This content was originally posted by: -Aarya-How accurate is this...
http://www.worldometers.info/
Police confirmed that at least three people lost their lives in today's deadly Boston Marathon bomb attack - leaving behind a scene of carnage that brought the specter of terrorism back to American soil.
The FBI, which has taken over the investigation into the outrage which has also injured 144 people - 17 critically - announced that they were searching for a man they described as having dark skin, wearing black clothes and a black back-pack who tried to gain entry into a restricted area during the marathon.
It was also reported that he may have had a foreign accent.
And with the victims reportedly ranging from two-years-old to 63-years-old, hospitals across Boston have said that they were removing ball bearings from a large number of the 144 injured in the co-ordinated and almost simultaneous bomb blasts.
Runners continue to run towards the finish line of the Boston Marathon as an explosion erupts near the finish line of the race
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down a runner at the finish line
A second explosion goes off (rear) as a runner was blown to the ground by the first explosion
Injured people and debris lie on the sidewalk near the Boston Marathon finish line following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013
Members of the armed forces present at the Boston Marathon rush to help those stricken by the bomb attack today at the finish line
Exact Moment: People react as an explosion goes off near the finish at the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured
Heroic Reaction:Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to rescue the injured
Police, members of the public and emergency workers rush to help those injured in the Boston Marathon bombings
Medical officials have said that at least 10 injured people had limbs amputated and several of the patients treated at Massachusetts General Hospital suffered injuries to lower limbs that will require 'serial operations' in the coming days, trauma surgeon Peter Fagenholz said on Monday night to CNN.
Initially counter-terrorism sources in the city believed that seven devices were planted across the city - but only two detonated.
However, a law-enforcement official said late on Monday evening that investigators now doubt those devices were bombs, but were in fact suspect packages - left behind as runners and pedestrians rushed away from the scene in the aftermath of the blasts.
Each device or package was rendered inoperative or was being rendered safe according to officials - who said that the fast moving investigation meant that every suspicious device thought to be a bomb might not be.
A federal law enforcement official told CNN that both bombs which detonated at the Boston finish line were small, and initial tests showed no C-4 or other high-grade explosive was used - indicating they were crude devices.
A man comforts an injured woman on the sidewalk at the scene of the first explosion on Boylston Street near the finish line of the Boston Marathon
An injured person is helped on the sidewalk near the Boston Marathon finish line following Monday's two bomb blasts
Carnage: Injured people and debris lie on the sidewalk near the Boston Marathon finish line
It was this afternoon that at least three people were killed and up to 144 people injured as two bombs exploded almost simultaneously near the finish line of the Boston Marathon today.
It was revealed that an eight-year-old boy was one of the two people confirmed dead - after the twin detonations 12 seconds apart ripped through the cheering crowds 50-yards away lining Boston's streets at around 2.50 p.m
'It felt like a huge cannon,' a witness told CNN about one of the blasts.
Boston Children's Hospital received eight patients injured at the explosion at the Boston Marathon. Patients' conditions ranged from good to serious. There were no patient deaths among the patients brought to Boston Children's from the scene.
Their patients included a 2 year-old-boy with a head injury has been admitted to the Medical/Surgical ICU, a a 9-year-old girl with leg trauma who was sent to the operating room and a 12-year-old boy with a femur fracture.
The condition of these children currently is not known.
Witnesses reported scenes of utter 'pandemonium' in the seconds after the devices exploded on Boston's Boylston Street sending thousands of runners and spectators running for cover as emergency workers rushed to aid those hurt.
In this image from video provided by Ryan Hoyme, the second explosion can be seen in the distance as smoke from the first explosion surrounds spectators exiting the stands during the Boston Marathon in Boston
Horrific Injuries: Medical workers aid an injured man at the 2013 Boston Marathon who screams out in pain
Emergency personnel respond to the scene as they attempt to tend to the seriously injured at the scene
Passersby help an injured man on the sidewalk near Marathon Sports after two explosions almost simultaneously went off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon today
An official with the marathon rushed an injured girl away from the scene of the explosions at the Boston Marathon today
And this evening, it has been reported that a potential suspect in the attacks is being guarded by police in an undisclosed hospital.
