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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Explosion at the Marathon

Explosion at the Marathon

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Apparently something blew up in Boston near the finish line. Details right now are sketchy.

This is kind of freaking me out, because not five minutes ago I was looking at the front page of the NYTimes, and I saw a blurb that said “BLASTS ACROSS IRAQ KILL AT LEAST 37” and my first thought was “thank goodness we don’t have that happening every day here in the states.”

Reader Interactions

407Comments

  2. 2.

    Villago Delenda Est

    From what I understand at this point, there were two explosions, in a crowd.

  4. 4.

    GregB

    Oh my. New tape of the moment of the explosion. Fuck.

    Explosions happened on Boylston St. near the grand stands.

  6. 6.

    aimai

    This is very much freaking me out because I have a friend running in the Boston Marathon today and my child transits through copley square, the area of the blast, every day. She didn’t go into school today because of the marathon and the holiday otherwise she’d be down there. I can’t get any information on what is going on and I’m not actually worried that we are going to descend into anarchy and bombs all the time but this is bad enough if the pictures are any indication. I’ve already seen a “blame Obama” post under the first twitter shit because the pix were all over Hot Air and Fox.

  8. 8.

    4tehlulz

    One explosion, then another 15 sec later.

    If this is not a bombing, I would be very surprised.

  9. 9.

    The Moar You Know

    Domestic, right-wingers. It’s tax day.

    Expect massive attempts to misdirect to any other explanation.

  11. 11.

    scav

    @cleek: You going for a crowd? Might be more later as the middle of the pack come in and meet their families. For camera impact you might go for the live first across the line timing. if intentional, this one was going for blood it would seem.

  12. 12.

    Mnemosyne

    I’m wondering what the possibility is of it being infrastructure fail rather than terrorism. My mind immediately went to the San Bruno pipeline explosion that happened in Northern California a few years ago.

    ETA: That Buzzfeed link is saying it may have been a suspicious package under the stands so, crap, looks like terrorism. Are we sure Eric Rudolph is still in prison?

  13. 13.

    Violet

    That’s awful. I hope any injuries were minor. Why’s the marathon being run on a Monday? Is that the usual day?

  14. 14.

    GregB

    A Boston reporter who said he was roughly 25 feet away saw the explosion and said it was not a manhole cover explosion.

    Reporting that he witnessed what was likely a number of dead.

    He estimated 15 to 20 people seriously injured at one explosion site.

  20. 20.

    cleek

    @scav:

    You going for a crowd?

    bombers want attention. hitting the pros would get more attention than hitting the amateurs.

    or, i dunno. maybe not. i find it hard to think like a cowardly mass murderer.

  21. 21.

    Roger Moore

    @The Moar You Know:

    Domestic, right-wingers.

    Is it irresponsible to speculate? Hell yes, it is. It’s at least as likely to be some apolitical whackaloon, or somebody like the Unibomber who’s so far out on the fringe that it doesn’t make sense to describe their politics in terms of typical left/right politics. Let’s at least wait until there are some facts before trying to lay the blame.

  25. 25.

    Calming Influence

    This is one of the most videoed events on earth; there’s got to be images of someone planting the bombs, right?

  26. 26.

    The Red Pen

    Predicted Free Republic response: It’s a false flag operation so that Obama has a reason to seize our guns.

    It’s funny until one of them shoots a cop.

  27. 27.

    ? Martin

    Have two friends running, but I know one is still on the course (from a family member). Not sure about the other one – she’s more likely to be near the finish as she’s a much stronger runner, but I also expected to see a tweet that she finished, so my guess is she’s still running as well.

    Damn, a lot of blood in that first buzzfeed photo. Squeamish people might want to avoid that link.

  28. 28.

    shortstop

    @The Moar You Know:

    Domestic, right-wingers. It’s tax day.

    In Boston. Right after a Kenyan won the women’s.

    ETA: On “Patriots Day.” Because killing and maiming dozens of human beings to protest taxation with representation is exactly like throwing someone’s property into the harbor to protest taxation without representation.

  29. 29.

    Violet

    @Villago Delenda Est: Ah, I didn’t know that. Thanks. Don’t pay a lot of attention to the Boston marathon. Our local marathon is always on a Sunday and I figured weekends were the normal days.

  30. 30.

    YellowJournalism

    We have a lot of healthy BJers who participate or watch these types of events. Hope everyone and their families are okay. The first Buzzfeed pic is brutal when you realize what’s on the ground.

  32. 32.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @The Red Pen:

    Of course it’s an Obama false flag operation. Just like Sandy Hook.

    Hell, if someone takes a shot at Obama or any member of his family, the Freeper scum will say THAT is a false flag operation.

  34. 34.

    ? Martin

    Well, let’s not jump to conclusions here. There’s a lot of stuff going on at an event like this. Could have been an infrastructure failure or an accident related to the race.

  35. 35.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @shortstop:

    Because killing and maiming dozens of human beings to protest taxation with representation is exactly like throwing someone’s a large crown sanctioned monopoly corporation’s property into the harbor to protest taxation without representation.

