Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Update on Boston Marathon Bombing

Yesterday, Boston Globe sports reporter Steve Silva was covering the Boston Marathon. He wasn't expecting to cover this story.



And today, this story continues to develop. According to the Boston Police Commissioner's latest count, 176 people were injured yesterday, 17 are currently in critical condition, and 3 have died. Meanwhile, investigations into yesterday's bombing are still underway.

No arrests have been made, no suspects have been named, and officials did not disclose any possible motive for the attack.

“This remains a very active investigation,” Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, told reporters.

DesLauriers said the investigation was taking place at various locations throughout the Boston and greater Eastern Massachusetts area, with authorities interviewing various witnesses and following up on a “variety” of leads. Officials have received “voluminous tips” from the public since the incident, DesLauriers said.

Gene Marquez, special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Boston division, said his agency had approximately 30 forensic specialists at and around the crime scene. He urged anyone with photographic of video evidence of the attack or the surrounding area to contact the FBI’s hotline.

Law enforcement agencies are still investigating the cause of yesterday's explosions. Hospitals are still treating the injured. And witnesses to what happened are still trying to make sense of yesterday's horrific event.

The White House issued a statement Monday saying the government “will increase security around the United States as necessary,” and Reno-Tahoe International Airport spokesman Brian Kulpin said airport personnel were on a “heightened state of vigilance.”

Eight Massachusetts hospitals reported treating at least 124 people. Of those, at least 15 were in critical condition Monday evening.

The injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to amputations. Many victims suffered lower leg injuries and shrapnel wounds. Some suffered ruptured eardrums.

Brandon Reiff, 31, of Reno, had just completed his second Boston Marathon on Monday and was about to enjoy a meal with friends a quarter mile from the finish line when he heard “two big booms like thunder” and saw faces of “pure terror.”

After hearing the explosion, “I looked over my shoulder and saw a wall of people running,” said Reiff, a geologist with Broadbent and Associates in Reno. “I thought there was some guy with a gun shooting bombs in the mall. I tried to get outside and saw clouds of smoke. People trying to make heads and tails of what is going on.”

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy




We'll post more updates today as this story continues to develop. There is still more work for law enforcement to do in figuring out what happened. And yesterday's victims still have a long road ahead of them in recovering.

No comments:

Post a Comment