Several reports now say a suspect is being guarded in a Boston hospital bed. One initial report said he was a Saudi Arabian national.
The reports claim the hospitalized suspect was himself injured by shrapnel from the finish line explosions and has severe injuries.
CBS reported that an individual is in custody. He is reportedly cooperative and denies involvement in the attack.
Speaking to the nation just after 6.p.m this evening President Barack Obama vowed that those responsible will 'feel the full weight of justice.'
He reiterated that many people were injured, 'some gravely' and remarked that on days like today, 'there are no Republicans or Democrats,' emphasizing that it is crucial not to categorize the bombings as terrorist attacks.
The president made clear that 'We will find out who did this and hold them accountable.'
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis had said at an afternoon press conference that there was a third, uncontrolled explosion at the JFK Library which was believed to be an electrical fire.
However, any link to the earlier bombs at the marathon finish line has been ruled out.
Eyewitnesses at the finishing line on Boylston Street said there were two loud explosions about ten seconds apart, and emergency vehicles crowded the scene.
Witness Dave Weigel said via Twitter minutes after the explosion: 'I saw people's legs blown off. Horrific. Two explosions. Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror.'
One doctor, Allan Panter, a doctor stood near to the finish line said he was 25-feet away from the first blast when it detonated.
'I saw at least six to seven people down next to me,' he said. 'They protected me from the blast. One lady expired. One gentleman lost both his (lower) limbs. Most of the injuries were lower extremities.'
An aerial graphic that show how the tragic events of today unfolded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon
Fear: Two race officials react seconds after the explosions went off - as hundreds of brave volunteers rushed to the aid of the injured
The explosions ripped into an idyllic afternoon finish for the marathon. The first men had passed the finish line 2 hours and 10 minutes after the staggered start, and the first women crossed just 16 minutes later.
It appears the bombs were left for the slower, charity runners grappling with a four-hour run time who were converging on the race's end at 2:50 p.m
Police were keen to underline there had been no arrests but they did say they were talking to suspects.
There was another individual pictured in handcuffs near to the scene but it wasn't clear whether it was an unrelated arrest or not.
The first blast sent a quick plume of smoke two stories high. Runners nearby stopped in their tracks, confused and unsure. After a few seconds later, a second explosion happened a half-block away, with a deep boom caught on television cameras.
Emergency personnel rushed to the area, and the street was quickly sealed off.
'I saw it go off and smoke billowed up. Everyone just stopped and hunched down,' said Pam Ledtke, 51, from Indianapolis, who was about 75 yards from the finish line when the explosions went off.
'They didn't know what to do,' Ledtke said.
'All of a sudden, people were screaming,' Ledtke added.
Anguish: Medical workers aid an injured woman at the finish line of the Boston Marathon following two almost simultaneous detonations today
Nickilynn Estologa, a nursing student who was volunteering in a block-long medical tent designed to treat fatigued runners, said five to six victims immediately staggered inside. Several were children; one was in his 60s.
'Some were bleeding from the head, they had glass shards in their skin,' she said.
'One person had the flesh gone from his leg; it was just hanging there.' Another woman, she added, was lying on a gurney as emergency personnel raced through the tent, giving her CPR.
'I just can't believe anyone would do something like this,' Estologa said.
'I saw two explosions,' reported Boston Herald journalist Chris Cassidy, who was running in the marathon.
'The first one was beyond the finish line. I heard a loud bang and I saw smoke rising.'
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis speaks as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick listens, (second from left), at a news conference in Boston on Monday
Walking Wounded: A man staggers away from the scene of the explosions at the 2013 Boston Marathon in Boston, today
comment:
p_commentcount