    Just a slight adjustment

  36. 36.

    schrodinger's cat

    Tax Day and Boston, coincidence? I think not. We will soon find out. Hopefully just an accident as some others have speculated.

  38. 38.

    The Moar You Know

    Is it irresponsible to speculate?

    @Roger Moore: Boston, tax day, bombs. I feel very comfortable is speculating who the likely suspects are, and the last person on that list is going to be “apolitical wackaloon”.

    Here’s your Tea Party, America, new and improved!

  39. 39.

    Mike E

    A reporter on ESPN OTL who was in lockdown at a nearby hotel posited that the bombs were hidden in trashcans at the finish line.

  44. 44.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @? Martin:

    No, no, no! Jump to conclusions, in haste, repent at leisure, if ever at all!

    OK, can I haz job at Faux Noise now?

  45. 45.

    The Dangerman

    It’s not only Tax Day but also Jackie Robinson Day (plus, 42 is out now); I hope all MLB does an extra thorough sweep of the grounds today.

  46. 46.

    Shinobi

    Reports on twitter are that they are sweeping the streets. And that at least one hotel has been evacuated.

    TPM has a source indicating that the blasts started above ground, possibly from inside a building.

  48. 48.

    minutemaid

    Oh for fucks sakes. All I’ve read so far is that someone blew up a garbage can and you morons are already spunking on the ceiling over what right wingers are going to say.

    Not sure what all happened and I hope it’s not serious and nobody was hurt but if it shuts up you firebaggers for a couple days over your idiotic CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED CPI CHAINED bullshit then maybe it will be a blessing.

  49. 49.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @David Koch:

    April 19th is also the day the Koresh Compound burned in Waco.

    Which is why that day was chosen for the OKC bombing.

  51. 51.

    David Koch

    This wouldn’t have happened if we had prayer in school.

    also too, the only way to stop a bad guy with a bomb is a good guy with a bomb.

  53. 53.

    GregB

    Video shows the first bomb going off on the sidewalk area lust before the finish line and 10 seconds later a block or more up the street the second explosion.

    The amount of media will likely offer some good video evidence.

  55. 55.

    Calouste

    @The Moar You Know:

    Not to mention that bombing large public events (Atlanta Olympic bombing, the failed attempts at the MLK Day parade in Spokane) seem to be somewhat of a white supremacist specialty.

  57. 57.

    Liquid

    Bombs are good for ratings!

    Quick! let’s wager on who gets a book deal out of this!!

    I do belive my cynicism is consuming me.

  58. 58.

    TooManyJens

    The run tracker is up, so if you are looking for someone specific who was running, try here: http://www.baa.org/individual.html

    From the video, it looks like the explosions at about 4:09 (gun time) into the race. Anyone who hadn’t finished by then won’t be on the tracker because they halted the race and diverted everyone. It doesn’t mean they’re not OK.

  62. 62.

    Roger Moore

    @David Koch:

    also too, the only way to stop a bad guy with a bomb is a good guy with a bomb.

    No, no. The way to stop a bad guy with a bomb is Jack Bauer using torture enhanced interrogation techniques. I know because all the conservatives say so.

  63. 63.

    Alex S.

    the only way to stop a bad guy with a bomb is a good guy with a bomb.

    As a defender of the 2nd amendment, I oppose bomb control.

  68. 68.

    Calming Influence

    Were both bombs at the same location? All the images so far look like the same scene.

  69. 69.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @David Koch:

    also too, the only way to stop a bad guy with a bomb is a good guy with a bomb.

    This message brought to you by the National Bomb-throwers Association, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Bomb Manufacturers Association.

  70. 70.

    Publius39

    @Roger Moore: Or you could fire a gun next to the head of an innocent person who has no connection to the alleged plot, while they’re in custody. I heard that worked well for Allen West.

  71. 71.

    The Dangerman

    I’m seeing a lot of shrapnel type injuries; not sure that eliminates equipment malfunction, however.

  76. 76.

    Liquid

    Brilliant! The bombs were planted by Obama (personally) to distract from Chained CPI. Enpeech!!1

  79. 79.

    jrg

    @shortstop: I was referring to her initial pronouncement that the Norway shooter/bomber was a Muslim.

    Not saying it wasn’t a ‘winger, but let’s find out more before declaring it.

  81. 81.

    Roger Moore

    @Calouste:

    Not to mention that bombing large public events (Atlanta Olympic bombing, the failed attempts at the MLK Day parade in Spokane) seem to be somewhat of a white supremacist specialty.

    Except for the failed Millennium Bombing Plot, which was by actual AQ associated terrorists.

  82. 82.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @cleek:

    “EMS is reporting another device” in front of Mandarin Hotel

    Since it’s been about 20 years since I was in Boston, anyone have an idea how far from the first explosions that would be?

    ETA: For everyone speculating, I think the last time we tried that, it turned out to be something entirely different, like Weiner’s weiner.

