured. Runners who hadn’t finished the 26.2-mile race were routed away from the site of the explosions, the Associated Press reported.
“We still do not know who did this or why; we still don’t have all the facts,” President Barack Obama said shortly after 6 p.m. “We will get to the bottom of this. We will find who did this, and we will find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”
A White House official, speaking anonymously because the investigation was still unfolding, said the attack was being treated as a terrorist act, the AP reported.
The police said they had no suspects in custody, and officials in Washington said no person or group had claimed responsibility, the AP reported.
The injured were taken to a medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners.
“There are a lot of people down,” a male runner told the AP. Another runner, Laura McLean from Toronto, said, “There are people who are really, really bloody.” She was in the medical tent being treated for dehydration when she was moved out to make room for people injured in the explosions.
TV footage taken from a helicopter showed blood staining the pavement in the popular Black Bay shopping and tourist area.
The marathon honored the 26 victims of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting massacre in December with a special mile marker in Monday’s race, the AP reported.