A pair of explosions rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon, killing three people – including an 8-year-old boy – and injuring many others on Monday afternoon.
Video from the finish line showed screams and an enormous cloud of white smoke, and about 20 seconds between the blasts. The first explosion reportedly occurred in a trash can. The Associated Press reported that bloody spectators were being carried to a medical tent that had been set up to care for tired runners.
A third blast then followed at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, which authorities believe was related, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.
Boston hospitals report more than 132 people being treated with a dozen in critical condition.
Jackie Bruno, a reporter for New England Cable News, said on Twitter that she saw people’s legs blown off.
“Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror,” she said.
An AP reporter that was on the scene wrote:
“Competitors and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners.”
Greek running federation president Costas Panagopoulos said that the 12 Greek runners who were participating at the marathon from Greece are all well in health but are still in shock from the incident.
The race began at 10 a.m., and the explosions were reported just before 3 p.m. The winners had long ago completed the race, but the explosions came as masses of other runners were approaching the finish.
The marathon itself, on its Facebook page, referred to the blasts as bombs. Authorities have not said immediately what caused the explosions.
[youtube]046MuD1pYJg#![/youtube]
[youtube]7Tq4-WAtgVQ[/youtube]
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