  83. 83.

    Hill Dweller

    The Twitter machine is saying the 26th mile, where the bombs exploded, was dedicated to the Newtown families.

  84. 84.

    GregB

    @Calming Influence:

    Same side of the road, on the sidewalk. A block to a few blocks apart on the same street.

    And yes fuck Alex Jones and Minute Maid. There are a quite a few seriously injured people.

  85. 85.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @jrg:

    As I noted earlier, some assclown commenting on the WBZ site has already identified the bombers as Muslims. On the basis of arglebargle or some other totally rational and scientific basis.

  87. 87.

    Mary G

    Horrifying. I pray that if it was bombs, that whoever was responsible is caught quickly and punished to the fullest extent of the law. I am against the death penalty, but in some cases not too much against it, see Timothy McVeigh.

  88. 88.

    The Dangerman

    @Hill Dweller:

    The Twitter machine is saying the 26th mile, where the bombs exploded, was dedicated to the Newtown families.

    If only everyone was strapped, this would have never happened.

    /winger

  91. 91.

    Davis X. Machina

    Well, there’s an unusual concentration of medical personnel, and an unusual concentration of hospitals, right nearby, so it’s a very thougtful mass-casualty event, I must say.

  93. 93.

    Mike E

    Decent coverage on ESPN. Marathon time was captured by a video feed at the finish = 4:09:44. A considerable blast at a building behind a crowd of spectators, this is awful.

  94. 94.

    Raven

    I’m looking at a still shot and it was a lot bigger than Centennial Park. This is one that is going to get way worse as the info comes in.

  100. 100.

    Amir Khalid

    A possible bombing at a public sports event is not a time for snark, so I ask that certain of us save it for another occasion.

  101. 101.

    Liquid

    So let me guess – Saddam was behind this bombing, right?

    @Amir Khalid — you might want to keep a low profile. I’m sure DHS will be looking your way.

  103. 103.

    aimai

    Jeezus christ I see that my friend finished at 3:52. I tried calling her mother at home. This whole thing is just sickening.

  104. 104.

    gwangung

    @Davis X. Machina:

    Well, there’s an unusual concentration of medical personnel, and an unusual concentration of hospitals, right nearby, so it’s a very thougtful mass-casualty event, I must say.

    Perhaps they thought they could catch more of first responders that way.

  107. 107.

    Bostondreams

    This is a nightmare. My uncle is a dispatcher supervisor there. Says its controlled chaos.

    Patriots Day. :(

  108. 108.

    schrodinger's cat

    This is terrible, I know so many people who have run the Boston Marathon, don’t think anyone I knew was running this year.

  109. 109.

    LanceThruster

    You can always tell something’s happened when you see co-workers staring at the screens mounted in the lobbies that certain way.

    Whether true or not, my initial impression with these occurances is most often ‘false flag.’

    I’m sick to death of being lied to and we get lied to a lot. Hope people are not hurt too bad and hope we don’t lose a lot more freedoms for the sake of the police state making use ‘safer.’

    The easiest attacks are always sucker punches.

  112. 112.

    Joel

    As a runner who has failed to qualify for the marathon, this is pretty damned freaky. I have friends who run. I hope they’re okay.

  114. 114.

    Trollhattan

    @GregB:

    One report the medical tent has been set up as morgue. A groundlevel video shows the first explosion right before the finish line and a second, seemingly a block away.

    Horrible.

  123. 123.

    Mike E

    Ok, coverage handed off now to sports desk jockeys, not the A-team…cut to sappy ABC feed, not cool. They’ve been quite good, ESPN, better than the “big time” outlets IMO

    ETA autocorrect fix’d

  124. 124.

    Redshirt

    I’ve run the race twice, and I used to walk to work right down Boylston street for a decade, so I know this area extremely well.

  127. 127.

    Trollhattan

    Casual viewing of the video feed shows a lot more than a couple dozen folks being wheeled away from the scene. Scores, I’d reckon, apart from the ones loaded into ambulances on gurneys.

  129. 129.

    minutemaid

    @lol chikinburd: Ahhh so? Has nothing do to with the wild ass speculation you morons are engaging in already. Spare me the conspiracy bullshit. People who go down that rabbit hole are beyond dumb and yea…both sides DEFINITELY do it.

  133. 133.

    Tone in DC

    I don’t just jump or leap to conclusions, I take Jet fucking Blue.

    Hope that the three I heard about are the only deaths. This is beyond foul.

  134. 134.

    ranchandsyrup

    @LanceThruster: So you have the same first impression, then you find out that your first impression isn’t always right but you stick with your impression going forward every time? Iz our Lancethruster learning?

  135. 135.

    Mnemosyne

    @minutemaid:

    Have you bothered to look at the pictures, or are you just talking out of your ass again?

    Let’s just say it seems awfully unlikely that there was a convenient can of red paint in just the right spot to get the street that shade of red and make everyone think it was a serious explosion. Jackass.

