Two major explosions rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon, leaving three dead and more than 130 injured. An 8-year-old boy is among the dead, according to several Boston media outlets.
Many of the injuries were major with reports of limbs being blown off.
""We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts, but make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this, and we will find out who did this," President Barack Obama said in a televised national address.
The Associated Press reports that at 2:10 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)— roughly three hours after the winners crossed the line — a pair of explosions about 15 seconds apart blew out the sides of several buildings just blocks apart along the north side of Boylston Street.
According to CBS News, a third explosion was noted around 3:50 p.m. after law enforcement allegedly triggered a mysterious device.
Police asked those in the vicinity of the chaotic, bloody scene to refrain from using cellphones, fearful that cellular technology could trigger further explosive devices in the area.
"There are a lot of people down,” said runner Frank Deruyter of North Carolina, who witnessed marathon workers carrying one woman with a serious gash in her leg. He also told the AP that a Boston police officer was wheeled away with a bleeding leg injury.
"There are people who are really, really bloody," Toronto runner Laura McLean said. "They were pulling them into the medical tent."
Speaking at a press conference with Mass. governor Deval Patrick, Boston police commissioner Edward Davis confirmed an addition fire-related incident at the JFK Presidential Library and noted that another device was detonated by law enforcement at the marathon site. According to CBS News, at least one device was recovered unexploded.
Stay tuned to CultureMap for more as details continue to emerge.
Police tried to clear the scene after two bombs went off on April 15 at the Boston Marathon.
