(CNN) -- Two bombs struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, turning a celebration into a bloody scene of destruction.Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said Monday night that the death toll had risen to three. Scores were injured at the scene.One of the dead was an 8-year-old boy, according to a state law enforcement source.Hospitals reported at least 144 people are being treated, with at least 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious condition. At least eight of the patients are children.At least 10 people injured had limbs amputated, according to a terrorism expert briefed on the investigation.Several of the patients treated at Massachusetts General Hospital suffered injuries to lower limbs that will require "serial operations" in the coming days, trauma surgeon Peter Fagenholz said Monday night. Some injuries were so severe amputations were necessary, Fagenholz added.The blasts were about 50 to 100 yards apart, officials said, on a stretch of the marathon course lined with spectators cheering runners through the final yards of a 26-mile, 385-yard endurance feat."It felt like a huge cannon," a witness told CNN about one of the blasts.Allan Panter, a doctor who was near the finish line waiting for his wife to finish the race, told CNN he was standing about 20 to 25 feet from the first blast. He said he treated victims on the street after the explosion."I saw at least six to seven people down next to me," he said. "They protected me from the blast. One lady expired. One gentleman lost both his (lower) limbs. Most of the injuries were lower extremities."Bill Iffrig, 78 and a veteran marathoner, was nearing the finish when "the shock waves just hit my whole body and my legs just started jittering around." Iffrig, who can be seen in video of the explosion wearing an orange tank top, was helped to his feet by an event volunteer and had just a scratch from his fall, he told CNN.Federal authorities are classifying the bombings as a terrorist attack, but it's not clear whether the origin was domestic or foreign, a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said.A federal law enforcement official told CNN that both bombs were small, and initial tests showed no C-4 or other high-grade explosive material, suggesting that the packages used in the attack were crude explosive devices.Authorities in Boston found at least one other explosive device that they were dismantling, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said. Rep. Bill Keating of Massachusetts, meanwhile, said two more were found.One unexploded device was found at a hotel on Boylston Street near the bomb site and another unexploded device was found at an undisclosed location, Keating, a Democrat and member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said. It was unclear who may have planted the marathon bombs. There were no credible threats before the race, a state government official said.There is no suspect in custody, but many people are being questioned, Davis said.Investigators warned police to be on the lookout for a "darker-skinned or black male" with a possible foreign accent in connection with the attack, according to a law enforcement advisory obtained by CNN. The man was seen with a black backpack and sweatshirt and was trying to get into a restricted area about five minutes before the first explosion, the lookout notice states.Also, a Saudi national with a leg wound was under guard at a Boston hospital in connection with the bombings, but investigators cannot say he is involved at this time and he is not in custody, a law enforcement official said Monday evening. In addition to scrutinizing images of surveillance cameras in the area, the FBI likely was issuing subpoenas for records from cell towers in the area to isolate and trace calls from around Copley Square at the time of the blasts, according to a former federal law enforcement official who now works in the intelligence community.The unexploded devices that were recovered could provide a treasure trove of information such as fingerprints and indications of the bomb maker's design, and from the bombs that did explode, investigators would be looking for fragments and anything indicating the "signature" of the bomb makers, the official told CNN.As authorities searched the scene, numerous suspicious packages were found, possibly because people fled the area, leaving items behind. Investigators were checking them. All off-duty Boston police were called in.The Marriott hotel at Copley Place was evacuated as a precaution.The Lenox Hotel was also evacuated as a precaution, the Boston Globe reported.Crowds were in the area watching the runners take part in the world's oldest annual marathon.Within seconds, the festive occasion turned into devastation."This is a horrific day in Boston," Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement."My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the president, Mayor (Thomas) 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."U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke with FBI Director Robert Mueller and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, a Justice Department official said.Holder has directed the full resources of the Justice Department to be deployed to ensure the matter is fully investigated, the official said.The Federal Aviation Administration placed a flight restriction over the site of the blasts.Other cities, including New York and Washington, tightened security as a result. Following standard protocol, the White House cleared out an area in front of the West Wing.Mike Baingon, who works at the Atlantic Fish Company in Boston, said an explosion took place in front of the restaurant and that he was right by the front door at the time.The explosions occurred at about 2:45 p.m., more than two hours after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line, CNN Producer Matt Frucci reported.The race was halted as was subway service into the area.Troops from the Massachusetts National Guard, already at the site as part of the marathon's security and crowd-management plan, were assisting police as well.
Take a look at some of the gruesome pics that were taken at the "Boston Marathon Bombing", down below:
I just want to send my condolences & blessings to all of the victims, especially to the family of the 8 yr old girl that was among the departed. I just pray that this was done by an American terrorist or anyone besides an North Korean terrorist, which I feel maybe the culprit behind this terrible & devastating bombing. I just find it very weird that the new North Korean president has not only been threaten South Korea but also the USA with war. Then after all these threats from Kim Jong-UN, a day before his grandfathers birthday he claims that he will not go to war with South Korea or the USA at all if we keep an open dialogue with them (which I do not trust or believe anything that fat little person says, he's to belligerent, volatile & untrustworthy. Most of all destructive & unruly). Then out of nowhere yesterday Monday April. 15th, 2013, there is an explosion at the Boston marathon. 2 bombs exploded killing 3 including a little boy & injuring over 100 victims which majority of the victims, if they survive will either; have to have many surgeries throughout their life or live the rest of their lives wheelchair bound, or be single or a multiple amputee which is so sad. Why do things like this have to happen? I mean thousands of fans & runners woke up that morning & made their way to the annual Boston marathon which is very popular yearly. And people were just enjoying running in the marathon or on the sidelines with their family & friends, cheering for their friend or family member that was apart of the marathon. And your telling me that people cant even go out with their family to have a beautiful family outing & to show support to the runners, without something devastating like this occurring. Its no way in the world that us Americans whom I thought were so extremely blessed to be a USA citizen, because being an American meant "Freedom" or so I thought. Why should a 8 yr old boy whom went to enjoy his family at a annual marathon, there supporting his father & waiting on the sideline to watch his pops run past that finish line. And just wanting to show his support & enjoyment, in which he wants to show his appreciation for having his dad as his role model/hero. And as the 8yr old boy watches his father run through that finish line & waiting patiently while cheering his dad along. And just as he runs to his dads arm, he is blown away literally before even reaching his dads arms, for which his father & mother watches in terror. That precious, Innocent soul laid soulless as everyone stands in shock & disbelief neva expecting that, that was their last time hugging their son forever. Or we have to take guns to go to school just to teach not high school students, but elementary kids. Because were no longer safe in our own schools, these situations are getting to much out of hand & I stop watching the news because I will literally drive myself cray cray thinking about all the negativity that goes on in this world. Its the saddest thing Ive heard since the "Newtown" shooting, GET IT TOGETHER AMERICA!
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