  136. 136.

    mapaghimagsik

    I keep wanting to post, “I hope everyone is alright” when it’s painfully obvious they are not.

  142. 142.

    aimai

    @YellowJournalism:
    Thank you so much. Somehow its very touching to see your comment. This is so near, and yet so far.

    This is a bizarre event–my 14 year old is in NY this week because its her school vacation–next year she will be in highschool right there, in Copley square–and she just called me because a friend of hers texted her with the news to see if she were at the marathon. My friend who is running went to the same highschool with me, right there in Copley, 30 some years ago? and she comes back from Pennsylvania each year to run in this damned thing. I don’t think its possible for people from outside either the running community or the Boston community to realize how big this is, how much a part of the lives of thousands of people from around the world. The thing is that you just can’t imagine how quotidian and how strange to think of literally thousands of people all drawn into the city for this one day–thousands more not in the city because its a holiday and they don’t have to go to work or school–all of them enacting Appointment in Samarra or that line from Dune “when god hath appointed to a person a time for his death, then he also brings him to the place of his death.”

  143. 143.

    Davis X. Machina

    I’m laughing — bad me — at the BBC people saying the Boston Marathon is unusual because it’s the only elite marathon not on a Sunday, but on a Monday state holiday, but not which holiday, and why…. long memories?

  147. 147.

    LanceThruster

    @Liquid:

    A-fucking-men. What chuckleheadhead said “Thank God George Bush was our president after 9/11”?

    Yeah…thank Glob.

    [rolls eyes]

  148. 148.

    shortstop

    @SatanicPanic: What is the big deal? This is a blog comment thread — a casual conversation among random commenters. We’re not a network calling Florida on election night.

  150. 150.

    j

    WTF? ABC just said that Boston PD already blew up 1 “suspected device” and they have found 3 other “suspected devices” and are evacuating those locations. They evacuated the Mandarin hotel, but will hold a briefing soon at another hotel.

    I’m not sure any hotel is a good place to be inviting the media at this time.

  152. 152.

    Violet

    Boston Marathon official Facebook page calls them bombs. Apparently VP Biden also used the word “bombs” to describe them.

  156. 156.

    aimai

    I just heard from my friend’s mother–she is safe, she managed to call her husband in Pennsylvania but not her mother here in Cambridge. She was very close to the explosion but her mother thinks she is ok. She’s not back from Boston yet, though. They may have locked down the subways so it may be hard to get out and she’s probably in no condition to walk out–its about five miles I think.

  157. 157.

    dmsilev

    @Davis X. Machina:

    I’m laughing — bad me — at the BBC people saying the Boston Marathon is unusual because it’s on a Monday state holiday, but not which holiday, and why…. long memories?

    Maybe the folks at the BBC should have a cup of tea to calm themselves down.

    It’s only been roughly 240 years. Too soon?

  159. 159.

    celticdragonchick

    Hearing now that two more devices have been found that are are being disarmed. That means at least 5 total so far.

    Fuck.

  160. 160.

    YellowJournalism

    @aimai: 48 people are there from where I live in Alberta. Local news is covering it, trying to get in touch with those from here or their families. Amazing how an event like that brings in people from all over the globe.

    Boston.com has a live blog

  161. 161.

    minutemaid

    @Mnemosyne: Thanks for putting words in my mouth you fuckwit. Is it any wonder why I enjoy getting a rise out of you soooo much…lol

  162. 162.

    Trollhattan

    BBC reporting two more explosive devices have been found and are being deactivated. Actual, or just suspicious, I suppose remains to be seen.

  166. 166.

    Xenos

    Flash plus shrapnel wounds… sounds like a pipe bomb, signature weapon of white supremacists, whether Rudolph or the guy out in Portland.

    Spent a couple years working in Copley Square, years more passing through on a weekly basis.

  168. 168.

    celticdragonchick

    @j:

    Jesus.

    So three explosions, one contained explosion by the bomb squad and two or three more found??

  169. 169.

    LanceThruster

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Give me an example and I’ll let you know if I’ve revised my 1st impression.

    9/11?

    False fucking flag through and through. (though false flag was not my 1st impression there…that came later).

  170. 170.

    Mike E

    Game at Fenway ended about 1 hour before this…2 other devices found. Death toll reported now unofficially at 12.

  171. 171.

    Davis X. Machina

    @BostonDotCom: UPDATE: Intelligence official: 2 more explosive devices found at Boston Marathon; being dismantled

    (that’s the Globe)

  174. 174.

    The Dangerman

    @nerd:

    Another explosion reported at JFK Library according to police scanner.

    MSNBC says it’s unrelated, but no one knows for sure, obviously.

  176. 176.

    Trollhattan

    @aimai:

    Great to hear; what a relief! At the moment, thousands must be trying to determine the same thing.

  177. 177.

    Tim I

    @Violet: Today is Patriots Day which is a big holiday in New England and always the day they run the marathon.

