Monday 15 April 2013

Boston Marathon explosions: Security alert worldwide after 3 explosions

Boston Marathon explosions: Security alert worldwide after 3 explosions, The Boston Marathon explosions which killed two people and injured at least 49 people has alerted the world and security measures are being taken in Los Angeles, New York City, London, and other cities around the globe. In Los Angeles, the County Sheriff’s department has opened an emergency operations center and increased patrols for transit locations and other public areas. In Germany, officials are following closely reports that the Boston Marathon explosions might have been an intended attack. In London, “British police are reviewing security plans for Sunday's London Marathon, the next major international marathon,” reported BBC on April 15, 2013.

“The Federal Aviation Administration has created a no-fly zone over the area, while security at key sites in Washington DC and New York has been tightened.”

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest marathon and today’s marathon marked the 117th event. More than 28,000 runners were participating in this year’s Boston Marathon with athletes from every state in the United States and 90 other countries.

The first of the Boston Marathon explosions occurred about 2:50 p.m., two hours after the winners had crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The explosion occurred on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the bridge that marks the finish line.

The second explosion could be heard just a few seconds later and smoke could be seen rising from the scene. “TV helicopter footage showed blood staining the pavement in the shopping and tourist area known as Back Bay.” The two blasts near the finish line, along Boylston Street near Copley Square, "happened 50 to 100 yards apart."

“A third explosion occurred at the JFK Library in the city, Boston police have confirmed.”

As of Monday afternoon, CNN reports that the third explosion occurred about five miles away from the first two explosions and that area hospitals are treating at least 49 injured people.

Because many people dropped their bags and belongings during the chaos following the explosions, authorities and bomb squads will continue to look for additional bombs and “may be blowing things up over the next few hours."

Worldwide prayers are going out to the two people who lost their lives today and to the many injured who have become the victims of a brutal attack.

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