Boston Marathon Explosions

[simpsontruckdriver]

FYI, rumors abound now.
- The JFK fire was found not related to the explosions.
- Two bombs that did not detonate were located and immobilized.
- Spectators in the area dropped their bags when the bombs went off, Boston PD is making sure they are all safe.
- Cellphone service was NOT shut down, they were simply overloaded. The same thing happened after the attacks on 09/11/01, the networks were jammed.
- As of now (7:36pm EST), no one has been arrested. The NY TImes - a tabloid - lied and said a Saudi Arabian did it, but all the other networks have not corraborated it.

TS

 

[Beaglemom3]

 

[Beaglemom3]

Sue,
Has Eileen made it home ?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I agree with your assesment 100% .

I wish I shared your "optimism" but I tilt the other way. Home-grown terrorists - of either wing - tend toward targets with specific significance. McVeigh went for government buildings. The Unibomber for high-tech targets. ELF targeted genetic engineering and other sites they perceived to be an affront. In contrast, outside seditionists pick targets with a goal of maximizing general mayhem. Kill, maim and injure as many people as possible.

This looks to me more like general mayhem than targeted attack.

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue,
Has Eileen made it home ?

She has, thankfully, as of about an hour ago. I told her to tell her roommates that she needs to be babysat.

Don's also home which is good; he's been texting his staff to try to keep track of who's still in the office and expects them all to be out of there within the next couple hours.

******
I have to say, having this forum available today was a godsend and Beags' offer was one of the most generous that's ever been extended to me. It's overwhelming. She and I and Eileen tried to coordinate things but between the severely limited cell phone coverage and the streets being cordoned off to traffic, Eileen wasn't able to take advantage of Beags' generosity. It doesn't matter - it's the thought that counts and the thought went above and beyond (which is why I'm posting this here instead of keeping it to PM's.) I'll never forget it, and neither will Eileen.

What Eileen saw and has told me is horrific. I think it will take her some time to process. Thankfully, selfishly, I'm glad she has her upcoming wedding to focus on for the time being.

Our hearts are especially broken for Lyndsay who trained so hard despite her own medical issues to run this as a charity fundraiser. If you remember she is the same college roommate of Eileen's who trained with such difficulty to run the New York marathon which was cancelled after Hurricane Sandy. She's a good, nice girl and we're so sorry that her marathon experiences weren't what she was hoping. When we saw her on Saturday her joy was contagious. God bless her. (And I have to apologize to her because back when I wrote about her NY marathon experience, I mistakenly referred to her as their other college roommate, Chelsea. Doh!)

So ... after all those words, thank you so much for being here today with me. It was a difficult day made better by this forum. {{{TUG}}}

 

[LAX Mom]

Susan,
Thanks for sharing your experiences today. I am touched by Beaglemom's offer of assistance to your daughter. There are so many great, wonderful people in this world. It makes it hard to comprehend the evil that exists among us.
Best wishes to your family, friends and others in Boston. We are praying for the victims and their loved ones. I'm so sorry your daughter & her friend were caught in this terrible tragedy.
Stay safe!

 

[jehb2]

Both SIL and brother are safe back at their hotel room. After running 25.5 miles she had to walk around another 3 hours before she was able to find my brother. People were really kind letting her borrow their cell phones.

SIL was half a mile from the finish line and my brother was only 200 feet from the bomb when it exploded. They also had to wait to get back into their hotel room as the hotel had been evacuated.

Brother is now hoping to get room service. That part made me smile because my brother is always thinking about food.

 

[Janette]

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. My daughter's family is with us in Orlando right now. They are from Cape Elizabeth and she would have been cheering on a friend there had they not come here. BeagleMom was wonderful to us when we visited Boston so I know how sincere she was in trying to help. Love rules on TUG!

 

[SueDonJ]

I'm glad to hear they're safe and sound, jehb2, thanks for posting again.

Watching the news it strikes me that the victims number many more than the "official statistics." Of course the injured and killed, and their families, are suffering far more than anyone else who's been impacted. But when you consider that there are 25,000 runners and the city hosts them and their families for the event, and that the two explosions were centered at the Finish Line, there are literally thousands of victims who have their own scary stories of being there. People like your brother and sister-in-law, my daughter and her friends ... the scope is unimaginable.

