At least two people were killed and 23 others wounded when two explosions struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, police said, according to AFP.

Site of Boston explosion
Reuters
Police did not immediately say whether the explosions were part of a terrorist attack, but marathon organizers said it was a twin bombing and media outlets reported that other unexploded devices had been found nearby.

CNN reported that a third explosion happened at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, which is located about five miles southeast of the Boston Marathon finish line.

Police could not immediately verify whether that explosion is related to the two near the Boston Marathon finish line. The third explosion, according to local media, may have been a controlled detonation.
Massachusetts General Hospital told CNN it was treating 19 injured people; Tufts Medical Center reported that some injured were to be treated there as well.

The explosions sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square, turning a site of celebration into a mess of destruction, according to CNN.

According to CBS News, two bombs were inside trash cans near the viewing area close to the finish line. One unexploded device has been recovered, according to CBS.

Officials in other cities, including New York, tightened security as a result of the Boston blasts.
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.
Security was stepped up in New York and Washington, sites of the 9/11 attacks, reported AFP. In the Big Apple, police said they were boosting security at hotels and "other prominent locations in the city."

via israelnn.com