Unknown Explosions at Boston Marathon

[Jaison009]

[url]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/dozens-people-injured-explosion-boston-marathon-190955311.html]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/dozens-people-injured-explosion-boston-marathon-190955311.html//

[Rick-DEL]

Very sad. I'm checking in with my brother who works in Boston, not too far from Copley Square. Minimal information on the news thus far as to the cause, which will take time to learn. Especially if terrorist related.

I'm also getting feeds from a Boston station - http://livewire.wcvb.com/Event/117th_Running_of_Boston_Marathon

[Eclipse]

Wow.

[JeffDG]

My wife has a sister in Boston, and her partner at work was there to run the marathon today...she's checking, and I'm praying for their safety.

[Rick-DEL]

My wife has a sister in Boston, and her partner at work was there to run the marathon today...she's checking, and I'm praying for their safety.

They can check with the Red Cross - http://redcross.org/safeandwell

People are encouraged to register that they are safe and for others to search for loved one.

[Eclipse]

[darn], some pretty graphic photos on Jackie Bruno's Twitter feed.

People clearly traumatically injured.

[abdsp51]

We have the news feed up here at work and this definately a dark day.

[Rick-DEL]

www.baa.org

You can search for runners here.

Also just heard Washington DC is on heightened security.

[Jaison009]

Prayers for you guys.

Very sad. I'm checking in with my brother who works in Boston, not too far from Copley Square. Minimal information on the news thus far as to the cause, which will take time to learn. Especially if terrorist related.

I'm also getting feeds from a Boston station - http://livewire.wcvb.com/Event/117th_Running_of_Boston_Marathon

[Jaison009]

Prayers for you guys.

My wife has a sister in Boston, and her partner at work was there to run the marathon today...she's checking, and I'm praying for their safety.

[Jaison009]

Thanks for letting everyone know about SWL. It is highly useful to mitigate communication lockup and easy to use.

My wife has a sister in Boston, and her partner at work was there to run the marathon today...she's checking, and I'm praying for their safety.

They can check with the Red Cross - http://redcross.org/safeandwell

People are encouraged to register that they are safe and for others to search for loved one.

[JayT]

Word is two black tags and numerous casualties. God Bless the brothers at Boston EMS.

[c172drv]

One thing to note is that they are apparently shutting down cell phone communications.  As an organization that would need to continue to operate it is important to keep up our communications capabilities.  This also highlights that we should work to make sure all of our personnel that are capable of providing first aid for traumatic injuries.  Though we aren't first responders we can and should be able to step in and support our fellow citizens.

John

[abdsp51]

Looks like their EM plan is working out for them. 

[Rick-DEL]

SWAT teams discovered 3 more devices and are dismatling.

[JeffDG]

AP is reporting they've found two additional explosive devices and are dismantling them.

This is casus beli, not an accident.

[abdsp51]

A dark day indeed. 

[Rick-DEL]

Absolutely sickening !!!

FAA issuing a TFR in the region, hotels evacuating, etc.

My prayers to the victims and their families.

[JeffDG]

To our Brothers and Sisters in MAWG, I think I speak for everyone else across the country, our thoughts and prayers are with you, and if you need us, we'll saddle up and be there standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you.

[Woodsy]

One thing to note is that they are apparently shutting down cell phone communications.  As an organization that would need to continue to operate it is important to keep up our communications capabilities.  This also highlights that we should work to make sure all of our personnel that are capable of providing first aid for traumatic injuries.  Though we aren't first responders we can and should be able to step in and support our fellow citizens.

John

With the cell phones "turned off" would GETS still work?  Or are the towers simply shut down completely? 

[capmaj]

All at MAWG are safe. MAWG worked the starting line this a.m., but all souls had returned home earlier.

[Eclipse]

With the cell phones "turned off" would GETS still work?  Or are the towers simply shut down completely?

GETS only provides priority access on the system if it works.   If they shut the cells down, there's nothing to have priority on.

[JeffDG]

Shutting down the towers entirely is a defensive measure, in case there are additional devices that are remotely triggered by cell phones...kill the network, no way to remote detonate...unless the bomber programmed a fail-safe to detonate on LoS

[MSG Mac]

Just heard that there was also an explosion at the Kennedy Library in Dorchester, about 5 miles from Copley Sq.

[JeffDG]

Press release from them says it was a mechanical issue and unrelated.

The fog-of-war is thick right now!

[a2capt]

Seems they've shut down the cell phone network in the area, too.

.. to keep them from being used to as possible detonation triggers.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/official-cellphone-service-shut-down-boston

[LCG8928]

If anybody wants to listen to the police radio here's the link:
http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/6254/web

[Devil Doc]

Hope everyone is OK, i'm glad that the MAWG had not been there when It happened.

[NIN]

Pylon was in the AO.

[abdsp51]

Pylon was in the AO.

Has anyone heard from him? 

[Woodsy]

With the cell phones "turned off" would GETS still work?  Or are the towers simply shut down completely?

