Boston: What We Know So Far

The city and people of Boston — indeed, the people of the world — are still confronting the aftermath of one of the saddest days in the city's history, and the process of mourning the victims, helping the survivors, and finding the perpetrators has very much begun. At least 176 people were injured, 17 critically, and three killed from two bombs that exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

You can see our complete recap of Monday's events here, and follow our other Boston stories here, but keep checking this page throughout the day for new information on the investigation and much more.

The Latest:

Despite the FBI agent in charge of the Boston bombing investigation saying at a press conference early this is evening (see below) that there was "not enough work done to make a notification for the next of kin for the third victim," an announcement on Boston University's website says the third — and still as yet unidentified, unlike the othertwo — among the dead is one of its own, from its graduate school of languages: "The student's name has not been released, pending permission to do so from the family," the announcement reads.

At least two reports surfaced online shortly after the university posted its statement, claiming to have identified the third victim by name — despite the wishes of the family. One of those reports has since been removed. Though one of the sources of those reports said that the "early report it was a Chinese national are wrong," the Chinese consulate reportedly contradicted that claim. The Associated Press reports, "An official at the consulate's press section, who was not authorized to give his name, said that one Chinese student was injured and another died in the blast." 

And here is an update from the school:

The White House has confirmed President Obama's trip to Boston on Thursday. Per the administration's travel plans: "On Thursday morning, the President will travel to Boston to speak at an interfaith service dedicated to those who were gravely wounded or killed in Monday's bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon." 

Highlights from the early evening law enforcement press conference that just concluded: 

FBI special Richard DesLauriers, on evidence: A device or devices have been recovered from the blast site and sent to Quantico for analysis — they include pieces of black nylon could be from a backback, plus BB guns and nails possibly in a pressure cooker device, and are headed to Quantico for analysis. Both of the explosives were placed in a dark colored bag or backpack. "It is difficult to determine specific components uses," he said. "We won't know until the laboratory completes its review." FBI is "postulating" that they would be heavy bags in order to carry a heavy load, and are asking for tips about suspicious persons with black bags or discussing explosive plans. DesLauriers refused to elaborate on reports of a circuit board as a detonator (see below), or on how much planning went in to the attack. 

DesLauriers, on the bomber(s): The FBI had reviewed over 2,000 tips today by noon, with a "tremendous" amount of video submissions from around the crime scenes that are currently being analyzed in Boston, but they need more: "Regarding who might be suspected in this event, the investigation is in its infancy.... Some of our activity you might see, some of it you won't... At this time there are no claims of responsibility... the possibilities are wide open." The next press conference will be in the early afternoon Wednesday. Regarding suspect: "It could be a person, it could be persons." The investigation will "be pursued methodically, diligently, but with a sense of urgency. It's in its inf— early stages."

DesLauriers, on the unidentified victim: "There is not enough work done to make a notification for the next of kin for the third victim."

Governor Deval Patrick: "There is a need for blood on a sustained basis... Do not go and make a donation today, but next week and the week after that there will be an ongoing need for blood donations." An interfaith service with President Obama will held Thursday at 11 a.m. "There is not yet an identified suspect. These are times when all kinds of forces start to conspire and make people think about categories of people... This community will continue to heal if we turn to each other and not on other people." Patrick would not elaborate if there had been specific threats. The National Guard will be gone "when they're not needed anymore." Random bag checks in the T subway system "will continue for the next day or so." 

"Next year's marathon will be even bigger and better." 

A favor from the governor: Victoria, a Northeastern student in the hospital because of a serious schrapnel blast, who was carried to safety by a firefighter, is looking for "Tyler," a National Guard veteran from Afghanistan or Iraq vet who showed her his own schrapnel wound to calm her down. Call 617-725-4000 to help Victoria. 

Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis: Of the security plan leading up to the marathon," Davis insists that "this particular plan was very well thought out and executed.... By the virtue of the type of event this is, you can't turn it into a police state." BPD had extra offices in place, "especially toward the end of the race," in anticipation of a bigger crowd. "This was a standard threat picture. We're certainly extra vigilant after 9/11, but there was nothing specific."

Gene Marquez, ATF: A sulfuric type smell "has been reported," but officials are not ready to confirm. Debris has been recovered at nearby buildings that "gives you a kind of a scope of the power of the blast."

More early evening updates:

Boston's NBC affiliate, WHDH, is trying to put together some pieces of photograph evidence on its own, suggesting this may be the "bag or backpack" in question, with before and after photos:

ABC News is reporting, despite everything we've heard today from doctors and law enforcement officials about pressure cookers and BBs and nails, a new kind of forensics detail: "Explosive used in at least one Boston bomb was gunpowder..." 