    It looks pretty grim, at least two dead, 23 wounded – of these 10 suffered traumatic amputations as a result of the blast.

  182. 182.

    Mnemosyne

    @LanceThruster:

    Excuse me for disturbing your delicate sensibilities.

    Actually, you should be asking my pardon for deciding that right-wing terrorism doesn’t really exist, so it must be a false flag operation. I’m guessing you also think Timothy McVeigh was the fall guy for a false flag operation? Eric Rudolph?

  184. 184.

    John O

    CNN reporting more devices, while almost comically avoiding the fact that it is tax day.

    I hope they can id the color of the perps soon so we can determine whether this is terrorism or not.

    So anyway, if THAT turns out to be accurate, I speculate that this was amateur hour at domestic terror camp. “I must emphasize, however, this is ONLY speculation at this point.”

  186. 186.

    Tractarian

    @TooManyJens:

    The incident at the JFK library was a fire in their mechanical room and apparently wasn’t related to the marathon explosions:

    Thanks for the update

  187. 187.

    Catsy

    @minutemaid:

    Is it any wonder why I enjoy getting a rise out of you soooo much

    It’s always nice when a worthless troll openly admits their agenda and surrenders any pretense of credibility or good faith. It saves the rest of us any time we might have wasted taking you seriously.

  188. 188.

    henqiguai

    @Tractarian (#149):

    BuzzFeed is saying that a third explosion has been reported at JFK Library.

    That’s been verified as a non-related equipment fire. Coincidences apparently do occur.

  189. 189.

    ranchandsyrup

    @LanceThruster: If what you’re saying is that despite not every situation being a false flag, you think that the proper course is to assume that every new situation is a false flag, I’m fine with it. It is just odd to me.

  190. 190.

    Liquid

    How long until the Boston Marathon gets added to that YOLO bullshit.

    *runng the BstnMthn, YOLO!!1 LOL*

  192. 192.

    GregB

    @Tim I:

    I saw footage on Live Leak of a man being wheeled out in a chair with a missing leg. Some one or group has hurt and maimed a lot of people today.

    This is horrible, but fuck whoever did this.

    WCVB is reporting that unexploded secondary devices have been found in the area.

  193. 193.

    Trollhattan

    Peter Sagal (of “Wait, Wait” fame) is very happy about each and every training run.

    NPR’s Peter Sagal tells All Things Considered that he had just finished the marathon, when he heard an explosion. He said he turned his head and that’s when the second explosion hit.

    He said he was about 100 yards from the explosion and emergency personelle immediately descended on the scene.

  194. 194.

    LanceThruster

    @celticdragonchick:

    No…another crime scene evidence was destroyed ‘freak.’ Changing official stories freak, everyone failed so no one failed freak.

    I was expressing an honest viewpoint, right or wrong (re: 1st impression) and if that gets your knickers in a twist…oh well.

    9/11 was MIHOP or LIHOP ASAIAC.

  195. 195.

    Tractarian

    From NBC News

    BREAKING: Small homemade bomb is preliminary cause of explosion at Boston Marathon, law enforcement officials tell NBC News

    Not al Qaeda

  196. 196.

    scav

    @SatanicPanic: well, I always assumed it was second-best contol, e.g. when you were unable to contol the events, it helped that one mastered the information and understanding. Also, in terms of having to react to things, going with an imperfect first-order approximation (run! Tiger!) worked even if later, upon considered reflection, one couldn’t quite recognize the species of carnivore.

    Now, becomming wedded and inflexible in one’s chaos based first reactions, generally very dumb.

  198. 198.

    Calming Influence

    @minutemaid: You stupid fucking pinhead. I’d slap that smirk off your moronic fucking mug if I thought it would do any good.

    Do you understand my handle now?

  201. 201.

    Suffern ACE

    Well, the usuall sitution is that there are lots of types of folks who set off bombs and trying to identify the ideology of the group involved at this point seems kind fruitless. might as well be talking about martians at the moment.

  205. 205.

    LanceThruster

    @ranchandsyrup:

    Not assume, just gut reaction as my first thought is “who benefits?”

    We inch ever closer to a police state where it is a defacto “war on ordinary citizens.” Or do you liked being irradiated and groped by TSA?

    Do you even know the history of substantiated or planned false flags? It’s pretty effed up.

  207. 207.

    Liquid

    “Improvised Devices” just does not have the same ring as FUCKING BOMBS. Christ, Orwell didn’t go far enough with Newspeak.

  209. 209.

    aimai

    @Davis X. Machina:
    Thanks, I’m staying off of radio and tv news because despite the fact you can’t get anything off of the internet I find it very uncalming to listen to actual broadcast news/not news/who knows kind of reporting.

  213. 213.

    Cermet

    Appears to be a rather low level explosion (considering how few were killed) that might have been loaded with some type of shrapnel – big maybe. That appears to narrow it down to a more home grown terrorist group – lets see, what groups hate taxes, the Federal Government, and most especially a Black President … umh.

  214. 214.

