Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Breaking news, CNN reports 2 explosions at Boston Marathon:
A pair of explosions rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon on
Monday afternoon, injuring at least a half-dozen people, a CNN producer
at the scene said.
The blasts occurred a few
seconds apart, shrouding downtown Boston’s Copley Square in smoke.
Paramedics were treating several victims at the scene, and police
ordered onlookers to back away from the area, CNN Producer Matt Frucci
reported.
The explosions occurred about 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first runners had crossed the finish line, Frucci said.
The explosions were captured on film; the cable channels are running the video in a loop.
UPDATE: Police are saying two people are dead and 23 are injured, 6 in critical condition. A press conference by Boston officials is expected soon. A third device was detonated by police. Law enforcement sources tell CBS News correspondent Bob Orr that authorities found one other device that is intact and has not been detonated.
For what it is worth, today is Patriots’ Day (observed) in Massachusetts — commemorating the opening engagement in the American Revolution in the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
UPDATE: The Boston Police Commissioner said at the press conference that a third device exploded at the John F. Kennedy Library more than an hour later. A library spokesman said there were no injuries at the library. CBS news reports that the JFK Library device was an incendiary device, but no confirmation.
UPDATE: MSNBC reports: The fire resulting from the explosion at the JFK Library was put out by 5 p.m. Monday. “It appears to have started in the mechanical room of new wing of the building,” the JFK Library and Museum said in a statement. “All staff and visitors are accounted for and safe.” UPDATE: The Boston Police Department is now calling the incident at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum “fire related” and not related to the marathon bombing.
UPDATE: CBS News reports “Massachusetts General Hospital confirms they are treating 22 victims from the blast and six are in critical condition. Brigham and Women’s Hospital says they are treating at least 18 patients and two are critical.”
CBS News video
Updated video from CBS News
JFK Library fire.