April 16, 2013: For the latest updates, head over to our Day 2 live blog.
11:43: Please check back tomorrow for the latest updates. Stay safe and know that our condolences go out to the injured and deceased.
11:35: Patrons are searched and patted down with heightened security measures in effect due to the bombings in Boston before the start of the NHL hockey game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago
#Boston police officer tells me bombs were packed with small metal objects meant to maim--nails, zippers, blades (via @TerryMoran of ABC News)
Police officer on duty for #bostonmarathon tells me the blast area was swept for bombs--dogs, etc--before the race. "They were watching us." (via @TerryMoran of ABC News)
President Pelton has announced that the College will be closed tomorrow to provide "a day of healing and reflection." (via Emmerson College)
MBTA promises regular service Tuesday, including all Back Bay srvc. Copley Station will be closed.https://ow.ly/k64AG (via Subway Service)
11:24: A child is comforted after explosions went off.
11:21: FBI says press conference will be held tomorrow at 9:30am ET on Boston Marathon blast. (via @TheMatthewKeys)
11:10: A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after explosions went off.
11:05: A woman talks on the phone after two explosions interrupted the running of the Boston Marathon.
10:53: Ambulances line the street after explosions reportedly interrupted the running of the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts.
10:46: Police are seen on the roof of a building overlooking Boylston Street where explosions went off.
10:34: A woman comforts another, who appears to have suffered an injury to her hand, after explosions interrupted the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts.
10:19: President Obama addresses the nation:
10:14: Authorities have confirmed a third death from the Boston Marathon explosions (via @OutsideMagazine)
10:10: Massachusetts General Hospital says "several amputations" performed after #BostonMarathon explosions (via @BBCBreaking)
9:54: Ellen Degeneres has released a video response to the tragedy on the set of her daytime talk show.
9:48: Comedian and Actor Patton Oswalt responded to the Boston bombing on Facebook, and his post has quickly gathered over 150,000 likes. Read below:
Boston. F***ing horrible.
I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."
But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.
But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."
9:27: Thanks to generosity of volunteer blood donors there is currently enough blood on the shelves to meet demand (via @RedCross)
8:19: CNN reporting police searching for Penske truck that tried to gain access to marathon route before blasts, but was turned away.
8:17: Injury count as of 745 pm by hospital: Boston Children's 8; Brigham 27; BMC 23; MGH 22; BI 21; St E's, 15; Tufts 9 (via @BostonGlobe)
8:13: NYC Mayor's Office: We are asking all New Yorkers to remain vigilant in the days ahead. If you see something, say something.
8:11: Chief of emergency at MGH: "This is what we expect from war" (via @WBUR)
8:07: Update from Mass General Hospital: "#MGH has been cleared, there is no suspicious package. The garages are open."
8:02: Doctors are "pulling ball bearings out of people in the emergency room." (via ITV)
8:00: From Boston PD: Family members looking for info relative to individuals injured during the incident are encouraged to call (617) 635-4500.
7:57: Boston Globe reporting authorities questioning person of interest in Marathon bombings at Brigham and Women's. (via Twitter)
7:52: CNN reporting at least 132 injured in Boston bombings; at least 10 amputations among them (via Twitter)
7:49: FBI urges anyone with information or visual images to contact the FBI at 800-225-5324.
7:37: Boston University confirms that one of the critically injured was a BU student. The injured has not been identified.
7:35: From Boston PD- Street Closures: Clarendon from Huntington 2 Newbury, Newbury from Clarendon 2 Hereford, Huntington from Belividere 2 Clarendon. (via Twitter)
7:28: Northeaster University: Rumors about suspicious packages delivered to Northeastern are absolutely false. (via Twitter)
7:26: AUDIO: Emergency dispatch audio from the moment two bombs detonated at Boston Marathon finish line (via @TheMatthewKeys)
7:22: WZB Boston News reporting: Latest victim count: 98 total. Brigham- 26, MGH- 22, Beth Israel- 21, BMC- 20, Tufts- 9. Deaths at scene- 2 (including 8-year-old boy)
7:18: Video of reactions shortly before second explosion by Boylston Ave.
7:11: Boston Globe confirms one of the victims was an 8-year-old boy. Full story here.
7:10: Boston PD Press Office says next press conference will be held at 8:30pm at the Westin Hotel.
7:06: Scene after the explosion and victims were cleared out.