I hope your brother gets his favorite meal served on a silver platter.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I have to say, having this forum available today was a godsend and Beags' offer was one of the most generous that's ever been extended to me. It's overwhelming. She and I and Eileen tried to coordinate things but between the severely limited cell phone coverage and the streets being cordoned off to traffic, Eileen wasn't able to take advantage of Beags' generosity. It doesn't matter - it's the thought that counts and the thought went above and beyond (which is why I'm posting this here instead of keeping it to PM's.) I'll never forget it, and neither will Eileen.

What Eileen saw and has told me is horrific. I think it will take her some time to process. Thankfully, selfishly, I'm glad she has her upcoming wedding to focus on for the time being.

Our hearts are especially broken for Lyndsay who trained so hard despite her own medical issues to run this as a charity fundraiser. If you remember she is the same college roommate of Eileen's who trained with such difficulty to run the New York marathon which was cancelled after Hurricane Sandy. She's a good, nice girl and we're so sorry that her marathon experiences weren't what she was hoping. When we saw her on Saturday her joy was contagious. God bless her. (And I have to apologize to her because back when I wrote about her NY marathon experience, I mistakenly referred to her as their other college roommate, Chelsea. Doh!)

So ... after all those words, thank you so much for being here today with me. It was a difficult day made better by this forum. {{{TUG}}}

For those of us who are distant this thread also drives home the reality. It's one thing to read about or see videos, but something totally different when you "see" it directly impacting people you know in real time.

My condolences and prayers for all of you who have been so greatly jarred. A blessing that there weren't direct victims in our "family", but that's muted by knowing that many others were not so fortunate.

 

[Beaglemom3]

Have to say that Sue's daughter, Eileen, in a sense, became everyone's daughter today. A young woman caught up in events just trying to get home safely in a world gone insane. No cell, no taxis, no public transit and not knowing if there were more bombs.

I know that Sue would've done it for me or any of us. I have absolutely no doubt.


On a lighter note, Eileen did not have to ride in the Beaglemobile (yes, my vanity plate reads, you guessed it, "Beagle").

 

[easyrider]

https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/323886829596205056
RT @BostonGlobe BREAKING NEWS: Police will have controlled explosion on 600 block on Boylston Street


https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/323886879453892609
RT @BostonGlobe: Officials: There will be a controlled explosion opposite the library within one minute as part of bomb squad activities.

Could these explosions be planed DHS events that went wrong ? The tweets from the police in the areas of the explosions are supposedly before the explosions happened. I can't find an exact timeline.

Then there is the bomb squad was running drills today in Boston.
http://www.naturalnews.com/039926_Boston_marathon_bombing_terrorism.html#ixzz2QZRi6GHw

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/15/us/site-of-the-boston-marathon-explosion.html?_r=1&
Looking at the timeline on the tweets about the explosions it looks really close to what happened.

What I find interesting is all of the equipment needed to help blast victims was in place before the blast because of planned safety drills. The circumstances seem odd as do the tweets before the blast.

Bill

 

[SueDonJ]

Bill, I think it's in really poor taste that you're posting links to what appear to be conspiracy theorists' sites. To suggest that a government agency was performing controlled explosions and planned safety drills in the area is simply preposterous.

The area you're talking about was staged 48 hours prior to the event in expectation of hundreds of thousands passing through. The reason there were so many EMT and other first-responders in the area, and that there was triage/medical equipment immediately available, wasn't because there were "planned drills" in the area. It was because the two bomb blasts took place in the immediate vicinity of the advanced medical tents that are standard at the Finish Lines of similar events worldwide. The Boston Marathon comprises more than 25,000 official as well as untold scores of unofficial runners. It is a Boston institution that has a reputation for excellent organization and is the forerunner for the medical support which is now attendant at every similar event the world over.

There is of course still some confusion over the timeline and details of everything that happened today in the city. What is known is that there were two explosions spaced about 100 yards and 12-15 seconds apart, nearby to the Boston Marathon Finish Line. Immediately following runners and spectators were evacuated from the route and the first responders began re-sweeping the whole way. There was an announcement that a loud noise would be heard and it was - speculation is that a third device was found within the same area and detonated by means of a water cannon. Officials have been advising all day, still are, that experts are investigating every single item that was left behind - as you can imagine there were 100's of items that folks didn't think twice about when they were fleeing the scene. What I'm suggesting, to counter your conspiracy theory, is that the tweets you read may have been actual tweets sent in the aftermath of the first two explosions, in an effort by officials to stave off panic when they detonated such items.

