Two explosions have caused two deaths and many more injuries at the Boston marathon in the US. The blasts took place near the finish line. President Barack Obama said authorities "will get to the bottom of this."
The explosions struck in Boston roughly three hours after the winning runners had crossed the finish line. The blasts hit the north side of Boylston Street, near the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel and the bridge that marks the finish line of the marathon course.
Boston police said that two people were killed in the attack, also confirming 23 injured soon afterwards. According to a later report from the Associated Press news agency, hospitals had reported at least 105 people with injuries, 15 of them with critical wounds.
US President Barack Obama said in a press conference that as well as being briefed by security officials, he had "updated leaders of Congress of both parties and we reaffirmed that on days like this there are no Republicans and Democrats, we are Americans and are united in concern for our fellow citizens."
"We still don't know who did this, or why, and people should not jump to conclusions before we have all the facts, but make no mistake: we will get to the bottom of this," Obama said. "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice."
Like police officials in Boston, the president was keen to reiterate that investigations into the explosions remained at an early stage, but promised more information once it was available.
Police still investigating
Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis led a press conference around two hours after the explosions, confirming more details about the marathon blasts.
"These explosions occurred 50 to 100 yards apart and each scene resulted in multiple casualties," the police commissioner said. "We have sent officers to be in touch with family members and possible partial witnesses."
Davis also confirmed that a third explosion had hit at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, saying that - as far as he was aware - nobody was injured there. The Boston Police Department later said on Twitter that this explosion "appears to be fire related."
'Draw your own conclusions'
"We're investigating all leads right now," Commissioner Davis said when asked about who might be behind the attack, also saying he could not confirm the number of injuries.
Asked whether he thought it was a terrorist attack, he said police were not ready to "comment definitively," but that considering the nature of events "you can draw your own conclusions."
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick also said that he had taken a phone call from President Barack Obama.
"Every asset of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal government is either here or is coming here," Davis said.
The marathon twin-blast took place at around 3 p.m. local time (1900 UTC), and the library explosion occured around 90 minutes laters, according to the police commissioner.
There was no immediate information on where the explosive devices might have come from.
Boston police also said to expect a heavy officer presence on the streets and controlled explosions, with any unidentified items being treated as suspicious as a precaution.
The annual Boston marathon is traditionally held on Patriot's Day, a local state holiday celebrating the evacuation of Boston by the British during the American Revolutionary War.
msh/ccp (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters) dw de
Note: Boston's mayor's office set up a telephone helpline for people concerned for friends or family who might have been caught up in the explosions. The number is: 001-617-635-4500.
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