GETS only provides priority access on the system if it works.   If they shut the cells down, there's nothing to have priority on.

That's what I figured.  Thanks for the confirmation. 

[Pylon]

Pylon was in the AO.

Has anyone heard from him?

I'm safe, thanks.  My apartment is a little under 4 miles from the site of the attack.  I was on the marathon route (which goes through my neighborhood) a bit after mile marker 22 cheering on friends who were running and military who were ruck marching the marathon.  Luckily, everyone I know appears to be safe.  Please keep those who were less fortunate in your prayers.

[Devil Doc]

says your in a NY Squadron but you live in MA? lol

[Pylon]

says your in a NY Squadron but you live in MA? lol

I live in Boston.  I do work for NER-NY-408 assisting with public affairs projects because I have a long history with that unit, because that's what my limited free time allows me to contribute, and because I can execute those duties remotely without much issue.

[Devil Doc]

Ahh, that's cool. Do you go to meetings? Im glad your safe Pylon

[NIN]

Ahh, that's cool. Do you go to meetings? Im glad your safe Pylon

He does go to meetings. Just last week he went to one.

[Black Knight]

I was watching the news and it says three people are now dead and at least 113 are injured. One of the people killed was an 8 year old boy. Whoever did that is crazy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this tragic event.

[That Anonymous Guy]

I was watching the news and it says three people are now dead and at least 113 are injured. One of the people killed was an 8 year old boy. Whoever did that is crazy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of this tragic event.

CNN says 144 wounded. One of the heros emerging today is a peace activist who's Marine son was killed in Iraq in 2004. He helped with first aid and is in the gruesome picture of the man in the wheelchair missing his legs.

[MSG Mac]

The bombs (IED) contained ball bearings. These were trained terrorists.

[♠SARKID♠]

The bombs (IED) contained ball bearings. These were trained terrorists.

Not really, by that info alone.

[That Anonymous Guy]

Not really, by that info alone.

I agree, especially nowadays, you can build a bomb with brains, motivation and an Internet connection

[usafcap1]

Does anyone think that North Korea had any thing to do with it? Remember they did say that they were going to do some thing on the 15th(Tax Day).

[Rick-DEL]

I do not think NK was involved. I would tend to lean towards al Qeida or an arm of. They needed to make some noise, to raise their presence. My guess would be that if NK does something, it'll be towards South Korea, which indirectly (and directly) hits us. I could be wrong....

[NIN]

Does anyone think that North Korea had any thing to do with it? Remember they did say that they were going to do some thing on the 15th(Tax Day Kim Il-Sung's birthday).

FTFY.  The IRS & the DPRK aren't at odds.

[lordmonar]

I do not think NK was involved. I would tend to lean towards al Qeida or an arm of. They needed to make some noise, to raise their presence. My guess would be that if NK does something, it'll be towards South Korea, which indirectly (and directly) hits us. I could be wrong....

Let's not forget our own home grown terrorists and just plain nut balls.

Heck this could have been a diversion for a robbery......it's been done before.

[cap235629]

Please keep my brother Joseph Hobbs and his family in your prayers. The 8 year old boy who was killed yesterday was from his neighborhood and friends with his twin boys. Dorchester is a very tight knit and close community. The families there are ALL in shock and mourning. Martin has been welcomed into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father and is at peace but his 6 year old sister has lost her legs and his mother is in critical condition with a less than hopeful prognosis. Martin also has an 11 year old brother who sustained non life threatening injuries while they waited for their dad to cross the finish line. Pray for them all, hug your babies and hold them tight. There is such evil in this world that we must remember that no one is immune. Pray for and be thankful for all of those who that when the bombs went off, ran TOWARDS the explosions to help. Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Military, Veterans, Doctors, Nurses and bystanders. ALL put others before themselves. THAT is how we defeat the evil!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "Here I am," I said; "send me!" Isaiah 6:8

[stillamarine]

So was it a boy killed? All the reports I've seen was a little girl.

[Angus]

I'm from Boston, it was an 8-year old boy.  Martin Richards.  The pictures of the girl are an internet fabrication. 

[Luis R. Ramos]

I read Yahoo news, and it reported "a little boy." The NY Daily News also reported a little boy.

Flyer

[abdsp51]

Does it really matter if it was a boy or girl?  At the end of the day that is a child who was lost to an animal who will never grow up and achieve their dreams and goals.  Someone's son/daughter, brother/sister etc and a family that will never be the same again.   We can speculate all day long on who did it and why.  Personally this thing smells like homegrown but that's just an opinion.  This was a heinous act and the responsible parties need to be held accountable for tehir actions.

[cap235629]

This is Martin.  He was 8 years old and attended Saint Anne's Catholic Elementary School.  Please pray for his sister.  She is an Irish Dancer and has lost her legs.  Their mothers prognosis is not good.  Their 11 year old brother received minor injuries.  The entire Dorchester Center neighborhood is rallying around the family but this is devastating to one of the most close knit neighborhoods in America.

