Report: Two Explosions at Boston Marathon

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Reports of “20-30 people injured in front of Boston Public Library after explosion at finish line of Boston Marathon,” according the items in this post by Allahpundit at Hot Air:

Unconfirmed reports of two explosions.

Update: Hard to tell for sure from the top pic but it looks to me like the explosion might be coming from inside the building.

Update: John Ekdahl is watching Fox News and says the mic picked up someone at the scene saying, “Oh my God, they’re dead.” And there do appear to have been two explosions, the second one of which was bigger than the first per George Scoville. That’s a terror tactic: Set off a smaller explosion to get a crowd moving into an area where a bigger bomb is waiting for them. But I don’t mean to jump to conclusions. More updates coming.

Update: It’s as bad as you fear.

That last item links to a Tweet from Jackie Bruno of New England Cable News, which states, “I saw people’s legs blown off. Horrific. Two explosions. Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror.”

And note this: “Someone on Twitter points out that it’s Patriots’ Day in Boston, when Lexington and Concord are commemorated, in case you needed another reason to suspect this is terrorism.” Not to mention that it’s April 15th: Tax Day.

(Video atop post via the Weekly Standard.)

Update (12:27 PM PDT): A horrific looking photo atop the Drudge Report:

More photos can be found in this post at the Breitbart.com Conversation group blog by John Sexton.

Ace has numerous updates, tweets and photos, and a link to a live video stream (as of 12:36 PDT) from Bloomberg TV. Plus this:

Boston Fire/Police report “another device” may be in front of Mandarin Hotel on Boylston #BostonMarathon

— ★♥ Harriet Baldwin(@HarrietBaldwin) April 15, 2013

SDA links to this CBS Boston video of the initial explosion, in which the newsreader reports “missing limbs and bloody heads” at the scene.

Update (1:00 PM PDT): Particularly given that it’s April 15th, it was only a matter of time before old media began to look to the right for possible causes. And here we go:

You’re kidding RT @joebrooks: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer just speculated if anti-tax groups were behind the bombing WITH ZERO EVIDENCE

— Herbert Drewver (@FigDrewton) April 15, 2013

“The Boston Globe is reporting that police have intentionally detonated another device in Boston, by the Boston Public Library (about a mile from the original explosion),” Patrick Brennan writes at the NRO Corner. Mike Levine of Fox News tweets, “One source telling me at least 3 people dead in Boston explosions. Scrambling for more info/confirmation. Still unclear if this was accident”. Plus additional video at that last link.

Update (1:15 PDT): At Twitchy, “Horrible: Explosions at Boston Marathon finish line; injuries reported [pics, video]; Update: Possible fatalities.” It’s a lengthy post filled with numerous still photos, videos, and tweets from those on the scene.

NBC is tweeting “2 killed, 23 injured per @Boston_Police,” and that “Small homemade bomb is preliminary cause of explosion at Boston Marathon, law enforcement officials tell NBC News”. AP adds, “Intelligence official: 2 more explosive devices found at Boston Marathon; being dismantled.”

Update (1:25 PM PDT): The New York Times diagrams where the explosions occurred:

Meanwhile, the New York Times’ Nick Kristof wastes no time politicizing the story:

explosion is a reminder that ATF needs a director. Shame on Senate Republicans for blocking apptment articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-01/wor…

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 15, 2013

As does Luke Russert of NBC, attempting to find a Waco connection to the bombings.

Allahpundit adds, “We’re now two hours into this and I’ve yet to see any reports that these were suicide bombers or car bombs. Maybe too early to tell, but if this is AQ, the usual M.O. appears not to have been followed.”

Update: (1:35 PM PDT): There were initial reports of an explosion at the JFK Library in Boston, however, the library itself is tweeting that it was a fire that “appears to have started in the mechanical room of new building. All staff and visitors are accounted for and safe,” adding that “Investigators are investigating. Any tie to Boston Marathon explosions is pure speculation. More information as we receive it.”

The New York Post is claiming that “Authorities have a identified a suspect, who is currently being guarded in a Boston hospital with shrapnel wounds.” And Breaking News Online’s Michael van Poppel tweets, “CBS NEWS: Boston PD has surveillance video of someone bringing multiple backpacks to blast site.”

