The FBI is looking for information from anybody who may have seen someone carrying a very heavy dark bag shortly before Monday’s twin bombings at the Boston Marathon.
Investigators have found pieces of black nylon which they say may have come from a backpack at the bomb site.
The FBI says the range of suspects is wide open, but that no one has claimed responsibility. It says authorities will “go to the ends of the Earth” to identify those responsible.
Maryland Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger said after a security briefing Tuesday it is not likely that al-Qaida or any foreign government was involved because of the lack of prior intelligence.
Two blasts seconds apart killed three people at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, including an 8-year-old boy. One-hundred-76 people were injured. A number of them lost limbs.
U.S. President Barack Obama called it a “heinous and cowardly act of terrorism. He ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims. The president will attend an interfaith service in Boston for the victims on Thursday.
Counterterrorism officials said the bombs were made using explosives packed in pressure cookers with pieces of metal, ball bearings and nails meant to hurt as many people as possible.
A doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital says those victims listed as critical are improving. He called the wounded “amazing people” and that he was touched to hear victims who lost a leg say how glad they are just to be alive.
Cities worldwide stepped up security following the explosions. Â In Britain, police said they are reviewing security plans for Sunday’s London Marathon, the next major international marathon.
The blasts took place about four hours into the race, long after the marathon winners had finished, but when many of the slower runners were crossing the finish line with family members and friends waiting to congratulate them. Â More than 23,000 runners from around the world competed.
Deadly bombings in the United States
April 15, 2013: Twin blasts at the Boston Marathon kill at least 3, injure more than 140
September 11, 2001: Hijacked jets crash into World Trade Center, Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field killing nearly 3,000
July 27, 1996: Atlanta Summer Olympics bombing kills 2, injures more than 100
April 19, 1995: Car bomb at Oklahoma City federal building kills 168, injures more than 500
February 26, 1993: Van explosion in World Trade Center garage kills 6, injures more than 1,000
December 29, 1975: Bomb at New York’s LaGuardia Airport kills 11, injures 75
September 16, 1920: Bombing in New York’s Wall Street area kills 40, injures hundreds