BOSTON, MA (KTVI) – Two simultaneous explosions are reported near the finish line at the Boston Marathon at around 2:50pm on Monday. The explosions sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square, turning a site of celebration into a mess of destruction. They were were about 50-100 yards apart. The explosions happened after the first runners had crossed the finish line. Many runners were still finishing the race.
According to CNN federal authorities are classifying Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon as a terrorist attack, but it’s not clear whether its origin was domestic or foreign, a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said.
Boston police say that there is no suspect in custody. Anyone with information should call – 1-800-494-TIPS. Call 1-617-635-4500 for a victim hotline.
Looking for someone at the marathon? Use Google’s People Finder
A third incident occurred at the JFK Library at around 3:30pm central time. The Boston Police Department reports that the incident was fire related. There have been no injuries reported.
The number of wounded treated at Boston hospitals after Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings has risen to 140, including 17 in critical condition, hospital officials said. Three people died in the terror attack, including an 8-year-old boy, a state law enforcement source said. A terrorism expert with CNN says there have been ten lost limbs from the explosions. Doctors are picking ball bearings out of victims in the emergency room.
The Lenox Hotel was evacuated, the Boston Globe reported, as authorities looked into possible security concerns. Bomb sniffing dogs are searching the area. Two more explosive devices have been found.
The Boston Police Commissioner gave a press conference at around 3:50pm on Monday. He says all victims have been removed from scene. They immediately enacted special system with FBI & State Police.
All bags, purses and backpacks are being checked for explosives. Many runners dropped bags when they fled scene.
It is also Patriots’ Day in Boston. The marathon is held every year on this day. Many businesses not full because of holiday. The marathon was being run in honor of the Newtown shooting victims.
The marathon takes several hours for all runners to cross. There are more than 26,000 runners participate in this race. The marathon stopped after the explosions.
Other cities, including New York and Washington, tightened security as a result. Following standard protocol, the White House cleared out an area in front of the West Wing. St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson says that no security changes have been made in St. Louis, MO.
St. Louis Marathon President Nancy Lieberman released this statement about the events in Boston on Monday, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic events at today’s Boston Marathon, a world-class event that showcases sportsmanship and athleticism. Our thoughts are with the many people that were injured and frightened today. As part of the racing community our top priority is to provide safe, fun events for everyone to enjoy. Our hearts go out to the race organizers. We know the hard work that goes into ensuring safe events for participants and spectators. It takes a tremendous collaboration between city officials, emergency personnel, law enforcement, security personnel and volunteers.”
More: What We Know About The Boston Marathon Explosions
Flights Banned Over Boston Marathon Explosion Site
Check the Boston Marathon’s website for where runners last checked in at.
People from St. Louis Competing in the Boston Marathon:
| Bib # | Name | Age | Sex | City | State | |
| 2073 | 1/3 | Apfelbaum, Sean | 24 | M | Saint Louis | IL |
| 5641 | 1/6 | Barthel, Erik | 40 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 19738 | 3/2 | Becker, Joan C. | 50 | F | Richmond Heights | MO |
| 21053 | 3/4 | Bence, Bonnie C. | 68 | F | Saint Louis | MO |
| 4494 | 1/5 | Berger, John W. | 32 | M | Saint Louis | MO |
| 3091 | 1/4 | Bradley, Tim D. | 30 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 10270 | 2/2 | Buchowski, Katherine | 38 | F | Saint Louis | MO |
| 9654 | 2/1 | Carlson, Paul W. | 47 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 10096 | 2/2 | Carter, Jay W. | 49 | M | St Louis | MO |
| 10479 | 2/2 | Chalker, Douglas L. | 48 | M | Saint Louis | MO |
| 21483 | 3/4 | Crumpton, Robert C. | 41 | M | St Louis | MO |
| 3798 | 1/4 | Cruse, David G | 30 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 15603 | 2/7 | Davis, Sara | 33 | F | St. Louis | MO |
