Boomed!

[SimonMac]

BBC News - Boston Marathon hit by explosions

Two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon race have left an unknown number of people injured.

Video and photographs from Boston show a scene of confusion, with emergency services descending on the scene and bloodied spectators being taken to a medical tent.

One could be a terrible accident, but two explosions means it has to be deliberate

[NickFitz]

One American TV journo reports seeing people's legs blown off: https://twitter.com/JackieBrunoNECN/...76567950426113

[Zippy]

And timed to get a large number of people. Poor sods.

[hyperD]

Jesus, that's totally terrible.

Interestingly the Telegraph reports: "Police are reportedly telling people not to use mobile phones in the area, for fear it could set off the other devices."

I think that might be a case of not letting uncensored footage entering the public arena, but despite the minor cynicism, what a horrible, horrible happening.

[NickFitz]

Jesus, that's totally terrible.

Interestingly the Telegraph reports: "Police are reportedly telling people not to use mobile phones in the area, for fear it could set off the other devices."

I think that might be a case of not letting uncensored footage entering the public arena, but despite the minor cynicism, what a horrible, horrible happening.

Sensible precaution. There's already shedloads of footage and photos out there - it was being broadcast live on television.

[SimonMac]

I think its more to do with leaving the airwaves open for emergancy calls

[NickFitz]

I think its more to do with leaving the airwaves open for emergancy calls

Now being reported that they've turned off all cellular service in Boston to prevent any further remote detonations. Presumably they have something similar to the UK's system (used on 7/7 IIRC) whereby only authorised phones belonging to emergency services can get on the network.

[hyperD]

Now being reported that they've turned off all cellular service in Boston to prevent any further remote detonations. Presumably they have something similar to the UK's system (used on 7/7 IIRC) whereby only authorised phones belonging to emergency services can get on the network.

That would make better sense rather than "for fear it could set off the other devices". Same as the mobile phone/petrol station scenario when you have hot exhausts/ignition systems and no earthing wire to the car.

I've just seen some of the horrible photos from a previous CUK thread - really saddening...

[d000hg]

And timed to get a large number of people. Poor sods.

Does anyone know if it was as the first people were finishing, or the last, or what? As well as the shock of being there as it went off, imagine all those who were still running and suddenly found themselves, totally exhausted, at the scene of the explosion.

[NickFitz]

Does anyone know if it was as the first people were finishing, or the last, or what? As well as the shock of being there as it went off, imagine all those who were still running and suddenly found themselves, totally exhausted, at the scene of the explosion.

It was four hours after the start, so it was all the amateur runners by that time

Just read that some of those still running carried on all the way to the hospital to give blood