Suspects, motive sought in Boston bombings that killed three

BOSTON (NEWS1130) – Investigators continue to track down the person or people responsible following the Boston Marathon bombings yesterday that left at least three people dead and injured more than 175.

The twin explosions occurred at around 2:30 p.m. near the finish line of the marathon.

The dead include eight-year-old Martin Richard from Dorchester, Mass. Reports say he was waiting to give his dad a hug at the finish line when the bomb exploded.

Seventeen people are in critical condition. The victims’ injuries included broken bones, shrapnel wounds and ruptured eardrums.

The youngest of the injured is two years old. As many as 10 people have had to have limbs amputated.

Doctor Stephen Epstein at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s emergency department said an X-ray of one victim he saw showed what could be small ball bearings throughout the injury.

A warrant has been served in the Boston suburb of Revere, and according to police, it is related to the attack at the marathon.

Investigators are still looking for a bomb signature, and it’s not known if this was a domestic attack or if it originated overseas.

At a news conference this morning, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said no unexploded bombs were found at the Boston Marathon. He says the only explosives were the ones that went off yesterday.

At a press conference yesterday, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis confirmed the three deaths but provided no further details.

A White House official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still unfolding said the attack was being treated as an act of terrorism.

President Barack Obama vowed that those responsible will “feel the full weight of justice.”

“This was a heinous and cowardly act and given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is now investigating it as an act of terrorism,” said Obama in another statement today. “What we don’t yet know, however, is who carried out this attack, or why.”

There is no word on the motive or who might have executed the attack.

Police have no suspects in custody. The FBI has taken charge of the investigation.

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• Statement by President Barack Obama on Boston Marathon explosions
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Some 27,000 runners took part in the race, including 2,078 Canadians.

Boston Police Commissioner Davis asked people to stay indoors or go back to their hotel rooms and avoid crowds as bomb squads checked parcels and bags left along the race route. He said investigators did not know precisely where the bombs were planted or whether they were hidden in mailboxes or trash cans.

The Federal Aviation Administration barred low-flying aircraft from within 3.5 miles of the site.

With scant official information to guide them, members of Congress said there was little or no doubt it was an act of terrorism.

“We just don’t know whether it’s foreign or domestic,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Obama also told Mayor Tom Menino and Gov. Deval Patrick that his administration would provide whatever support was needed, the White House said.

“We still don’t know who did this or why,” Obama said, adding, “Make no mistake: We will get to the bottom of this.”

Gov. Patrick said Boston will get back on its feet but it will not be business as usual.”

“There will be a heightened law enforcement presence consistent with the severity and seriousness of the ongoing investigation. People should expect that there will be random checks of backpacks and other parcels and we just ask everyone to be patient with that inconvenience for the time being.”

“It is for the public’s safety.”

Around the same time, a fire broke out at the John F. Kennedy presidential library. The police commissioner said it did not appear to be related to the explosions.

The first explosion occurred on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the finish line, and some people initially thought it was a celebratory cannon blast.

When the second bomb went off, spectators’ cheers turned to screams. As sirens blared, emergency workers and National Guardsmen who had been assigned to the race for crowd control began climbing over and tearing down temporary fences to get to the blast site.

The bombings occurred about four hours into the race and two hours after the men’s winner crossed the finish line. By that point, more than 17,000 of the athletes had finished the marathon, but thousands more were still running.

The attack may have been timed for maximum carnage: The four-hour mark is typically a crowded time near the finish line because of the slow-but-steady recreational runners completing the race and because of all the friends and relatives clustered around to cheer them on.

The senior US intelligence official said the two other explosive devices found nearby were being dismantled. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the findings publicly.

Canadians describe chaos

There are no reports of Canadians being among the dead or injured, according to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Some 200 Toronto runners were registered to run the 26-mile course, according to the marathon website.

Alan Brookes, race director of Canada Running Series, which organizes Toronto’s Scotiabank Marathon was near the finish line of the Boston Marathon when the blasts rattled the course.

“Rows and rows of ambulances. You know, just sirens everywhere. It was a sort of surreal atmosphere,” he tells us.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has offered his thoughts and prayers to the victims of the explosions.

“It is truly a sad day when an event as inspiring as the Boston Marathon is clouded by such senseless violence,” he said in a statement. “We stand with our American neighbours in this difficult time.”

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews also tweeted his concern.

“Thoughts and prayers to those injured in Boston; continuing to monitor closely as details come to light,” he said.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said the Boston Marathon is an event that brings people from all around the world together and the fact that it was targeted in this way was “particularly horrifying.”

New Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has set up an emergency line at 1-800-387-3124 to offer assistance to Canadians in Boston and their families.

Read live coverage via Boston.com:

With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press