The Boston Marathon Massacre

Eric LaMont Gregory

The second explosion along the finish line of the Boston Marathon,
it followed the first explosion by about 15 seconds

Two devices, exploded with seconds of one another along the finish line of the Boston Marathon, and a third device was recovered unexploded.   As of 9 pm EST five additional, undetonated explosive devices have been found around the Boston area.  One of the unexploded devices was discovered at the Mandarin and another device was found at the Lenox hotel in Downtown Boston.   

More than 100 people have been reported injured, many grievously, and there are several reported fatalities.  The youngest casualty is reported to be a two year old, and the oldest in their early sixties.

The Boston Marathon which began with a 26 second moment of silence to pay respect to those killed in Newtown mass shooting tragedy; came to a final and bloody end.

Early reports suggest the use of shrapnel in the devices that exploded, which if confirmed will illustrate clearly that these devices were designed intentionally to inflict maximum causalities.  The coordinated attacks also bear semblance to those employed by the IRA, who would explode one device and then a second in the direction people would flee from the first.  This would not be the first time that an IRA type bombing technique has been seen in the Americas.

There are reports of an explosion at the JFK library, and at this hour all flights in and out of Boston have been grounded and cell phone service has been shut down.

The most worrisome aspect of these bombings is the possibility that the explosives were triggered over the cell phone network.  Federal investigators have had ample time, due to the discovery of so many undetonated devices, to know what the triggering mechanism was.  If it is confirmed that the bombs were triggered over the cell network, this would signal the dawn of a more sinister and dangerous phase of insurgency.   

“All Americans stand with the people of Boston.” President Obama said in an afternoon press conference after discussions with his director of homeland security, “It’s a reminder that so many Americans serve and sacrifice on our behalf every day.  We still do not know who did this or why and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts.  But make no mistake, we will find out who did this.”

On a day where the worst of the human spirit was on display, we also observed the kind of courage and professionalism we have come to expect from our emergency services, and our men and women in blue.

The Boston Marathon began in 1897, and this running was scheduled to coincide with the 238th celebration of Patriot's Day in Massachusetts.  Patriot’s Day is a celebration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.  The shot heard around the world.