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At least two people have been killed and up to 60 people have been injured after two large bombs went off near the finish line of the famous Boston Marathon today, leaving behind a scene of unimaginable carnage.
However, law enforcement sources told one newspaper that 12 people had been killed, but Boston police have only confirmed two. The sources added that the first explosion happened at the Fairmont Hotel.
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said at an afternoon press conference that there was a third, uncontrolled explosion at the JFK Library, also in the New England city, though there were no injuries reported.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said there were two loud explosions about five seconds apart, and emergency vehicles crowded the scene.
Witness Dave Weigel said via Twitter minutes after the explosion: ‘I saw people’s legs blown off. Horrific. Two explosions. Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror.'
Police told the Boston Globe that are they still finding 'secondary devices,' and pleading with anyone still in the area to leave at once. A controlled explosion was set for outside the city library.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
This image shows the two separate explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon
A still from NBC shows one explosion at the Boston Marathon
Spectators and runners flee from what was described as twin explosions that shook the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon
A second explosion goes off (rear) as a runner was blown to the ground by the first explosion near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down a runner at the finish line
A second explosion goes off (rear) as a runner was blown to the ground by the first explosion
Moment of explosion caught on camera at Boston Marathon
Sources told the the New York Post that up to 12 people had been killed in the two blasts, and further reported that a suspect is in custody at a Boston-area hospital.
A source who was speaking with authorities told MailOnline that there were shotgun shells in two explosions, which sprayed onlookers and runners with massive amounts of shrapnel, though the statement has not been confirmed by authorities.
CBS News reports that police are now looking at surveillance video showing someone carrying multiple backpacks into the area about 20 minutes before explosions.
One witness said 'there was blood everywhere.'
Boston’s Lenox Hotel that serves as the headquarters for the Boston Marathon was locked down on Monday after a security incident near the finish line. Two blasts were heard by reporters in the media center.
An injured man lays on the ground following the explosions
A Twitter user posted this picture of JFK Library after an explosive device detonated; the police commissioner said that no injuries had been reported
Authorities closed off the finish line and urged anyone in the area to stay away from trash bins.
Andrea Storer, who witnessed the blast, told the Boston Globe: 'It was huge. There had to be people killed. There had to be'
NECN reporter Jackie Bruno posted on Twitter: 'I saw people's legs blown off. Horrific. Two explosions. Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror.
Cherie Falgoust was waiting for her husband, who was running the race.
A Boston police officer wheels in injured boy down Boylston Street as medical workers carry an injured runner
Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston
Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following the two explosions
Two explosions went off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon today
An aerial shot shows the scene of carnage at the finish line
Emergency workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston
'I was expecting my husband any minute," she said. "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."
The White House says President Barack Obama has been notified about the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
The White House says the administration is in contact with state and local authorities and directed his administration to provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response.
Vice President Joe Biden was on a conference call with gun control activists when staffers turned on televisions in his office Monday to view coverage of the explosions. Biden said during the call that his prayers were with those who suffered injuries.
Vice President Joe Biden has released a statement regarding the Boston Marathon bombings.
A couple embrace near the finish line area
Medical workers aid an injured man at the 2013 Boston Marathon
A person who was injured in an explosion near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon is taken away from the scene on a stretcher
People panic and run after the explosions occurred at the finishing line
Runners who had not finished the race were stopped before the Massachusetts Avenue overpass on Commonwealth Avenue
'Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injuries. I don’t know how many there are.'
State and local officials told CNN's John King that there was no known credible threat prior to the explosions.
The marathon said in a statement: '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.'
Competitors and race organizers were crying as they fled the chaos. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners. A man was pictured with his lower leg blown off with his tibia and fibula exposed.
Emergency personnel respond to the scene
A person who was injured in an explosion near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair
'There are a lot of people down,' said one man, whose bib No. 17528 identified him as Frank Deruyter of North Carolina. He was not injured, but marathon workers were carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area as blood gushed from her leg.
A Boston police officer was wheeled from the course with a leg injury that was bleeding.
About three hours after the winners crossed the line, there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another thunderous explosion could be heard a few seconds later.
Runner Laura McLean of Toronto told the Associated Press that she heard two explosions outside the medical tent.
'There are people who are really, really bloody,' McLean said. 'They were pulling them into the medical tent.'
Aerials: 2 Explosions near finish of Boston Marathon
An explosion rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon where dozens of people have been reported seriously injured
Police officers rushed to the scene as smoke billowed; up to 60 people could be injured from the blast
Medical workers wheel the injured across the finish line
The two explosions went off within seconds of each other near Boston's Copley Square and the finish line of the race in the city's Back Bay neighborhood
The grandstands were empty as authorities work though the chaos of the scene
Steven Saurbier, who saw the explosion’s aftermath from his window, told The New York Observer : ‘It shook my building, we’re about 100 yards down the street. I figured it was a cannon, or some giant confetti blast, or something planned for the Marathon.
'Then a second blast went off–much larger–and it rattled the whole building.
‘There was a large cloud of white smoke and people were running from the blast site. Police swarmed immediately, they removed one or two people after patting them down. There were a lot of injured people … I estimate 20 people were medically transported. … I saw a woman being carried by two men and I am almost positive her left leg was blown off at the knee.'
All off-duty Boston police officers have been called in to work following the blasts.
A spokesman for the Boston Marathon said that the race's headquarters are on lock down.
Train service on the green line between Kenmore and Park suspended, according to the MBTA.
Windows of Marathon sports store blown out by the force of the two blasts.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-23...l#ixzz2QZKTcn27
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