    Soonergrunt

    Fox News (yes, I know, but the local affilliates can be pretty decent) reports that two unexploded pipe bombs have been found in the vicinity, according to a friend who lives in Charlestown, MA.

  215. 215.

    SatanicPanic

    @scav: That’s a good point- it is something I guess ingrained in people to react quickly. I suppose I’m more hesitant to do that on the internet where opinions tend to live on forever and since I’ve been wrong plenty of times.

  217. 217.

    ranchandsyrup

    @LanceThruster: I’m all for using the cui bono test. When I use it I realize that I rarely factor out my own biases, though. Right now I could pursue multiple theories on who could benefit. I appreciate your explanation, though.

    I am aware of all false flag traditions.

    Also, I don’t feel as forcefully as you do about the war or ordinary citizens or the tradeoffs involved in the TSA. Opinions vary……

  218. 218.

    Davis X. Machina

    @aimai: Due to police activity, the Green Line is terminating service between Kenmore and Park Street Stations and temporarily suspending B- and C-Line service. Orange and Red Line service will bypass Downtown Crossing Station. Customers are encouraged to utilize the Orange Line to downtown: http://bit.ly/hw7SID

  221. 221.

    Liquid

    @raven: Nah, they’re only saying I.D. explosive is too __________.

    Now it’s explosive device, gettin closer.

  222. 222.

    Trollhattan

    @The Other Chuck:

    I believe this has already happened serially, and it puts on the lotion, avoids the hose and comes back under a new nym, with and without the “rrrong-waaay Cole” catchphrase (which I believe gets snagged in the spam filter).

  224. 224.

    Soonergrunt

    @Liquid: “Improvised devices” =/= hand grenade.
    An improvised device can kill a LOT of people. I know. Believe me, I know.
    And not too far from where I’m sitting is the site of the most effective IED attack ever on US soil.

  228. 228.

    Tractarian

    @Redshirt:

    What’s the point in speculating about who did this? We have no information.

    I beg to differ. No, we don’t have a full-scale commission inquiry, but yes, we do have “information.”

    And if we can’t speculate on the anonymous comments section of an irreverant political blog, where can we speculate?

  229. 229.

    Trollhattan

    @Cermet:

    Yeah, I think the MLK day device in Spokane can serve as a handy precedent until we know more. Had this occurred in 2003, we’d be hearing a very different news feed.

  230. 230.

    Angela

    Mr. Angela is waiting at the Philly airport for his flight to Boston. All flights in and out are cancelled.

  232. 232.

    Mnemosyne

    @LanceThruster:

    Not assume, just gut reaction as my first thought is “who benefits?”

    Really? People are dead or maimed and your first thought is, “Who benefits?” Not, “Ohmigod this is terrible” or “I feel so sorry for those people” or “Where can I give blood?” Your first thought is, “Who benefits?”

    You know who doesn’t benefit? The dead people. The maimed people. The first responders trying to figure out whose severed leg they just stepped on.

  233. 233.

    j

    Per ABC: Now they are evacuating the Marriott. Time for BPD to rethink their presser @ the Hyatt.

  234. 234.

    raven

    Dude in the ESPN truck right across the street said the two explosions were about 100 ft apart.

  237. 237.

    Gordon, the Big Express Engine

    @TooManyJens: that is the clock for one of the waves (there are multpile official clocks depending on which wave of runners you are in). My wife finished in 406 and I thought the same thing until I spoke to her and she finished 20 minutes before the blast. The clock you see on the news was the Wave 3 clock most likely.

  238. 238.

    Chyron HR

    @LanceThruster:

    We inch ever closer to a defacto “war on ordinary citizens.”

    So, what, the government blowing up dozens of “ordinary citizens” in the course of its business doesn’t quite constitute a “war” in your view?

    That’s MIHOP ASAIAC logic for you, folks.

  239. 239.

    Maus

    @Redshirt: It’s human nature to try and make sense of tragedy while in the midst of it. Productive? Not generally. But completely sensical to do so.

  241. 241.

    scav

    @SatanicPanic: Well, it’s certainly not always the best option under all circumstances, it’s just explicable. Deliberately keeping an open mind as information accumulates and the tiger is discovered to be a delicious overweight antelope sometimes works too, especially in those circs where there’s no chance the tiger can ever do anything to you.

  242. 242.

    askew

    @kc:

    I just want to secede from the human race right now.

    I feel the same way. It has just been a never ending stream of violence lately. It is so depressing. I feel for all of the people who thought they were going to have a joyous day and instead are experience one of their worst.

  243. 243.

    max

    The “traditional” black days of April have kicked off a little early this year. Sounds a bit like that dude from Seattle, although he was going after the MLK parade.

    (Among many other things bad in April: fall of Phnom Phen to the Khmer Rouge (17th), Hitler’s birthday (20th), Columbine (20th), OKC (and yes, Waco) (19th).)

    max
    [‘Charming.’]

  245. 245.

