News Local/State

Three Dead, More Than 130 Injured in Boston Explosions

By The Associated Press, with addtional reporting from National Public Radio
 

Boston Police now say more than 130 people are injured and three are dead after bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday.

Some people lost limbs in the twin blasts, which knocked spectators and at least one runner off their feet, shattered windows and sent smoke into the air. There was no word on the motive or who may have launched the attack, and police say no suspect is in custody.

Police Commissioner Edward Davis also says that the fire at a library a few miles away and more than an hour later doesn't appear to be related to the explosions at the race on Monday. He says the fire may have been caused by an incendiary device.

The explosions happened in quick succession four hours after the beginning of the race, the world's oldest and one of the most prestigious road races in the world. At that point, the majority of 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line. Thousands, however, were still out on the course.

Images posted by wire photographers and posted on Twitter showed bloodied runners lining the streets, the windows of nearby buildings blown out by the explosion. Neither the cause of the explosions nor who may have perpetrated it was immediately available.

President Obama offered the people of Boston the full support of the American government.

"Make no mistake we will get to the bottom of this," Obama said. "We will find out who did this and why... Any responsible individual, any responsible group will feel the full weight of justice."

The blasts shattered the end of the race Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry away the injured while stragglers in the 26.2-mile race were rerouted away from the smoking site.

Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he has reached out to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

He says nothing in Boston suggests there any connections to Illinois or Chicago. But the Chicago Democrat says Illinois must be on the alert. 

Quinn characterized the explosions as "a potential terrorist incident'' but said more facts need to come out.