[Rick-DEL]

My heart bleeds. I grew up in RI, spent a lot of time in Boston, graduated from Northeastern University. This could have been anywhere in the US yesterday...that's the frightening part. Such cowardly acts...sickening. My thoughts and prayers to the families and the community.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Looks like nails, shards and ball bearings. Speculation that devices were low powered and at least partially failed....if you can describe anything that causes such trauma low powered.

[abdsp51]

Alot of the materials used can be found locally and put together.  The more that is released the more this seems like IMO a homegrown deal instead of foreign.  It sucks for the victims and their families that there are still animals out there that would do these things.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Thing that jumps out, is that foreign based LOVE to take credit. Then again, homegrown with a cause do as well. Factthat they haven't may mean they are planning more attacks.

[abdsp51]

Still looking at the footage and the damage to the structures screams homegrown.  There is a lot of variables not know as to why credit hasn't been claimed. 

[NIN]

Looks like nails, shards and ball bearings. Speculation that devices were low powered and at least partially failed....if you can describe anything that causes such trauma low powered.

They're looking at the devices being built around pressure cookers.  Its been 30 years since I've seen a copy of "The Poor Man's James Bond" or "The Anarchist's Cookbook," but I'd not be surprised if this kind of thing wasn't totally spelled out in there.  the video shows a lot of smoke and brief flame. An IED built around some higher powered stuff generally make a sharper/more direct "BANG" versus a Hollywood-like "boooom". (witness IED videos from Iraq & A-stan)  I mean, if you can call something improvised with something like black powder or similar "low powered," so be it, but judging by the images of injuries found on the news sites, this is akin to people who say "Yeah, pffft, 9mm, its a wimpy cartridge."  If its so "low-powered" please go stand next to it.

Nobody knew for days after the OKC bombing who or what was responsible. It will likely be awhile until information is developed in this case as to whether it is domestic or foreign nutjobs.

[Pylon]

This is the quietest day I've ever experienced in Boston.

But the outpouring of support from people even nowhere near Boston is touching.  This city is tough as nails, proud to a fault, and close-knit despite it being big in size. 

[BFreemanMA]

I was in charge of one of the teams in the opening area of Athlete's Village, doing a presence patrol and making sure everyone stayed safe. As was said, all MAWG personnel got home safely since our tasking was in the Athlete's Village and, as such, we headed home after everything cleared out.

What struck me and my team members was how we might have interacted and answered questions with people who later were a part of the attack. It was a terrible attack that could have easily happened in the village despite high security. Obviously, CAP never plans to be in situations like this, but it illustrates the importance of proper radio communication and the need to be "always vigilant" If I needed a radio relay, one of the other team members had my back. The worst thing I had to call in was a severe shortage of toilet paper, but its good to know that we were trained and utilizing good reporting procedures.

My heart goes out to those brothers and sisters who were affected by this attack. I pray for your quick recovery and for solace towards those family members who lost their loved ones. Thanks to all who worked and helped Boston in its time of need.

[Woodsy]

Boston Globe reporting 1 suspect in custody and manhunt on for the 2nd. Also reporting an MBTA officer being treated for gunshot wound in connection with the manhunt...  That's in addition to the MIT officer already KIA.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/

CNN and Fox News not saying it's related. That's a whole lot of firepower on the streets though...  Could be a long night...

[Pylon]

CNN and Fox News not saying it's related. That's a whole lot of firepower on the streets though...  Could be a long night...

It's related.  I live a few miles from this mess happening.  The shootout in Watertown was about a football field from my office.  The two suspects the FBI had from Monday's bombing are the one's involved in tonight's 7-Eleven armed robbery, shooting and killing of the MIT officer, car jacking of the Mercedes, pursuit, detonation of bombs or grenades and massive shootout (in which a second officer was seriously wounded and hundreds of rounds were exchanged), and now subsequent cordon and search for the one remaining suspect (one was killed by police in the shootout).

[a2capt]

They got the 19 year old, was hiding in a back yard on a boat, in Watertown, where Franklin St. bends in an L shape.

[Pylon]

They got the 19 year old, was hiding in a back yard on a boat, in Watertown, where Franklin St. bends in an L shape.

Yeah. A block and a half from my office.  Hah.


There's so much cheering in Boston I can hear all sorts of yelling and revelry from my apartment.  The whole city is literally cheering.

[a2capt]

Was I-90 closed during this mess, too?

Looking at the photos of streets I know, have been on, -deserted- on a Friday mid-day was just unnervingly creepy.

[Pylon]

Was I-90 closed during this mess, too?

Didn't appear so.  Very limited traffic there just like the rest of the city.  There was no travel ban; just a strong request by police and governor to remain indoors.

Looking at the photos of streets I know, have been on, -deserted- on a Friday mid-day was just unnervingly creepy.

No kidding.  The city was incredibly creepy and eerily quiet today.  I was waiting for a tumbleweed to drift across the streets.