Boston Marathon explosions

Key Points

• Two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon have left at least two dead and 23 injured, and police have found and are dismantling at least two other explosive devices

 Live Text

Reporters: Sarah Bell and Taylor Brown

1. 2149:
   The BBC's Mario Cacciottolo says there was a carnival-like atmosphere in Boston's Washington Square as the race ended but the mood quickly changed as news of the explosion filtered through.
   "The crowds have dissipated fast and police are everywhere."
2. 2143:
   A witness wrapped in a Mylar blanket tells ABC News he saw "the garbage can explode"
3. 2142:
   The BBC has collected photos from the aftermath of the Boston Marathon explosions this afternoon
4.  

   2141: Cheryl Fiandaca Boston Police Department public information chief
   tweets: Boston Police looking for video of the finish line
5. 2138:
   Vice-President Joe Biden was on a conference call with gun control activists when aides turned on television to see the news.
   "Our prayers are with those in Boston," Mr Biden said.
6. 2138:
   The New York Times has produced this graphic showing the locations of the explosions, which it reports went off less than ten seconds apart.
7. 2137:
   Runners who had not finished the race were diverted straight down Commonwealth Avenue and into a family meeting area, according to an emergency plan that had been in place.
8. 2136:
   

   An injured man is wheeled away from the scene
9. 2133:
   Boston's transport authority says it is closing some of the subway lines in the city.
10. 2133:
    A White House official said Obama was notified of the incident about 15:00 EDT (19:00 GMT) and was briefed by homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco and other senior aides in the Oval Office.
11. 2132:
    President Barack Obama has called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to offer assistance.
12. 2131:
    

    Here is another image of the aftermath of the explosions
13. 2130:
    

    A woman is comforted near a triage tent near the finish line
14.  

    2130:
    Local ABC reporter Liam Martin tweets: "Director of emergency services at Mass General describes injuries as "from a war zone"
15. 2130:
    Cherie Falgoust was waiting for her husband, who was running the race. She tells AP: "I was expecting my husband any minute. I don't know what this building is... it just blew. Just a big bomb, a loud boom, and then glass everywhere. Something hit my head. I don't know what it was. I just ducked."
16.  

    2129:
    US paralympian Tatyana McFadden, who won the women's wheelchair race, tweets: "I'm okay my family and teammates are okay. Please please pray for those who were running and got hit by the bomb. Pray 4 family's-friends."
17. 2127:
    Regarding Sunday's London Marathon, Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry says: "A security plan is in place for the London Marathon. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with London Marathon."
18. 2127:
    NBC reports police have found "multiple explosive devices" in Boston, citing officials.
19. 2126:
    Mr Bastajian adds: "We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. A lot of people amputated... At least 25-30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing.''
20. 2126:
    Roupen Bastajian, a 35-year-old Rhode Island state trooper, had just finished the race and donned a heat blanket when he heard the first blast. "I started running toward the blast. And there were people all over the floor,'' he tells AP.
21. 2124:
    CNN reports Massachusetts General Hospital is treating 19 injured people, and Tufts Medical Center is also taking care of some of the injured.
22. 2122: Breaking News
    Citing a US intelligence official, the Associated Press reports two more explosive devices have been found at the Boston Marathon and are being dismantled.
23.  

    2121: David Abel Boston Globe reporter
    tweets: Fine. Reporting. I was 10 feet from explosion. Shaken up. But not a scratch. Worst thing I ever saw
24. 2120:
    The Federal Aviation Administration issues a temporary flight restriction over the area of explosion.
25. 2119:
    About half of the 27,000 athletes registered to run in the marathon had finished the race when the blasts occurred. Other runners were blocked from completing the race as police cordoned off the area.
26.  

