Boston Explosions

[RoseCavilla]

At a marathon near the finish line, 2 dead, 23 injured so far from two explosions. What the hell?? They're not sure if it was an accident or terroist attempt. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/1...r-finish-line-boston-marathon-spokesman-says/

But there was a medical tent with more emergency beds than any hospital in the city, that was good luck. There's a lot of unconfirmed reports about explosive devices and intentional controlled explosions.

 

[jamjars]

Just been reading about this on twitter/tumblr. Absolutely awful. Severed legs lying all over the place

 

[LacieLaPlante]

My mom works in Boston and can't get home because they shut down some trains in fear that they could become victim as well.

 

[IsabellaSnow]

This is so horrible It was a marathon, I mean ffs, marathons are one of the things we do that is actually all round good and healthy. ugh

 

[LailaBaise]

Yep, dedicated athletes and their loved ones/supporters who are also likely to be raising money for charities are really fair game for a terrorist attack. Absolutely appalling.

 

[LaceyRoyce]

Praying for those in boston. Be kind to one another today.. this world so desperately needs kindness. There is so much cruelty...

 

[Brad]

I have been watching some of this on the CNN site. I can't get past the whole WTF thought I had when this first broke on the news sites. Just stupid and senseless.
:icon-cry:

 

[mynameisbob84]

The whole thing is fucked and terribly depressing and a pretty terrifying indictment of people's stupidity. Whoever was responsible and whatever their reasons, they had to justify it to themselves and saw it as a necessary act - to do so requires a level of idiocy that's hard to fathom.

 

[EmilyConrad]

This is so sad.

 

[Mayaaaaa]

http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1ceyx1/boston_marathon_explosions_two_dead_64_injured_as/

^This thread is being constantly updated with news surrounding the story. Latest news is that despite a rumor that a person of interest was in custody, Boston Police Department has denied it. Obama will be speaking of the event at 6:10 EST.

It makes me sick with rage. What does this accomplish? What kind of fucking strategy IS this? Unfortunately things like this are happening all over the world all of the time, and events like these are only a reminder of the atrocities happening in the world today. All I can think about is what if my little girl were there? Those families of the injured and deceased are going through something unimaginable today.

If you are in the boston area and are able to make a blood donation, please do so.

I hope this can inspire all of us to make positive changes in our lives and the lives of others. As soon as I can I'll be going to make a blood donation of my own despite being far far away from Boston. Blood is needed everywhere. What do you guys think about coming together to promote blood drives, or donation drives for the families that were affected today? I just want to do something, ANYTHING to help offset the horrible negative impact of today.

 

[EmilyConrad]

From what I'm hearing on ABC News, although nothing has been confirmed, a lot are speculating it was a domestic terrorist attack rather than foreign. The reasons why they think this are because although it was tragic, international attack groups tend to go for attacks on a higher scale and this was more contained, it's Tax Day which could influence anti-government extremist groups and also Hitler's birthday is the 20th, this period of time has been popular in the past with other domestic attacks like Oklahoma City and Virginia Tech, and no one has "claimed" the attack -- most of the time international groups would have by now while domestic groups normally don't. While it would be disgusting to have this attack come from one of our own citizens, I feel like I'd rather it be a local group than an international extremist group with more power.

But at this point it's all speculation.

President Obama is making a statement at 6:10 PM EST.

No matter if it's domestic or international, how could anyone be so sick and cruel to harm people? What makes anyone think it's okay to cause pain to someone else or take the life away from another person? These people were doing something that should be celebrated.. running a marathon.. but now their lives are forever changed. No matter if they were physically hurt or not, I can't imagine the emotional scars. My heart is so heavy for them tonight.

 

[RoseCavilla]

How fucked up can people get? This had to of been planned by more than one person; that's insane.

Is the city still under lockdown? How the heck do you recover from a situation like this?

I'm listening to Obama now. His speech sounds a little too similar to the Newton Conneticut and movie theater shootings. Where is this plant heading?

 

[PunkInDrublic]

Patton Oswalt:

Boston. Fucking 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."

 

[RoseCavilla]

One of the injured is just three years old. Dear god. I can't imagine what these families are feeling.

 

[Mayaaaaa]

^^Punk, that was beautiful.

Rose, another who died was 8 years old... My own daughter is one. I kind of like the old fashioned idea of catching the perp and letting him loose in a room full of the parents whose children he hurt and murdered.

 

[zipcity]

This whole thing makes me sick at heart. What could possibly justify this? How could someone convince themselves this could somehow help anyone?

In my heart, I believe most people are good and decent. But the ones who aren't seem to be betting scarier and crazier all the time.

 

[krukstyle]

This whole thing absolutely disgusts me. I have close friends who train for years to be able to take place in events such as this one--to make a movement towards positive change in their own lives and in the lives of others, as through the inspiration such a feat can inspire and the fact that much charity is generated through large marathon events such as this one. I cannot believe that some infected festering faction of our society would target an event like this which brings joy to so many people and harms absolutely no one--and will inevitably now cast a negative stigma over all future large scale high profile city races throughout the country. I can't even attempt to wrap my mind around what happened--it is just completely senseless.

On a more positive note--it is inspiring to see people boding together--people actually running towards the explosion sites to help the injured--people donating blood--and people just generally helping others and spreading goodwill. This is definitely something we need more of on a daily basis to combat these hidden pockets of negativity.

Obviously this story is still fresh--and much is still not known, but I all I can hope is that those responsible are found out and brought to justice for the ridiculous and heinous violence they have generated. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected by this horrifying event.

 

[HiGirlsRHot]

I had two friends directly impacted. The woman had her Boston Marathon halted .2 miles (i.e. about 2 minutes) from the finish, which has to be a minor tragedy for any marathoner.
The last few hours of her Facebook have been her been evacuated from one location to another.

Another friend and his family were watching at the finish line. When the first bomb went off his sister (who was visiting Boston) grabbed his 7 year old daughter and started running.
A very good thing she did the 2nd bomb went off exactly where they were standing. As it was the bomb blast knocked them off their feet but fortunately resulted in no injuries.

 

[MrRodry]

I'm not sure the title of this video is actually right but damn...

 

[HarmlessSquirrel]

I am sad and angry.

Sad for the people affected by what happened in Boston.

I should be angry at those responsible, but I don't know who they are. Instead, I'm angry about what an idiot tweeted (and other idiots retweeted) in response. They didn't care that people were blown up. They cared that somehow this would be used as an excuse to promote gun control. Whatever one's attitude is toward guns:

a) What the hell does this have to do with guns in the first place?

b) Does everything have to be about politics?

c) Something awful just happened. Can't they shut the hell up about their pet issue long enough to let people catch their breaths?

I know I'm probably being a little irrational feeling this bent out of shape about a stupid tweet, but somehow this just struck me as disgusting.


I did also see what Patton Oswalt wrote (and really seeing the tweet of that was more of a good thing than the above was bad). I admired what he said enough to retweet it myself, which I rarely do. Hooray for the good people whose instincts were to go toward the danger and help. Also hooray that the majority of people do care about what really matters.

 

[HiGirlsRHot]

For all the silly things that get posted on Facebook somebody there is some real important first hand reports.

My friend, his sister who lives in Boston, his wife and young daughter were by the dark building on the right when the explosions went off.

This is his latest and most terrifying status update.