The Boston Globe probably has the clearest video of the initial blast, shot by one of their sports reporters covering the marathon:

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John Stossel tweets, “If you’re in Boston and can donate blood, here are the locations.”

Update (2:15 PM PDT): AP reports that “Police Commissioner Edward Davis says authorities aren’t certain that the explosion at the JFK Library was related to the other blasts, but they’re treating them as if they are.” adding that “there are no injuries stemming from the third explosion.”

And the New York Post claims that “Authorities ID suspect as Saudi national in marathon bombings, under guard at Boston hospital.” I’d really like to see this one collaborated by other sources, given how sketchy the first day’s reporting of 9/11 was.

Update (2:33 PM PDT): “Just a Reminder” from Glenn Reynolds: “Based on past experience, at least half of what you’re hearing about Boston this afternoon will turn out to be wrong by tomorrow. And journalists/pundits: Try not to speculate in the absence of data. You don’t know anything either.”

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Scalia of the Anchoress blog sums up the current phrase of TV coverage of the bombings: “At this point on cable news, it becomes ‘crisis porn’ with no new information, re-views of event, phone-ins without any real info. TV OFF.”

Update (3:00 PM PDT): BuzzFeed tweets:

Photo of man detained by police in Boston (pic: @eric_twardzik) twitter.com/Eric_Twardzik/…

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) April 15, 2013

Larger version of the photo here.

Update (3:33 PM PDT): “Law enforcement official confirms that one of two people killed in today’s explosions was eight years old,” NBC News tweets. Andrew Phelps of the New York Times adds, “Reporter on @WBUR says most cases at Mass General are leg amputations. These are people who just finished the Boston Marathon,” or “were cheering the runners on,” Phelps continues in a follow-up tweet.

Obama refuses to use the T-word in his speech, but Roger L. Simon tweets, “WH quickly releases statement describing Boston as act of ‘terror’ after criticism Obama may have omitted. Everything is image.”

CBS journalist Alexander Romano tweets, “Frm FBI Asst Director and CBS News Senior Corr @johnmillercbs says a Saudi national is in custody but denies involvement”.

Update (6:18 PM PDT): CNN’s Nick Valencia tweets, “BOLO put out by Boston law enforcement for ‘dark skinned or black male’ who tried to gain restricted access minutes b4 1st explosion,” adding, “The man was seen wearing a black sweatshirt & had a black packback. Possible foreign national based on accent”.

As Ace writes, “I know what you’re all thinking: US tax-code protester.”

CBS reports that the death toll is now three according to Boston authorities.

Update (6:53 PM PDT): Talk about phoning it in from the White House speechwriters; to paraphrase SDA’s long-running leitmotif, now is the time when Bill Hobbs juxtaposes:

Update (8:21 PM PDT): Found via BuzzFeed on Twitter, a runner with a flip cam or cell phone video camera captures the first explosion:

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Since it’s after 11:00 PM on the east coast, obviously the pace of new information has slowed considerably. However, Mary Katharine Ham is doing live updates at Hot Air, including a report from the Boston Globe that states that the current injury count is at 140.

Reports on Twitter that “WBZ-TV is reporting that just about every federal agency (FBI, ATF, DHS) and bomb squad is serving search warrant in Revere, Mass:”

BREAKING: Federal, State and Boston police searching a Revere apartment buildingtwitpic.com/cjo8r7 – @bogswbz

— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) April 16, 2013

Update (8:40 PM PDT): Fox 25 Boston is reporting, “Large police presence in Revere connected to Boston bombing:”

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

A law enforcement source tells Fox 25 that a large police presence at a home in Revere is related to the Boston Marathon bombings.

The source said that a suspicious driver was pulled over by Revere police after driving past the State Police barracks a number of times.

The driver reportedly had a “nervous demeanor.”

The driver then led police, as well as the FBI, to a home in the area of Ocean Avenue and Beach Street.

It was not immediately known what police were searching for at the home.

The Boston Police are tweeting a “Media Advisory from the FBI: A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 @ 9:30am at The Westin Copley Plaza.”

Update (9:37 PM) PDT: Barring any dramatic developments tonight, I think this is the last update to this post. We’ll start fresh with a new post tomorrow. Obviously, the comments are still open below if you’d to explore the topic further here.