TerrorismBombs kill 3, injure 130 at Boston marathon (updated)

Two loud explosions near the finish-line of the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured 130 yesterday afternoon. Ten of the injured suffered from amputated limbs. One of the dead is an 8-year old child. Appearing in the White House press room around 6:00 p.m. Monday, President Obama said: “We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts,” Obama said. “But make no mistake — we will get to the bottom of this.”

A White House official called the explosions an “act of terror,” saying authorities have much to learn about who was behind it.

“Any event with multiple explosive devices — as this appears to be — is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “However, we don’t yet know who carried out this attack, and a thorough investigation will have to determine whether it was planned and carried out by a terrorist group, foreign or domestic.”

The Washington Post reports that the two blasts occurred after about half the runners taking part in the marathon had already crossed the finish line. Thousands of runners were still heading toward the finish line, but race organizers halted the race within minutes after the explosions.

CNN video footage showed a few of the runners, who were approaching the finish line, being knocked over by the concussion of the blasts.

Both police officials and Boston Marathon organizers referred to “two bombs.”

The Washington Post reports that initial reports of another explosion at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston turned out to be an unrelated fire.

The explosions occurred a few minutes before 3 p.m. Eastern time near the intersection of Boylston and Exeter streets. A few store fronts were blown out.

A CNN producer was quoted to say that the two blasts occurred on opposite sides of the street. He said the first “looked like it was off to the side of the street” and the second “looked like it happened on the sidewalk.”

One of the bombs was hidden inside trash container.

The Wall Street Journal reported that five undetonated explosive devices were found in the Boston area. According to a New York Post report confirmed by Fox News, the authorities were guarding a person of interest at a local hospital. The person, who sources said was 20 years old, had severe burns, but authorities had not determined whether the person was a victim or a perpetrator.

“There is no suspect,” said Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis. “There are people we’re talking to.”

Organizers say that about half of the nearly 27,000 participants had already finished the race when the blasts occurred.

The police says the two blasts occurred about 300 yards from the finish line.

President Obama was notified of the incident, and the president has directed administration agencies to provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response, the official said.