    BGinCHI

    So, the state Patriot day, the Boston Marathon, and the day taxes are due. The latter seems hard to ignore.

    It doesn’t seem like a foreign entity would bomb us on the day taxes are due, does it?

  246. 246.

    minutemaid

    @Redshirt: Because the gloom porn addicts that hang around here live for this shit. A day without blood is like a day without sunshine.

  247. 247.

    Trollhattan

    Cripes.

    2126: Roupen Bastajian, a 35-year-old Rhode Island state trooper, had just finished the race and donned a heat blanket when he heard the first blast. “I started running toward the blast. And there were people all over the floor,” he tells AP.

    2126: Mr Bastajian adds: “We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. A lot of people amputated… At least 25-30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing.”

  248. 248.

    Tractarian

    @Mnemosyne:

    Really? People are dead or maimed and your first thought is, “Who benefits?” Not, “Ohmigod this is terrible” or “I feel so sorry for those people” or “Where can I give blood?” Your first thought is, “Who benefits?”
    You know who doesn’t benefit? The dead people. The maimed people. The first responders trying to figure out whose severed leg they just stepped on.

    This guy may be a troll but please, enough with the sanctimony.

  252. 252.

    Cermet

    @raven: Little faith in modern medicine, I see; while some of the injured may be critical and would still be in danger, I seriously doubt the number killed will climb very much. Still, I’m hoping for fewer killed, rather than otherwise – does that bother you?

  253. 253.

    Forum Transmitted Disease

    I always did say running was bad for your knees. This is not exactly what I had in mind.

    Time to find the fundamentalists responsible and reinstitute public hangings.

  256. 256.

    LanceThruster

    @? Martin:

    Look, I never said that I thought this is/was a false flag…but ever sincve 9/11, anything that is cause for sweeping action by our caring, compassionate, and competent overlords for our own benefit causes me concern. My feelings about it was a statement of fact. Whatever can be established by the facts is someone else’s business. We have a prison complex that likes to generate inmates. We have a security apparatus that likes to feel needed (as in increased funding, and increased erosion of the Bill of Rights).

    “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” – H. L. Mencken

  264. 264.

    BGinCHI

    TPM reporting that there was an explosion at the JFK library in Boston today too, with no injuries.

  265. 265.

    aimai

    @kc:

    I kind of agree with the “resign from the human race” thing–and I have children to keep me tethered to the wheel. I just apologized to my older daughter for bringing her into this world of suffering. I see and feel now why so many older people (older than me) just kind of give up and huddle, waiting for the end. It feels like the crazy is coming from all angles these days and there’s no respite.

  266. 266.

    Angela

    @aimai: Thanks aimai. But I realize know it is a really small inconvenience. And I’m really glad your friend is ok.

  267. 267.

    schrodinger's cat

    @Angela: My husband is due to land in Boston from India in two days hope it all gets sorted out by then.

  268. 268.

    Tractarian

    @Cermet:

    I seriously doubt the number killed will climb very much. Still, I’m hoping for fewer killed, rather than otherwise – does that bother you?

    I think what bothered herhim was the fact that you didn’t profess extreme displeasure and sadness.

    I mean, this is no time to point out that this was an incredibly unsuccessful terrorist attack!

    Also, you didn’t say that you felt really bad for that lady whose husband missed his flight. What kind of person are you, honestly.

  270. 270.

    askew

    @raven:

    @askew: Lately? Where you been?

    Yes, it has been going on for awhile, but it seems lately it is just happening more and more frequently – Aurora, Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon, etc. It’s just heart breaking and you feel powerless to stop the hatred.

  271. 271.

    Ben Franklin

    @LanceThruster:

    It just couldn’t be a false flag, cuz, ya know iron-clad evidence isn’t available, and won’t be made available. Wouldn’t that a violation of security, or the Sedition Act?

    Unless a former administration official leaks it, then it’s ok.

  272. 272.

    Comrade Mary

    The JFK library explosion was real, according to the press conference going on right now.

  273. 273.

    karen marie

    One location was directly across from the library, the second location was a block up, next to 755 Boylston. I was able to identify the second location from seeing a photograph. I lived in and around that area for over 20 years. I’m wishing I could be there to hug all my peeps.

  274. 274.

    LanceThruster

    @Tractarian:

    If a response is seen as coloring outside the lines, the reaction is as if I had something to do with the attacks. Now that’s some might fine sanctimony.

    I’m no troll, I’m a regular…and I speak my mind.

    Sorry if anyone has a problem with that. I tend not to do groupthink.

  275. 275.

    Calming Influence

    Just heard on the BBC live feed of an MIT (prof?) who was right there when the exlposions occurred; he “smelled cordite” while assisting EMTs.

  276. 276.

    Ash Can

    @aimai: I hope all of you and yours are OK. It’s horrible to have any kind of personal connection to this sort of thing when it happens.

  277. 277.

    Betty Cracker

    Boston Police Chief at news conference just said there WAS a third “incident” at the JFK library.

