Boston Marathon bombs leave gaping questions: Who and why (San Jose Mercury News)
President Barack Obama was careful not to use the words “terror” or “terrorism” as he spoke at the White House Monday after the deadly bombings, but an administration official said the bombings were being treated as an act of terrorism. “We will find out who did this. We’ll find out why they did this,” the president said. “Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.” The FBI took charge of the investigation into the bombings, serving a warrant late Monday on a home in suburban Boston and appealing for any video, audio and still images taken by marathon spectators.
The FBI is leading a worldwide investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings, checking all intelligence leads and possible informants, trying to find out who planted the bombs in Boston. They’ve been questioning one man who was said to be acting suspiciously at the scene, but no one has yet been identified as a suspect. Boston officials said Monday’s twin bombing attack came with no warning. Boston Commissioner Ed Davis said on Monday, “We talk about the threat picture all the time as we lead up to this particular event and we have no information that this was going to happen.”
Boston Marathon Bombing: Ben Affleck, Pink, Miley Cyrus React (MTV.com)
Oscar-winner Ben Affleck, who grew up in Boston and based two of his films, “The Town” and “Gone Baby Gone,” there, wrote on his Facebook page, “Such a senseless and tragic day. My family and I send our love to our beloved and resilient Boston.” New Kids on the Block singer Joey McIntyre ran the marathon and said the bombs went off five minutes after he finished the race. “I’m OK, but I’m sure there are many hurt,” he tweeted, “I don’t know what to say. I feel for everybody involved with the Boston Marathon. My family is OK. I am OK. Gonna take a while to process.”
Pakistani Taliban deny role in Boston Marathon bombings (Fox News)
The Pakistani Taliban have denied any role in the bombings at the Boston Marathon that killed at least three people and injured more than 140. The group’s spokesman, Ahsanullah Ahsan, denied involvement in a telephone call with The Associated Press on Tuesday. He spoke from an undisclosed location.
Barney Frank On Boston Marathon Bombings: ‘No Tax Cut Would Have Helped Us Deal With This’ (Huffington Post)
Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said Tuesday that the response to the Boston Marathon bombings made the case for a robust government. “In this terrible situation, let’s be very grateful that we had a well-funded, functioning government. It is very fashionable in America … to criticize government, to belittle public employees, talk about their pensions, talk about what people think is their excessive health care, here we saw government in two ways perform very well,” Frank said on CNN’s “Starting Point,” noting the cooperation between state, local and federal authorities. “No tax cut would…
…have helped us deal with this or will help us recover,” he said. “This is very expensive.”
Boston Marathon bombings: Photo of 8 year old Martin Richard emerges as the FBI leads terror manhunt (The Australian)
Martin Richard, 8, of Dorchester, was at the marathon to watch his father race. He was standing near the finish line, waiting to give his dad a hug. Martin’s mother, Denise, is in hospital with “grievous injuries,” The Times of London reports. His six-year-old sister lost a leg in the blast. Her name has not been released. The status of his father, William, has also not been released. Boston’s 7 News TV station released a photo of Martin on their WHDH.com website. His mother has had surgery for a brain injury. A single candle was lit in front of their house and a single word was written on the sidewalk: Peace.
WATCH: Heckler Interrupts Boston Bombing Presser With Accusations Of ‘False Flag Staged Attack’ (Mediaite)
The first question that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick received during tonight’s second press conference on the Boston Marathon bombings came from someone who may be a follower of conservative radio host Alex Jones. The questioner, who some on the scene are identifying as InfoWars’ Dan Bidondi asked Patrick directly if the bombings were a “false flag staged attack” meant to “take our civil liberties.” The question echoed unsubstantiated comments made by Jones on Twitter directly following the bombings, which used the hashtag “#falseflag” and predicted the TSA would be “groping you at sporting events coming soon.”
Authorities search apartment in connection with deadly Boston Marathon bombing (New York Daily News)
Police hauled several large bags from a suburban Boston apartment in connection with the deadly twin bombings that killed three people and injured more than 140 at Monday’s Boston Marathon. The bags were carried out around 2 a.m. Tuesday from an apparently vacant apartment in Revere, about 5 miles north of Boston. Local and federal law enforcement wouldn’t immediately comment on the investigation, although Massachusetts State Police confirmed a search warrant was served Monday night.
Boston Marathon Bombs: New Devices Found In Local Hotels (Hollywood Life)
At least two more explosive devices have been found near the scene of the Boston marathon explosions, detonated on April 15. Police suspect these three bombings, including a newly reported explosion at JFK Library, may be acts of terrorism. At least 64 people were injured and two have been reported dead. Following Boston’s horrific bombings on April 15, new devices are currently being dismantled after they were found inside Boston’s Mandarin and Lenox hotels. It’s unclear what these devices may be, but they’re believed to be explosives.
Boston Marathon Bombing: ‘Person Of Interest’ Being Questioned (Hollywood Life)
Police are questioning a “person of interest” who was injured during the blast at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an official tells The Boston Globe. No arrests have been made in connection with the bombings. Law enforcement officials were also alerted to be on the lookout for…
…a “darker-skinned or black male,” possibly with a foreign accent, according to CNN. About five minutes before the attack, the man was seen trying to enter a restricted area. The man was wearing a black backpack and hooded sweatshirt.
Boston Marathon bombings add to concerns in financial markets (CTV News)
The sense of caution in financial markets continued Tuesday after deadly bombings at the finish line in the Boston Marathon. Investors have been spooked over recent trading sessions by the declines recorded in commodity prices – not just gold – as well as a run of disappointing economic data from the U.S. and China, the world’s two-largest economies. Monday’s explosions in Boston, which killed three people, provided investors a stark reminder of the threats posed by terrorists to a fragile global economic recovery.
Boston Marathon Bombings: Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen DeGeneres Express Sorrow, Send Well-Wishes on Their Talk Shows (E! Online)
Boston Marathon bombing: Hudson Valley commuters put aside worries amid tight security (Newsday)
A day after twin bombs killed three and injured more than 140 near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Hudson Valley commuters Tuesday shunted aside their fears, boarded trains and headed to work amid heightened security. At the White Plains Metro-North station, Brewster resident Tony Bruce, who saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center as he headed to work on 9/11, was philosophical about security efforts to deter an attack. “It could be any day at any time,” he said. “The presence is a good deterrent, but nothing’s foolproof.”
How The Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation Will Be Conducted (Forbes)
As law enforcement flocks to the scene of the bombings at the Boston Marathon, the information they are able to gather at the scene of the attack will be critically important in identifying suspects and building a criminal case against them. Carefully gathering evidence will facilitate criminal prosecution and will aid in successful scientific tests and analyses. The response will likely unfold in the following steps, some of which may occur simultaneously.
SA political parties voice disgust at Boston Marathon bombings (Times LIVE)
“There can be no justification for such a despicable attack,” said African National Congress spokesman Jackson Mthembu on Tuesday, adding that it deserved world condemnation. “The ANC condemns the senseless and dastardly act of terrorism that happened in Boston”. The department of international relations confirmed that two South Africans were among the injured, and said consulate officials based in New York were dispatched to the scene to help people on the ground and monitor the situation.