This was a tragedy. Can we please not let discussion about it devolve to politics and craziness until a halfway decent period of time has gone by? Eeeeesh.

 

[Beaglemom3]

https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/323886829596205056
RT @BostonGlobe BREAKING NEWS: Police will have controlled explosion on 600 block on Boylston Street


https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/323886879453892609
RT @BostonGlobe: Officials: There will be a controlled explosion opposite the library within one minute as part of bomb squad activities.

Could these explosions be planed DHS events that went wrong ? The tweets from the police in the areas of the explosions are supposedly before the explosions happened. I can't find an exact timeline.

Then there is the bomb squad was running drills today in Boston.
http://www.naturalnews.com/039926_Boston_marathon_bombing_terrorism.html#ixzz2QZRi6GHw

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/15/us/site-of-the-boston-marathon-explosion.html?_r=1&
Looking at the timeline on the tweets about the explosions it looks really close to what happened.

What I find interesting is all of the equipment needed to help blast victims was in place before the blast because of planned safety drills. The circumstances seem odd as do the tweets before the blast.

Bill

Bill,
What, exactly, are you trying to say here ? I really would like to know as I cannot connect your dots on this one.
Did you even read the tweets ?
Do you know that at every BAA Marathon the bomb squad does the exact thing that they did this year ?
Thank you, B

 

[tropical1]

Sue, I am just getting a chance to read this thread. I was sharing your experience with my daughter. We are both happy for you and your daughter that she made it home safely.
We are thinking of you, Eileen, Beagle, jehb2 and all of Boston. As someone else said your family's experience made it all so real.
Take care of yourselves.

Susan

Beaglemom's offer also moved me to tears, I'm so glad when I hear about people caring for people.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/323886829596205056
RT @BostonGlobe BREAKING NEWS: Police will have controlled explosion on 600 block on Boylston Street


https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/323886879453892609
RT @BostonGlobe: Officials: There will be a controlled explosion opposite the library within one minute as part of bomb squad activities.

Could these explosions be planed DHS events that went wrong ? The tweets from the police in the areas of the explosions are supposedly before the explosions happened. I can't find an exact timeline.

Then there is the bomb squad was running drills today in Boston.
http://www.naturalnews.com/039926_Boston_marathon_bombing_terrorism.html#ixzz2QZRi6GHw

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/15/us/site-of-the-boston-marathon-explosion.html?_r=1&
Looking at the timeline on the tweets about the explosions it looks really close to what happened.

What I find interesting is all of the equipment needed to help blast victims was in place before the blast because of planned safety drills. The circumstances seem odd as do the tweets before the blast.

Bill

Bill - try for something plausible.

Such as today was the birthday of Kim Il Sung and this was a "commemorative" strike after all of the saber-rattling of the last couple of months.

 

[easyrider]

Sue, nothing I posted was in poor taste or from conspiracists websites unless natural news, twitter and the new york times are such. If my post about the twitter links at the Boston Globe is in poor taste so are the conclusions of people posting a connection with "home grown terrorists", which it may have been. How is this remotely "conspiracist" when it is actual tweets. I don't agree that these links are in poor taste and feel you are personally attacking me by saying so. I don't like that.

To me the timing of the tweets from police and planned drills are odd in comparison to the bomb blast. It seems planned to me because of the timeline and the tweets from authorities conducting drills. I'm not saying the blast was planned by DHS or any law enforcement organization but am saying these groups were tweeting about it prior to the explosion.

I understand this is a very emotional event and if you can't keep your emotions in check you probably shouldn't be posting about something as terrible as this event. The affected people are in our prayers.

Steve, how is this twitter evidence not plausible and why do you think North Korea has anything to do with this ? What makes sense is that someone knew when the planned drills were to take place and used that information to detonate the bombs. The perp may have used twitter and a scanner. It would have to be some one with knowledge of explosives and todays planned events. I doubt that it was a coincidence because of the timing.

