Boston Marathon Blasts; Death Toll on the Increase, 1st Victim Identified

AN eight-year-old boy waiting at the finish line to give his father a hug was among three people killed and more than 144 severely injured when two explosions rocked the Boston Marathon.

 

Tragic Martin Richard was standing with his mother and six-year-old sister, who both suffered horrific injuries, when bombs hidden in rubbish bins exploded within seconds of each other.

The lad may very nearly have cheated death after he walked out to embrace his father Bill Richard at the finishing line, according to local reports.

But Martin, from Boston’s Dorchester suburb, then returned to his mum – at which point the first bomb went off.

His mother is in hospital after undergoing brain surgery and his sister's leg was blown off. His older brother is said to be uninjured. 

 

caught on film, orange flash of first explosion

 Boston police closed off the city as a “danger zone” as witnesses described the “unspeakable horror” of body parts flying through the air and shoes that “still had flesh in them”.
The blasts at 2.50pm local time — flashes of burning orange followed by acrid smoke that billowed for 50ft — were captured in TV footage that chilled America. Two more devices were discovered and made safe by police experts.

Ambulances and fire engines swarmed into Boston’s Copley Square along with armed cops to find the pavements drenched with blood and people lying in agony.

... woman sits injured on blood-spattered pavement, in shock

Aerial footage of the blast site showed the pavement strewn with blood, glass and debris which the blasts, ten seconds apart, erupted from litter bins.
Hospitals reported at least 144 people are being treated, at least 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious condition. At least eight of the patients are children.
Doctors are "pulling ball bearings out of people in the emergency room" an expert said, suggesting the bombs were designed to propel shrapnel.
According to one police officer, at least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing.
Two brothers each lost a leg from the knee down in the blast after going to watch a friend run the marathon.
Their devastated mother Liz Norden, described how her 31-year-old son phoned her as paramedics rushed him to hospital, saying: “Ma, I’m hurt real bad.”
Speaking from outside the emergency room, Liz added:
"I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams this would ever happen".

a runner lying in shock on the pavement, police running to rescue

President Obama's take on this

Alert ... President Obama last night

It was the first successful attack on US soil since 9/11. A White House official said the explosions were “clearly an act of terror”. President Barack Obama said those responsible will “feel the full weight of justice”.
He added: “The Boston people will say a prayer for Boston tonight. We don’t know who did this or why.
“But make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this.”

view of the scene

 

Terror ... a second blast further back hits scattered runners

blood and debris after the explosions

a man with trouser ripped to shreds by the bomb blasts...

a woman's desperate prayer for safety at the scene

The Police are already working hard to unravel they mystery and evil perpetrator(s) of this horrendous act.

Probe ... officers exit an apartment complex at 364 Ocean Avenue with a possible connection to the bombings

Evidence ... more cops at 364 Ocean Avenue in Revere, Boston

Authorities also closed down phone networks across the city in case more bombs might be detonated remotely.

Marathon runners flocked to hospitals to donate blood as medics carried out at least ten amputations.

Both bombs were small and initial tests showed no high-grade explosive material, suggesting they were crude devices.