7:01: Police source: Cell phone service was deliberately disrupted following bomb blasts to avoid remote detonation of any other potential device. (via @TheMatthewKeys)
6:58: Boston officials head second press conference on the explosion. Say third incident at the JFK Library not related to the explosions at the Boston Marathon finish line. (WATCH)
6:53: Google Doc with places for people stay is making the rounds online.
6:50: CNN reporting that 110 injured in blast, 8 critical.
6:48: Following President Obama's address on the explosion, a White House official said they were handling the incident as "an act of terror."
The official told Reuters, "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 added, "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."
6:42: From Boston PD- Commissioner Davis, "The preliminary investigation indicates JFK incident may not have been an explosion. It may have been a fire."
6:37: CNN reporting that one of the victims of the explosion was an 8-year-old.
6:35: Update from Red Cross- "Thanks to generosity of volunteer blood donors there is currently enough blood on the shelves to meet demand."
6:30: VIA TWITTER-#BostonHelp is being used to put people up who are stranded without a place to sleep - runners, people in locked down areas, etc
6:22: Video footage of the explosion, via AP. (RAW FOOTAGE)
6:19: 26 patients Brigham and Women's - 2 critical -- at least 8 serious (via WBZ Boston News)
6:17: Boston Police say that there have been no arrest made in connection to the Boston Marathon explosions.
6:12: Obama says that those responsible for the explosions will be "held accountable." Calls Bostonians "tough" and "resiliant."
6:10: President Obama addressed the country on the Boston Marathon. (Watch)
6:08: President Obama scheduled to address the Boston Marathon explosion at 6:10.
---UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS LIVE BLOG---
5:50 Obama to address nation on Boston Marathon explosions at 6:10 pm ET -White House (via @Reuters)
5:36 Secret Service expands security at White House following Boston Marathon explosions (via @MarcTDG)
5:32
5:19: Footage of the explosion (via Boston Globe)
5:08: Boston hospitals report more than 100 being treated after Marathon explosions. (via @BostonGlobe)
5:05: Cellphone service has been shut down in the Boston area to prevent any remote detonations (via @AP)
4:59: Boston FD: Many runners abandoned bags during explosion, all bags are being treated as possible explosives. (via Long Island Press)
4:57: Google has released a Google Person Finder site for the Boston Marathon explosion.
4:54: Boston Police saying third explosion happened 30 minutes ago at JFK Library. Not sure if related to first two explosions.
4:46: Boston Globe reports toll rises to 2 dead, 64 wounded in Boston Marathon explosions.
4:45: Attny Gen Holder has directed full resources of Justice Dept to be deployed to Boston investigation (via @Reuters)
4:42: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has released a statement: "This is a horrific day in Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the President, Mayor Menino and our public safety leaders. Our focus is on making sure that the area around Copley Square is safe and secured. I am asking everyone to stay away from Copley Square and let the first responders do their jobs."
4:36: Boston Police confirm a third explosion at JFK Library (via @Reuters).
4:33: Police getting multiple reports of unexploded devices around Boston (via @BostonGlobe)
4:33: MBTA: police asking people who see anything suspicious to call: 617-222-1212
4:30: Federal law enforcement authority confirmed to ABC News this was an intentional bombing, using small portable explosive devices.
4:28: MBTA: Green Line is terminating service between Kenmore and Park Street Stations and temporarily suspending B- and C-Line service. (via @cbsboston)
4:24: The New York Times has mapped out the two explosions at the Boston Marathon using an aerial photo.
4:21: Intelligence official: 2 more explosive devices found at Boston Marathon; being dismantled. (via @AP)
4:15: FAA issues temporary flight restrictions over area of explosion.
4:08: Boston Police Department confirm there are 2 dead and 22 injured in the explosions.
4:05: USA Today reporting that there are at least three dead and dozens injured.
4:00: Local news reporting a third explosion.
UPDATE: Police have now confirmed that at least one explosion occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon at 673 Boylston Street, Reuters reports.
"There was an explosion, police, fire and EMS are on the scene. We have no indication of how many people are injured," a spokeswoman for the Boston Police Department said.
Explosions are being reported near the finish line of the Boston Marathon and authorities are now investigating the matter.
Two loud booms, described as sounding like thunder, were heard around the area of the finish line from inside the Fairmount Copley Plaza Hotel, the Associated Press reports.
As a result, officials closed down the hotel.
The loud booms were heard just moments before.
HERE IS A MAP OF THE LOCATION:
View Boston Marathon Explosion in a larger map