The number of injured has risen to 183, according to CNN. Though reporter Ryan Sloane reports that 89 of the 183 people injured in the attack have been released.

The Boston Globe's Shelley Murphy has more on the specifics of where one of the bombs was placed. A circuit board has been found, the one believed to have detonated the blasts, and a source had told Murphy they believed it might have have been used to detonate the devices. Murphy adds that the bomb was actually placed across the street from where Gov. Deval Patrick had been sitting earlier:

The Victims

(Twitter)

Now that time has passed to notify families, many of the victims' stories are starting to be revealed. Early on Tuesday morning, The Boston Globeidentified the 8-year-old boy who was one of the three people killed by one of the blasts. His name is Martin Richard, and he lived in Boston neighborhood of Dorchester. Martin's mother, Denise, and one of his sisters were also seriously injured and remain in the hospital with "grievous injuries." According to one report, the sister, who is six, lost one of her legs. Martin and the rest of his family were waiting at the finish line for his father, William, who ran in the Marathon. Yahoo News reports the family was hit by the second blast after moving into the street to get away from the first explosion. (Image via Facebook via CBS News)

Friends and neighbors have begun leaving messages of condolence outside the Richard's home and in a nearby playground. (via WHDH's Nancy Chen, who has more pictures.)

Apparently, there was some confusion that Martin's mother was the actress Denise Richards, but the names are not the same.

A second victim has been identified as Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old resident of Medford, north of Boston. She was not running in the race, but was a spectator, cheering on a friend. Another friend who was also with her was seriously injured, according to Campbell's father. In a terrible and tragic twist, the Campbell family was actually told by doctors at the hospital that Krystle had survived, WCVB-TV reports, and that it was her friend that had died. Campbell's parents did not realize this until they were allowed to see the patient. WCVB writes:

The third victim is also reportedly a woman though no other information is available at this time. In addition, the father of Martin Richard issued a brief statement:

In another similar heartbreaking story of families waiting together at the finish line, The Globe tells of two adult brothers from the Boston area who were standing next to each other (and near the Richard family) when the bombs went off. Each of the brothers lost a leg in the explosion.

Among those who were injured, doctors say patients ranged in age from 3 to 62 and suffered a wide variety of injuries, from minor to severe cuts and bruises, burns, ear drum damage, head injuries, and some loss of limbs.

Doctors at Boston General Hospital said during a morning briefing that they conducted four amputations, but hope to save two more. Most of the injuries were to the lower extremities, suggesting the bombs were low to the ground. They also announced that they pulled "pellets and nails" from patients and believe they came from the bombs. The most serious injuries were to spectators, not runners.

The Investigation

The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation of the bombings and last night they executed a search warrant on an apartment in Revere, Massachusetts. Authorities did not disclose the nature of the warrant or what drew them to the apartment, but police were seen removing several large bags from the building after 2:00 a.m.

The apartment reportedly belongs to a student from Saudi Arabia who was tackled by a bystander after the blast, and is still in the hospital with injuries. Police have interviewed the student, but say that he is not considered a suspect at this time, have assured Saudi officials that that is the case. He was fully cooperative and said he was only running away from the scene because he was frightened. 

The Boston Globeinterviewed the Saudi student's roommate, who said,"I don’t think he could do that." The student has been identified as a 20-year-old devout Muslim from Medina, who was studying at an English language school in Boston.

The area around the marathon finish remains shut down as an active crime scene and will likely stay that way throughout the day on Tuesday. (The map above shows the cordoned off area.) Dozens of bags were left scattered around the area, dropped by fleeing spectators, and police say that each one must be inspected before being removed from the scene.

On Tuesday morning, several top officials, led by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick led a news conference about the investigation, but offered very little in the way of new information. Gov. Patrick confirmed that "two and only two" explosive devices were found and any reports of other devices were not true. He also confirmed that over 150 176 people were injured. A prayer service will be held on Wednesday.

The FBI also confirmed that were no threats made before the Marathon and no imminent threats since that time. The agent in charge did not comment on other aspects of the case, including details about the bombs themselves or how they were made and detonated.

Many other officials spoke and most asked the public to continue to send tips including photographs and videos that might aid in the investigation. Investigators are obviously hoping that someone might have caught the bomber on tape. Police Commissioner Ed Davis also confirmed that there were 176 confirmed casualties presented at local hospitals, and 3 deaths. 

Beyond that, not much was offered other than encouragement, support, and vows to find the bomber or bombers and bring them to justice. Here are some other quotes from the briefing:

Mayor Tom Menino: "Yesterday, terror was brought to the city of Boston.... Boston is a strong city. The city will get through this." 

