Boston Marathon bombs kill 2, hurt 49 – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

April 15th, 2013

05:09 PM ET

Officials: Boston Marathon bombs kill 2, hurt 49

Two dead in bomb blasts near finish line of Boston Marathon, Boston police say. Area hospitals say 49 injured.

Two explosions happened at about 2:50 p.m., more than two hours after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.

Third blast later reported at JFK Library about 5 miles away, police say. Not clear whether that blast is connected to first two.

Race called off; Red Cross website established to help people find loved ones in the area

Check back here for updates; full story here; also, see CNN affiliates WBZ;WCVB; WHDH

[Update, 5:09 p.m. ET] It will take a long time to clear the area, because lots of people dropped bags and whatever else they had when the finish-line blasts happened. Authorities have to check all of those bags, and bomb squads "may be blowing things up over the next few hours" out of precaution, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.

Thousands of runners still had yet to finish the race when the bombs exploded in a spectator area along Boylston Street near the finish line, CNN executive producer Matt Frucci at the scene.

[Update, 4:58 p.m. ET] New details from Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis:

– A third explosion happened at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library "about a half-hour ago." The library is about 5 miles southeast of the Boston Marathon finish line.
– Police don't immediately know whether that explosion is related to the two near the Boston Marathon finish line.
– The two blasts near the finish line – along Boylston Street near Copley Square - "happened 50 to 100 yards apart."
– "We're recommending to people that they stay home ... and that they don'r go anyplace and congregate in large crowds."
– Relatives of people who may be missing in the area can call the mayor's hotline at 617-635-4500.
– Anyone who has information about the bombings or saw anything suspicious can call 1-800-494-TIPS.

[Update, 4:46 p.m. ET] Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says “this is a horrific day in Boston."

"My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured," Patrick said in a statement released this afternoon. "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.”

[Update, 4:45 p.m. ET] It appears that so many people are using cell phones in the center of Boston, consistent service is hard to get – and the overload is hampering the investigation, two federal law enforcement sources tell CNN.

A person who was injured in an explosion near the finish line of the Boston Marathon is taken away from the scene.

[Update, 4:40 p.m. ET] Another journalist says she saw victims who lost limbs. This account is from Boston Globe political reporter Cynthia Needham: