updated 4:44 PM EDT, Mon April 15, 2013
A person who was injured in an explosion near the finish line of the Boston Marathon is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair on Monday, April 15. Read our developing news story and follow up-to-the-minute reports on CNN.com's Just In blog. personnel respond to the scene. At least two people were killed and dozens were injured, Boston police said.
Police and emergency crews tend to victims.
Police and emergency crews tend to victims.An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher.A man lays on the ground after the incident.Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down a runner at the finish line.The second explosion goes off near the finish line.Smoke billows after two explosions go off near the finish line.Rescue workers tend to victims at the scene.The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.The blasts occurred a few seconds apart on opposite sides of the street, CNN Producer Matt Frucci reported.Explosions rock Boston Marathon
An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher.
A man lays on the ground after the incident.
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down a runner at the finish line.
The second explosion goes off near the finish line.
Smoke billows after two explosions go off near the finish line.
Rescue workers tend to victims at the scene.
The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
The blasts occurred a few seconds apart on opposite sides of the street, CNN Producer Matt Frucci reported.The explosions sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square, turning a site of celebration into a mess of destruction.
"It felt like a huge cannon," a witness told CNN about one of theblasts.
Authorities in Boston have found other explosive devices that they were working to dismantle, a federal law enforcement source told CNN. The devices were "low flashpoint," and did not appear to have shrapnel inside them, the source said.
It was unclear who may have planted the bombs. There were no credible threats before the race, a state government official said.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Lenox Hotel was evacuated, the Boston Globe reported, as authorities looked into possible security concerns.
Massachusetts General Hospital said it was treating 19 injured people,six of them in critical condition. Tufts Medical Center reported that it was treating nine people. Combined, that brings the number of injured to at least 28. Police reported 22 people injured.
Crowds were in the area watching the runners when the blasts took place.
"We are currently in contact with federal, state and city officials," Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick wrote on Twitter.
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.
"If you see something, say something," Mark Boughton, mayor of Canbury, Connecticut, wrote on Twitter. "All cities will be on a heightened state of alertness per Homeland Security protocols."
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.
Runners east of Massachusetts Avenue were directed to Boston Common; those west of Massachusetts Avenue were directed to Kenmore Square, the state's emergency management agency said.
Troops from the Massachusetts National Guard were assisting police as well.