Mass. Senator Elizabeth Warren: "The president is actively involved."

Rick Deslauriers, FBI Special Agent in Charge: "Our mission is clear: To bring to justice those responsible for the marathon bombing... Expect to see agents conducting the investigation throughout the Boston area. There are no known additional threats." He later added, "We will go to the end of the earth."

Gene Marquez, ATF: "We have 30 forensic specialists en route or on scene." Rumors of as many as 7 devices were not true. If you have photos or video, please contact authorities. "Crime scene will take several days to process." 

Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney: "This is an active and ongoing investigation."

Ed Davis, Boston Police Commissioner: "Units from New York and Baltimore" are helping. Securing all video in the area is "basic investigative protocol." Ask public to submit photos, including the time they were taken.

Dan Conley, Boston District Attorney: "Make no mistake: an act of cowardice and of this severity cannot be justified or explained. It can only be answered."

A spokesperson for the Pakistani Taliban organization Tehreek-e-Taliban told The Daily Telegraph that his group was not responsible for the Boston attack. They have claimed credit for previous attack on the United States, including a botched Times Square bombing in 2010. They are also the group who carried out the attempted assassination of 14-year-old activist Malala Yousafzai.

Boston officials announced that police and firefighter's unions have offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of those responsible, per CNN.

The Bombs

CBS News and the Associate Press have new updates on the bombs themselves. According to anonymous law enforcement sources, "the explosives were in 6-liter pressure cookers and placed in black duffel bags. The person says the explosives were placed on the ground and contained shards of metal, nails and ball bearings."

More Images

Sports Illustrated has revealed this week's cover (taken by The Boston Globe's John Tlumacki) featuring a powerful and arresting image from the Marathon, and the story of how it came together.

Unclaimed runner's bags from the Boston Marathon are seen in Boston, Massachusetts, April 15, 2013. (REUTERS/Jessica Rindaldi)

Here's a new video taken by a runner in the Boston Marathon as the explosions happened in front of them.

The Next Marathon

Officials in London say they are reviewing the security procedures for this weekend's marathon, in light of the incident in Boston. Nearly 40,000 runners and more than 500,000 spectators are expected for Sunday's race, which is one of the six "major" world marathons, along with Boston. Obviously, security was already on high alert for such a major public event, as it will be for the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, which will be held tomorrow. However, London has also gotten used to securing these events after last summer's Olympics and the Queen's Jubilee festivities, which went off without incident. Prince Harry will present awards to the winners and is still planning to attend.

Tuesday in Boston

Boston is "open for business" according to Mayor Thomas Menino, but there are a few places that won't be opening due to the blasts. It's spring break week for Boston Public Schools so all schools were already scheduled to be closed today. A few local colleges, including Emerson College and Berklee College of Music, are also closed today. All trains are running, but the station closest to the blasts, Copley Square, is closed. The JFK library, where fire broke out yesterday, will remain closed. Some downtown offices have limited access so people who can, are working from home.

Tonight's home game for the Boston Celtics has been canceled and will not be re-scheduled since the regular season ends Wednesday and it will not affect playoff seedings. It will be the first time since the 82-game season began in 1967, that a team will not play the full schedule of games.

President Obama has ordered U.S. flags across the nation to be blown at half-staff until Saturday.

Situation at Logan

Around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a full ground stop was ordered at Boston's Logan Airport have a U.S. Airways flight that had just landed was on its way to Philadelphia Chicago was stopped on the tarmac and passengers evacuated. It's not known at the moment if the incident is related to the Marathon investigation, police have surrounded the jet on the runway and reportedly ordered two male passengers off, reportedly because they were speaking Arabic. (In a separate incident, a terminal at New York's LaGuaradia Airport is also being evacuated after a suspicious package scare.) A passenger onboard tweeted that the situation is now all clear. (The same goes for a temporary situation at New York's LaGuardia airport.) . (In a separate incident, a terminal at New York's LaGuaradia Airport is also being evacuated after a suspicious package scare.) A passenger onboard tweeted that the situation is now all clear. (The same goes for a temporary situation at New York's LaGuardia airport.)

"An Act of Terror"

President Obama delivered a short address from the White House Press Room before noon, calling the attack a "heinous and cowardly act" and (for the first time) referring to it as act of terror. He didn't offer any other updates on the investigation, saying we don't yet know who is responsible or what their motive is, but "all resources" are being deployed for the case. He did not take questions from the media.

(Photo by Pete Sousa, White House)

Here are some other passages from the President's statement:

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