Explosions kill two, wound scores in terror attack at Boston Marathon

At least two people died and scores injured Monday after two bombs detonated in a terrorist attack at the annual Boston Marathon. 

President Obama, speaking to the nation Monday evening, vowed to bring the perpetrators of the bombing to justice. 

"We still do not know who did this or why, and people should not jump to conclusions before we have all the facts," Obama said at the White House. "But make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this, we'll find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice."

The blasts prompted the Secret Service to extend the security perimeter outside the White House and police heightened security in Washington, New York and other major U.S. cities. 

Obama did not specifically describe the blasts as terrorism. But shortly after the president spoke, the White House said it is treating the bombing as an "act of terror" even though it's not known if a foreign or domestic group is responsible. 

"Any event with multiple explosive devices — as this appears to be — is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror," said a White House official. "However, we don’t yet know who carried out this attack, and a thorough investigation will have to determine whether it was planned and carried out by a terrorist group, foreign or domestic.

The bombing was the terror attack on U.S. soil since an army major killed 13 people and wounded dozens of other in November, 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas. 

"We're still in the investigations stage at this point, but I just want to reiterate we will find out who did this and hold them accountable," Obama said.

The two explosions occurred 50 to 100 yards apart near the finish line of the Boston Marathon at 2:50 p.m., Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said at a press conference. Later, he said there was no suspect in custody at the time.

"There is no suspect in custody," Davis said. "We're questioning many people but there is no one in custody at this time."

NBC News reported that small home-made bombs were responsible for the blasts. Intelligence officials said two more explosive devices were found and that authorities had begun dismantling them, according to The Associated Press. 

The AP reported early Monday evening that more than 100 people were injured in the two blasts. But Davis said police were not ready to give a count of how many were injured or killed. 

"We don't have the number of casualties at this point in time," Davis said. "This is very early in this investigation. We wanted to get up here and give you as much information as we had, but we cannot tell you exactly how many people have been injured at this point." 

White House Flickr feed

Obama was notified about the incident by Homeland Security adviser Lisa Monaco and staffers at 3 p.m., according to the White House. 

The president called Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) and Boston Mayor Tom Menino "to express his concern for those who were injured and to make clear that his administration is ready to provide needed support as they respond to the incident," according to the White House.

Obama was briefed by Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about the investigations of the explosions Monday afternoon. He briefed Boehner (R-Ohio) at about 5:30 p.m. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts is coordinating the Justice Department response with our National Security Division, FBI, ATF and other federal, state and local law enforcement authorities.

Security immediately tightened around the White House at around 4 p.m., with tourists being moved off Pennsylvania Avenue and into a nearby park.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have expanded our security perimeter at the White House complex. It is not unusual to expand or contract these security perimeters," Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said.

Officials in both New York and Washington stepped up security in the aftermath of the blasts.

Washington, D.C., police told NBC News that they had "heightened security" in the nation's capital. The D.C. Metrorail subway system increased police patrols on their lines.

Local television feeds in Boston showed a chaotic scene at the finish line, with emergency personnel seeking to attend to the injured.

The Boston blasts happened roughly three hours after the marathon winners passed the finish line, according to The Associated Press. The annual race takes place every Patriots' Day, a civic holiday in Massachusetts held on the third Monday of each April commemorating the first battles of the American Revolution.

The explosions, believed to be at 673 Boylston Street, were reportedly heard seconds apart from each other. The Lenox Hotel in Boston was evacuated in response to the blasts, the Boston Globe reported.

A special mile marker at this year's marathon was dedicated to the victims of the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December. The mile marker hung at the 26th mile of the marathon. The explosions happened near the finish line of the 26.2 mile route.

Vice President Biden was on a conference call when news broke about the explosion.

"Our prayers are with those people in Boston who have suffered injuries," Biden said. "I don’t know how many there are."

Top lawmakers quickly addressed the incident, with Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) saying the victims were in their thoughts.

Praying for the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy and their families #PrayforBoston

— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) April 15, 2013

Praying for everyone in Boston.

— Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) April 15, 2013

Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) expressed similar sentiments, sending his prayers to the city.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the runners, their families, and the City of Boston.

— Scott P. Brown (@ScottBrownMA) April 15, 2013

Maine Sens. Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) issued a joint statement saying they were "deeply saddened" by the explosions. Collins and King said the bombings had the "hallmarks of a terrorist attack."

"As members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, we will be continually updated of the situation. In the meantime, initial press reports that multiple improvised explosive devices may have been involved at this high profile national event bear the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," the two senators said. 

"We stand united as Americans in our unfaltering support of one another."

According to a Justice Department spokesman, Attorney General Eric Holder, has spoken with Mueller and U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Carmen Ortiz.   Attorney General Holder has directed the full resources of the Justice Department to  be deployed to ensure this matter is fully investigated.

—This story was posted at 3:05 p.m. and last updated at 7:06 p.m. 

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