| 13014 | 2/5 | Dill, Larry | 53 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 14683 | 2/6 | Ellerman, Stephanie | 39 | F | Webster Groves | MO |
| 15589 | 2/7 | Forcelledo, Anna M. | 32 | F | St. Louis | MO |
| 9245 | 2/1 | Frigerio, Mike P. | 51 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 9702 | 2/1 | Gannon, Sean P. | 47 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 6658 | 1/7 | Gasser, Ryan | 40 | M | University City | MO |
| 20542 | 3/3 | Gibson, Jennifer A | 56 | F | Clayton | MO |
| 13021 | 2/5 | Gould, Temima | 30 | F | St. Louis | MO |
| 833 | 1/1 | Griffen, Zachary | 24 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 4593 | 1/5 | Karsanbhai, Surendralal | 44 | M | Saint Louis | MO |
| 8641 | 1/9 | Kotaska, Bill | 51 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 18547 | 3/1 | Kruger, Deborah P | 47 | F | St. Louis | MO |
| 7510 | 1/8 | Lehr, Megan | 30 | F | Saint Louis | MO |
| 12517 | 2/4 | Little, Micah M | 25 | F | Overland | MO |
| 602 | 1/1 | Lyons, Joe C. | 31 | M | Webster Groves | MO |
| 8257 | 1/9 | Matz, Paul G | 47 | M | Clayton | MO |
| 17405 | 2/9 | Meinershagen, Martha J. | 42 | F | St. Louis | MO |
| 23863 | 3/6 | Melander, Matthew P. | 44 | M | Clayton | MO |
| 11789 | 2/3 | Melander, Rebecca S. | 43 | F | Clayton | MO |
| 2431 | 1/3 | Muntges, Daniel E | 32 | M | University City | MO |
| 2756 | 1/3 | Murrie, Andrew S. | 31 | M | Saint Louis | MO |
| 14378 | 2/6 | Nichols, Jessica | 29 | F | Kirkwood | MO |
| 18486 | 3/1 | Owenby, Katie | 43 | F | Saint Louis | MO |
| 16624 | 2/8 | Payton, Jacqueline E. | 38 | F | Clayton | MO |
| 6570 | 1/7 | Pelligreen, Lee | 45 | M | Saint Louis | MO |
| 15550 | 2/7 | Person, Suzanne | 33 | F | Kirkwood | MO |
| 11022 | 2/3 | Polk, Eric E | 46 | M | Clayton | MO |
| 25220 | 3/9 | Quinn, Jeffry N. | 54 | M | St Louis | MO |
| 4321 | 1/5 | Reboulet, Timothy | 38 | M | Saint Louis | MO |
| 1471 | 1/2 | Reinhardt, Samuel W | 24 | M | St. Louis | MO |
| 14820 | 2/6 | Riebeling, Nancy S | 28 | F | Saint Louis | MO |
| 22562 | 3/5 | Rowley, Chad A. | 35 | M | St Louis | MO |
| 4459 | 1/5 | Saettele, Greg R. | 31 | M | Brentwood | MO |
| 23360 | 3/6 | Saxton, Gail | 65 | F | Des Peres | MO |
| 4699 | 1/5 | Schmidt, Heidi H. | 46 | F | Saint Louis | MO |
| 25222 | 3/9 | Shank, Brett D. | 36 | M | Webster Groves | MO |
| 13791 | 2/5 | Shaw, Hillary | 29 | F | St. Louis | MO |
| 10984 | 2/2 | Adams, John L. Jr. | 54 | M | Wildwood | MO |
| 20712 | 3/3 | Anderson, David | 66 | M | Chesterfield | MO |
| 22055 | 3/5 | Bader, Flavia B. | 40 | F | Chesterfield | MO |
| 8509 | 1/9 | Defache, Dorian | 49 | M | Clermont Ferrand | |
| 20040 | 3/3 | Dowell, Donna M | 52 | F | Chesterfield | MO |
| 16394 | 2/8 | Endebrock, Stacey L. | 47 | F | Hillsboro | MO |
| 18158 | 3/1 | Ference, Tara | 42 | F | Wildwood | MO |
| 19749 | 3/2 | Johnson, Janet | 55 | F | Maryland Heights | MO |
| 20810 | 3/3 | Kleman, Gary | 68 | M | Ballwin | MO |
| 13967 | 2/5 | Lang, Heather J | 37 | F | House Springs | MO |
| 15149 | 2/7 | Levy, Liane C | 43 | F | Chesterfield | MO |
| 5619 | 1/6 | Lyston, Keith | 47 | M | Chesterfield | MO |
| 9668 | 2/1 | Maluf, Horacio M | 53 | M | Wildwood | MO |
| 9296 | 2/1 | Moore, Wayne F | 45 | M | Fenton | MO |
| 19772 | 3/2 | Morton, Pam | 47 | F | Fenton | MO |
| 15687 | 2/7 | Nelson, Rebecca L | 39 | F | Ballwin | MO |
| 10611 | 2/2 | Peterson, Alonzo | 46 | M | Ballwin | MO |
| 7258 | 1/8 | Polcyn, Thomas | 43 | M | Chesterfield | MO |
| 19310 | 3/2 | Shibley, Nofa | 47 | F | Chesterfield | MO |
| 19227 | 3/2 | Shust, Melissa | 48 | F | Washington | MO |
| 1007 | 1/2 | Silker, Chad D | 33 | M | Ballwin | MO |
| 22044 | 3/5 | Stockhausen, James M. | 56 | M | Ballwin | MO |
| 24487 | 3/9 | Taormina, Vincent G. | 48 | M | Chesterfield | MO |
| 18868 | 3/1 | Vetter, Donna M | 45 | F | Maryland Heights | MO |
| 8219 | 1/9 | Wilke, David M | 53 | M | Florissant | MO |
Posts on Twitter are giving some on-scene descriptions.
Here's a visual of where the explosions happened via @nytimes: http://t.co/nmUpYuRGva #Boston
— Complex (@Complex) April 15, 2013
POWERFUL foto by John Tlumacki (@BGlobeSports) of @Boston_Police, #bostonmarathon runner in blast aftermath pic.twitter.com/TdXMnGWXUL
— Brad Johnson (@climatebrad) April 15, 2013
BREAKING: Cops guarding a suspect in Boston hospital after explosions. Watch for updates: http://t.co/MAWZZYqr78
— New York Post (@nypost) April 15, 2013
Breaking: Boston police confirm another explosion at JFK Library http://t.co/GBXkQSsuzI
— New York Post (@nypost) April 15, 2013
RT @NightShiftPol First pictures of Boston Marathon, unconfirmed terror reports: pic.twitter.com/zgXoMKZwcT
— Jackie Pepper ✊🏽☮️🌊 (@Jackie_Pepper) April 15, 2013
