Two explosions close to the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

[BlueStarLizzard]

That would be a 180 - but we know what you mean.

Or did the solar flare last night screw up geometry as well as the Northern Lights?

stay safe.

Yes, I meant 180. I am being distracted by TV coverage.

[AJ Dual]

From the video, it really looked looked like black powder to me... It would have been worse had it been something high-order. It just didn't look like it had high brisance.

[BlueStarLizzard]

Hospital Dr. in press confrence is saying no victums with hazardest material exposure.

So that's something.

[Fitz]

Prediction: Former military, probably Eod , With service in Iraq or Afghanistan

Probably more than one person. There is a lot of planning and effort involved in a coordinated strike with multiple IEDs

I'm also guessing claymore

[lupinus]

From the video, it really looked looked like black powder to me... It would have been worse had it been something high-order. It just didn't look like it had high brisance.

Just depends on the size and how well it was constructed. Could be anything at this point.

[dogmush]

Seemingly reliable reports of two more unexploded IED's, and ball bearings on the street near the explosions. The two we know of were near the medical aid tent. Suggestive of coordinated anti-personnel attack. I'm hoping the evacuation routes aren't mined.

This thought occured to me as well.  

I'm also guessing claymore

Homemade.  A real one is more effective.

[Boomhauer]

Prediction: Former military, probably Eod , With service in Iraq or Afghanistan

Probably more than one person. There is a lot of planning and effort involved in a coordinated strike with multiple IEDs

I'm also guessing claymore

Info I'm getting is talking about ball bearings, so at least they were trying for a claymore effect in that.

[Neemi]

Got word that two of my family members out there are safe. They are looking for their third party member. May not know for a while - she didn't have her phone since she was running.

[Balog]

The runner tracker website is still functioning last I saw Neemi.

NY Post reports 12 dead, 50+ wounded, at least 10 amputations. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/two_explosions_at_boston_marathon_iMR0LCkcwASg0RQfVsH1yI?utm_source=SFnewyorkpost&utm_medium=SFnewyorkpost

[Fitz]

M

[Hawkmoon]

Current reports are devices that are unexploded. If so, there was significant planning for this attack. (Not that two devices with one timed to drive more people towards the second explosion does not involve planning.)

Standard terrorist strategy. It's very common to set off a small blast, with a much larger one set as a trap to take out the first responders.

[Bigjake]

From the video, it really looked looked like black powder to me... It would have been worse had it been something high-order. It just didn't look like it had high brisance.

From the video,  I agree.   No shockwave, just a sort of "boom".   Thank the gods for amateurs.

[Hawkmoon]

I find it intresting. I've flipped through three diffrent channels (abc, cbs and nbc) and the reporters are being very careful about making absolute statements.

Which is a complete 360 from the last big news story that they broadcasted live.

Yeah, but Newtown (Sandy Hook) was clearly perpetrated by an American with an evil black rifle, so mass publicity played into the agenda. But the Department of Homeland (In)Security keeps telling us we're safe, so the fact that we obviously are NOT safe does not support the party line, and therefore must be suppressed.

[Balog]

Highly unlikely to be black powder, reports indicate backpacks in trash cans as the source. A backpack full of BP wouldn't be that big, esp given the detonator and (reported) ball bearing payload. Probably lower order like tnt not a c4 or something more advanced.

[Stetson]

Just heard from a nurse friend out there.  She's okay.  She hasn't been called in yet but could be.

Some reports of one bomb in a trashcan.  Would that give the same affects as a home made claymore?

[Boomhauer]

OK now word I'm getting is at least one suspect has been arrested. Saudi national which of course points to AQ

ETA cell phone service was apparently shut down in an effort to prevent a cell phone trigger from working.

Would that give the same affects as a home made claymore?

You'd get some frag from a trashcan but what I'm hearing is specifically ball bearings were used in construction of at least one of the devices.

[kgbsquirrel]

From the video, it really looked looked like black powder to me... It would have been worse had it been something high-order. It just didn't look like it had high brisance.

Just saw it, same thoughts, low order explosions.

Prediction: Former military, probably Eod , With service in Iraq or Afghanistan

Probably more than one person. There is a lot of planning and effort involved in a coordinated strike with multiple IEDs

I'm also guessing claymore

It would have been a lot bigger than what I just saw if it was someone with even a modicum of training.

Highly unlikely to be black powder, reports indicate backpacks in trash cans as the source. A backpack full of BP wouldn't be that big, esp given the detonator and (reported) ball bearing payload. Probably lower order like tnt not a c4 or something more advanced.

TNT or C4 would have been much larger. Half a kilogram can demolish an uparmored humvee. Low frequency boom, lots of smoke, limited frag range. SWAG: pipe bomb with either smokeless or black powder.

[kgbsquirrel]

More explosions at the JFK library.

[BlueStarLizzard]

OK now word I'm getting is at least one suspect has been arrested. Saudi national which of course points to AQ

Which outlet is reporting this?

[Neemi]

yeah I was piecing together where she was at the time the explosions went off - she should've been a ways from the blast.

She just joined up with the others - so all are safe. Phew.

[BlueStarLizzard]

More explosions at the JFK library.

And that's still going back and forth. Police cheif said it was explosion. Library still saying it was just an electrical fire.

[K Frame]

Fox is reporting that one person with severe burns is under guard at a hospital as a suspect.

[AJ Dual]

Feeling the usual relief-then-pseudo-guilt-at-feeling-relieved to hear there's a probable Islamic/middle eastern connection with the suspect.

It is "tax day" after all, and the MSM was starting to speculate.

[Fitz]

Anyone else made nervous by this line?

"Somebody's leg flew by my head," a spectator, who gave his name as John Ross, told the Boston Herald. "I gave my belt to stop the blood."

[BlueStarLizzard]

Fox is reporting that one person with severe burns is under guard at a hospital as a suspect.

hmmm...

Also, intresting. My boss called me shortly after I found out about it (call was work related) when I asked if she knew about it, she said that Fox was the only radio reporting it and it still hadn't broken on NPR at that point.