    2118: Paula Radcliffe UK marathon runner
    tweets: Situation looks awful, thoughts with everyone. There are some very sick people out there, who would do something like this?
27. 2117:
    In London, a Metropolitan Police spokesman confirms police are working with London Marathon officials to review security plans for Sunday's race.
28. 2117:
    The Secret Service have closed the pedestrian walkway in front of the White House in Washington DC. New York police have also announced heightened security.
29. 2116:
    Parker Abdo tells the BBC: "Lots of my friends were at the finish line today. There's a frenzy as people are trying to call loved ones. The telephone lines are down close to the scene."
30. 2116:
    One runner, a Rhode Island state trooper, tells the Associated Press news agency he saw at least two dozen people with very serious injuries, including missing limbs.
31. 2114:
    A number of paralympic athletes had been participating in the race ahead of this weekend`s London Marathon. International Paralympic Committee press officer Craig Spence tells Press Association Sport: "At the time of speaking we have everyone accounted for."
32. 2113:
    London Marathon Chief Executive Nick Bitel expresses shock and sadness about the situation in Boston: "It is a very sad day for athletics and for our friends in marathon running.''
33. 2112:
    

    Josh Cox tweets a photo from another view of the explosion
34. 2110:
    Boston police have now raised the injured count to 23
35. 2112: Breaking News
    Boston Police Department: two dead, 23 injured in two explosions near the marathon finish line.
36. 2107:
    

    Medical officials help the wounded at the site of the explosion
37. 2101:
    Boston authorities warn they will cause a controlled explosion in the next few minutes but release no further details.
38. 2058:
    Reuters reports that President Barack Obama has been informed of the blasts and has directed his administration to provide assistance in the investigation.
39. 2055:
    

    A still image from a local NBC affiliate shows the aftermath of the explosion
40. 2055:
    

    A Boston police officer clears the scene
41.  

    William Hague UK Foreign Secretary
    tweets: Appalled by news of explosion at Boston marathon. My thoughts are with everyone affected by it and all those waiting for news
42.  
    The Boston Globe tweets: "Update: 2 powerful explosions detonated in quick succession leaving at least dozens of people wounded, some of them with dismemberment"
43.  

    The Boston Marathon Marathon's official account
    tweets: There were two bombs that exploded near the finish line in today's Boston Marathon. We are working with law enforcement to understand what exactly has happened.
44. 2052:
    A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office spokesman says: "We are aware of the incident and we are trying to gather information."
45. 2052:
    

    Emergency workers take one of the casualties away.
46. 2052:
    AP reports one witness, whose bib No. 17528 identified him as Frank Deruyter of North Carolina, as saying: "There are a lot of people down".
47. 2051:
    The blasts occurred more than five hours after the start of the race, at a time when most top athletes were off the course but slower amateur marathoners were still running.
48. 2047:
    Hundreds of thousands of spectators typically line the 26.2 mile (42.19 km) race course, with the heaviest crowds near the finish line.
49. 2046:
    AP reports that competitors and race volunteers were crying as they fled the scene. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners.
50. 2042:
    

    Emergency services at the scene in Boston
51. 2042:
    CNN reports that four victims of the explosions are at emergency room at Massachusetts General Hospital.
52. 2041:
    One witness, Laura McLean tells AP: "There are people who are really, really bloody."
    She was in the medical tent being treated for dehydration when she was pulled out to make room for victims of the explosions.
53. 2040:
    Zara Bielkus, a 30-year-old spectator from Boston, tells AFP news agency she heard two explosions seconds apart. Police then locked down the area.
    "When we heard them, everyone looked at each other and went very quiet, and within a minute police came," she says.
54. 2037:
    New York Police are deploying counter-terrorism police around Manhattan landmarks, reports say. NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said police were stepping up security in response to the Boston blasts.
55. 2033:
    Mr Mitchell said people began running and screaming after hearing the noise.
    "Everybody freaked out," he said.
56. 2031:
    Mike Mitchell of Vancouver, Canada, a runner who had finished the race told the Reuters news agency he was looking back at the finish line and saw a "massive explosion."
    Smoke rose 50 feet (15 metres) in the air, he said.
57.  

    RedCrossEasternMA The American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts
    tweets: Please check in with friends & family who were at the #BostonMarathon #BostonMarathon2013. Reconnect. Spread the word make sure ppl are safe
58. 2030:
    The Eastern Massachusetts branch of the Red Cross has set up a disaster response centre in the area.
59. 2029:
    The incident reportedly came about three hours after the winners crossed the line.
    AP news agency reported there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the bridge that marks the finish line. Another loud explosion could be heard a few seconds later.
60. 2028:
    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.
61. 2027:
    Two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon have left an unknown number of people injured.
    
    culled from bbc news