This might seem strange to many who have been glued to the TV all day. But do you want to know what the worst part of the day was? Not the 1st bomb, not the realization when the second one went off and we all felt that the faces around us would be the last we would ever see...acceptance is surprisingly powerful and calming....it was not needing to run straight towards a ground-zero blast recently painted red because Jean needed me find her daughter or tell her for 100% certainty the broken bloody bodies did not share our DNA...it was the walk away from the bombs in pursuit of safety...self doubt run amock at every step with the stakes higher than any ever... "am i going the right way, or the wrong way...Is my insistence on walking down the middle of the street to avoid sidewalk bombs smart or foolish, is this guy with the suitcase my end or another poor soul seeking solace...if I make the wrong decision do I take my loved ones with me are the better off following me, holding my hands or am the bane of their existence" I will and possibly am over the devastation of the actual events...having to ignore the lady with her face nearly peeling off..not once but twice because I had something more important to attend to...the intense schade fruede at the family fallen at bomb 1 when I realized there were only 2.5 bodies (didn't realize it was a child until the news said so) and not mine, not my loved ones...not my Chelly Chel and Kath.......I can deal with reality when it kicks my ass...but those minutes of uncertainty holding loved ones fate in my hands when doing nothing is not an option and every option could be the kiss of death is something that will take many a days and maybe a life time to remedy...fucking hate bastards who did this to us!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NoelleBright]

What.the.fuck.

It appears at least one of the bombs used in the Boston Marathon attack was composed of a pressure cooker filled with nails and ball bearings, according to federal sources.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/04/live-updates-boston-marathon-bombing-day-2/

 

[IsabellaSnow]

I should be angry at those responsible, but I don't know who they are. Instead, I'm angry about what an idiot tweeted (and other idiots retweeted) in response. They didn't care that people were blown up. They cared that somehow this would be used as an excuse to promote gun control. Whatever one's attitude is toward guns:

Some people are speculating whether it was gun nuts because of the marathons connection with the recent shooting. It's a speculation, although it is possible, nothing can be ruled out at the moment. It could possibly be a group of loonies trying to prove how much damage can be done without guns... I don't know. I really really hope it isn't that though. If it were it would probably be one of the sickest things. If it were then I don't think it should effect gun control, but maybe try and control peoples attitudes towards them. If they are supposed to be protection, well, if the attitude is causing people to be more dangerous than they would be then it's a moot point.

It is ridiculously premature to say anything on that matter though. I'm going to pray it wasn't to do with that. But dear god I can't think of anything that it possibly could be about. I was shocked at that suggestion. But I think I'd be shocked about any suggestions. It's so horribly senseless. I also agree with you that it is NOT ok to use something like this to push your own personal views. Not straight after and not on pure speculation.

The horrible thing everyone has to remember though is that people try planning these things literally all the time. Most of them get caught and stopped before they even start so fortunately they never happen. We are an overpopulated world, full of anger, madness and acess to the kind of weapons that can do a lot of damage. What is so so horrible about this is things like this marathon are one of the displays where humans are genuinely caring of one another, supporting each other, achieving something and usually doing it for some form of charity. To have that kind of hatred and horror coming to something so pure... ugh. I can't even get my head around it. My heart goes out to the people who were there or had friends/family involved. I'm distraught just hearing about it miles away from any of the danger, I cannot imagine what it's like for everyone involved.

 

[Bocefish]

An arrest has been made, news briefing expected around 1700 EST.

 

[SexySteph]

An arrest has been made, news briefing expected around 1700 EST.

Where'd you hear about that? I've been scouring the news and there's nothing. :/

 

[Nordling]

An arrest has been made, news briefing expected around 1700 EST.

Where'd you hear about that? I've been scouring the news and there's nothing. :/

I've been hearing it for the last couple hours on various radio stations, however, I just now heard that the FBI is denying the arrest.

 

[Bocefish]

Yep, several news outlets had it "confirmed" via atleast one Federal source but have since retracted their confirmation.

 

[NoelleBright]

An arrest has been made, news briefing expected around 1700 EST.

Where'd you hear about that? I've been scouring the news and there's nothing. :/

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout...nce-substantial-progress-probe-170749073.html

I'm not sure how credible yahoo news generally is, but they seem to be on top of their updates on it.

 

[lordmagellan]

Apparently, CNN and the AP are reporting an arrest, but CBS is reporting the opposite. CNN's reporting video from a tv station and Lord & Taylor show someone placing a black bag at the second site.

 

[Bocefish]

The FBI news briefing is still currently scheduled for 1700 EST which should clear things up a bit.