[NEWS] Explosions near Boston Marathon Finish Line (UPDATE: MIT/Watertown shootout w/ suspects)

Not to belabor this point, but I was sickened to think it was mailboxes, at first. And I don't like speculating on twitter "reports" and NY Post hysteria, so thought I'd help show more (or lack of) evidence of mailboxes or not.

The video link at the bottom of this post (sorry, the Boston Globe doesn't allow embedding) is very compelling evidence that it was neither banner pieces nor mailbox. Note: in other photos, the first responders are wearing blue surgical gloves. Some of that is most likely blue gloves.

Yeah, check this video out. It shows three things pretty clearly:

1. The explosion seems a view meter back from the street light
2. from :50 to 1:10 mark, the street light is surrounded by metal and wood barracades. Doesn't seem like enough room for two mailboxes, plus the baracades don't seemed harmed
3. The first responders quickly take all the banners away to clear the street.

Looks like the mailboxes were removed, and the blue is surgical gloves and clothing.

http://bcove.me/qwi5k6ap

 

God that makes me seriously ill. Many props to the Boston PD for being so damn brave and rushing to the scene without fear of losing their own lives.

 

As an aside, I think the best coverage so far is on... ESPN.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>CNN reporting 132 injured, 10 amputations <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BostonMarathon">#BostonMarathon</a></p>&mdash; Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) <a href="https://twitter.com/tobyharnden/status/323946557395304448">April 15, 2013</a></blockquote>
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NYTimes:

 

more pictures here, nothing as graphic as the earlier link:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...s-injured/yLhfDT1XC3HXSa8wPiVijL/picture.html

 

this one is pretty incredible:

Spoiler

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>CNN: 132 bombing victims so far, at least 10 amputations. Doctors are pulling ball bearings out of victims.</p>&mdash; Jared Keller (@jaredbkeller) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaredbkeller/status/323946545835810816">April 15, 2013</a></blockquote>
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yes, 5 total, including the two blasts...that we know of.

 

You know; there's another reason why you get so many leg injuries in a crowded area if a bomb is left on the ground; it's because the torsos of the people in front shield the torsos of those behind -- so, only the legs get blown away.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Boston">#Boston</a> Marathon runners for <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Newtown">#Newtown</a> safe, finished before blasts. <a href="http://t.co/mTgfW4PNGk" title="http://on.cnn.com/YMmXIp">on.cnn.com/YMmXIp</a></p>&mdash; CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/323948409306357760">April 15, 2013</a></blockquote>
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I always wondered what "suspicious packages" look like -- apparently, hamburgers. Got to admit; that takes some guts to look inside like that.

 

Damn this is saddening.

 

Is security not right at these functions or is it something that really cannot be secure because of the scope of it? I'm
not making any assumptions or guesses but truly am interested in what type of security that they have at such events.

 

note, POI is not a suspect:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>BREAKING NEWS: Authorities questioning person of interest in Marathon bombings at Brigham and Women's Hospital.</p>&mdash; Boston.com News (@BostonDotCom) <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonDotCom/status/323947133835280384">April 15, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Pulled this up.

http://www.local15tv.com/mostpopula...Spotters-on-Roofs/BrirjAzFPUKKN8z6eSDJEA.cspx

 

Horrible tragedy. Hope the very best for the wounded.

One thing that struck me watching some of the videos of the explosion was a female runner crossing the finish line after the explosion and stopping the stopwatch on her wristwatch. ****ing idiot. There was just an explosion behind you and you're concerned with recording your marathon time?

 

Heard about someone on cnn speculating that it might have been the aryan nation or some other white supremacist group. Smh even msnbc wouldnt say something as dumb as that.

 

this will likely go on all night...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>BREAKING: @<a href="https://twitter.com/nyscanner">nyscanner</a>: Manhattan:West 181 St &amp; Fort Washington Ave NYPD ESU on scene with a suspicious package, Bomb squad being requested.</p>&mdash; Manchester YR's (@Manchester_YR) <a href="https://twitter.com/Manchester_YR/status/323939095413919744">April 15, 2013</a></blockquote>
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re previous post, that's the GW Bridge Port Authority bus station.