B3, I know nothing about the preparations for the marathon and first heard of the bombs from twitter then heer at tug. On other forums people are discussing this timeline of events which took place today and it does seem odd. Yes , I do read tweets and I do tweet occasionally. Today I received a good tweet from my resort and scored free round trip tickets for two from LAX to LTO that need to be used by mid June.

Do you guys actually think I just make this stuff up or did I anger someone and you all just want to be disagreeable and nasty when ever I post something you don't agree with ?? Whats your dealio ? Talk it over in private, lol.

Bill

Just checked twitter and found that if any runner needs a place to stay there is a google group that has been started with locals inviting people in. Bostonians are being very hospitable.

Sports Illustrated ‏@SInow 9h
Bostonians have created a Google Doc list offering up their homes to runners: http://bit.ly/ZwCiaT

 

[radmoo]

TUGGERS, this is an unspeakable tragedy. I am hard pressed to comprehend why anyone would have difficulty in believing that. There will always be nay-Sayers as well as those who wish to advance political agenda. Here in Boston we stand proud to be part of a culture that celebrates our nation's freedom so publicly and with ago much spirit. Beagle mom, Sue, and any other Beantown TUGGERS, hats off to you/us!

 

[Beaglemom3]

TUGGERS, this is an unspeakable tragedy. I am hard pressed to comprehend why anyone would have difficulty in believing that. There will always be nay-Sayers as well as those who wish to advance political agenda. Here in Boston we stand proud to be part of a culture that celebrates our nation's freedom so publicly and with ago much spirit. Beagle mom, Sue, and any other Beantown TUGGERS, hats off to you/us!

Here, as in other places, we are at our best when things are at their worst.
The Marathon has always brought the best out in us as a local and global community.

How many times have we cheered on runners until the voice was gone. We'd yell encouraging messages usually based on whatever identifying shirt the runner had on (Ole Miss, Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, B.C., the Hoyts, France, U.K., anything !). Those of you who have watched the race, know exactly what I'm talking about. How many space blankets, IVs and bananas have I given out in the past at one of the blue tents ? It was such a joyous event until the blasts. It's so hard to reconcile things at this early point.

Radmoo, great point. We do celebrate our nation's heritage here as this is where it truly began. Capt. John Parker, ""Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here". And so it did.

Please excuse the ramblings. Broken and fitful sleep last night.

 

[Beaglemom3]

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” Fred Rogers.






-

 

[radmoo]

I work on State Street where there is usually great post marathon activity, lots of runners sporting thermal blankets, folks spilling into Faneuil Hall. Yesterday afternoon it was a ghost town. Taking T to work today ( had my car yesterday) so I will post re updated security.

 

[persia]

A huge section of Boston is closed to day, my usual routine will change even so slightly, I usually got off the T at Copley, got my free paper from a very friendly gentleman passing them out at the top of the stairs, walk across Boylston Street and down the T steps on that side. In the afternoons I would sometimes check out the shops. All of it within a hundred yards of the bomb blast location. The happy busy buzz of Copley will not be there today. I'm not a Bostonian, I'll only here for about 5 years before I retire, but it's hard to see why Boston should get this. It really doesn't make sense. Basically it's a place chock full of educational institutions and world class medical facilities. It's not really a political or financial center. An attack on it makes no sense.

The thing to be thankful for it the whole thing seems amateurish, the bombs went off after much of the crowd had left and they were away from the bulk of people. It could have been so very much worse. I hope when they catch who's ever responsible they don't publicize their name or cause. I wouldn't mind if they rotted in jail anonymously for the rest of their lives...

 

[Beaglemom3]

Here is the latest report, not confirmed, but from a mostly reliable source:

Martin Richard was standing near the finish line, watching friends finish the Boston Marathon on Monday when an explosion took his life.

He was 8 years old and in the third grade.

Martin's mother, Denise, was hospitalized with "grievous injuries," The Times of London reported. She reportedly underwent surgery late Monday for an injury to her brain.

His 6-year-old sister, a first grader whose name was not made public, lost her leg in the blast, WHDH reports.


Too horrible to fathom.

 

[CarolF]

My condolences to all affected by this dreadful event. I'm so sorry.

 

[persia]

That's just it, the bomber waited until after the winner had long gone. There was a much smaller, more intimate crowd remaining that was largely family waiting for other family members to finish.