  278. 278.

    Anoniminous

    Police Presser: There was an explosion at the JFK Library and they are treating this as a single and ongoing event.

    Shit.

  279. 279.

    lamh35

    ‏@nbcnightlynews 16s
    BREAKING: 3rd explosion at JFK Library, Boston PD Commissioner says

  282. 282.

    liberal

    …“thank goodness we don’t have that happening every day here in the states.”

    A few years ago, there was some kind of bank implosion in the Dominican Republic. A lot of the money lost was not under deposit insurance and was also held by members of the elite. Instead of letting them eat their losses, the government elected to bail them out, the sum required so large it would be a major economic imposition on the populace (via future taxation/whatever).

    I remember thinking “OK, we have corruption here, but nothing on that level.”

    Oops [this was prior to the burst of the housing bubble].

  284. 284.

    Tractarian

    @LanceThruster:

    Sorry if anyone has a problem with that. I tend not to do groupthink.

    You think 9/11 was a false flag operation.

    A little “groupthink” would do you some good.

  285. 285.

    minutemaid

    I heard it was neonazi’s FAP FAP FAP…I heard it was N. Korea FAP FAP FAP. What is Fux news saying FAP FAP FAP.

    Good day to be a gloom porn addict.

  287. 287.

    shortstop

    @aimai: Remember that every generation has felt this way. Every single one. There’s still more good than bad in the world, by a long shot. Hold tight.

  288. 288.

    Mnemosyne

    @Tractarian:

    This guy may be a troll but please, enough with the sanctimony.

    Sorry, I’ll try to bring my level of upset down to what you feel is appropriate to this situation. After all, all we have is a bunch of dead and maimed people, nothing to cry about.

  294. 294.

    lamh35

    best national news program is CBS and Scott Pelley. He is mostly alone and he is being very careful to only use confirmed info and making sure u are aware of when things are unsure

  297. 297.

    Tractarian

    @Mnemosyne:

    After all, all we have is a bunch of dead and maimed people, nothing to cry about.

    Cry all you want, just don’t get all righteous when someone else doesn’t have the same emotional reaction.

  303. 303.

    Chyron HR

    @minutemaid:

    Hey, Fred, I know you’re still mad at us because we were right about Anthony Weiner’s sexting and you were wrong, but can’t you find it in your heart to forgive us?

  304. 304.

    Mnemosyne

    @Tractarian:

    It would be nice for someone to have an emotional reaction. Though I guess, “It was a false flag operation by the government!” is an emotional reaction, in an irrational kneejerk paranoid kind of way.

  305. 305.

    j

    @raven: Sorry, you’re right. I heard the name and for some reason thought of revolving restaurants. Westin it is, and still, the BPD should move the show to PD HQ just to be safe.

  306. 306.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    Does anyone else remember the “red button” jokes after the challenger explosion back in 86? Being snarky is a rather normal response, no different than trying to tell everyone to shut up and be all sad, or trying to figure out who did this with little information: We want to be in control. All three responses are equally useless in controlling the situation and equally trivial.

    Though minutemaid is still a dick.

  307. 307.

    Davis X. Machina

    ex DKos: “Fox in the past 30 minutes has had both Joe Arpaio and New Hampshire Senate Candidate Scott Brown on to offer their commentary on the bombings.”

  309. 309.

    mouse tolliver

    A reporter just asked if this was a terrorist attack after being informed of a third explosion at the JFK library. Fucking asshat reporters! Of course it was a terrorist attack. Books do not spontaneously combust.

  310. 310.

    Soonergrunt

    @Liquid: Until the KNOW that it’s an actual, made-by-a-human bomb, that’s a wise policy.
    It looks like a terrorist attack. It smells like a terrorist attack. It probably IS a terrorist attack.
    But until they are certain that it is, in fact, a terrorist attack, and not something else, they are wise to not call it that. There is no need to get everybody freaked out when it could have been something like a steam line rupturing or some other such.
    But yeah. It sure looks like explosive devices made and planted by human beings.

  313. 313.

    Cermet

    @Tractarian: your point is valid and you are correct that I should not have overlooked the horror and pain this event has caused rather than just analyzed it.

    So, first off I would like to say that I feel this is terrible and those poor people murdered (and could have been someone I knew) I know is a pain for so many families/people that I can not imagine the level of horror they will have to live with. I am extremely saddened by the lost of life and harm done by this sick terrorist attack .

    My post was to point out the explosions were very likely homegrown and not a threat from outside terrorist. I was simply adding facts to support that speculation.

  315. 315.

    Eric U.

    I’m going to have to stop reading kargoX’s gun violence post, because it’s starting to make me paranoid. I remember being very wrong about who did the OK City bombings, so I don’t speculate about these things any more. Just hope these people get caught as easily as Tim McVeigh.

    I guess I have to install the pie filter on this computer too

  320. 320.

    cyntax

    @Soonergrunt:

    Well TPM is reporting that two more explosive devices have been found and are being disarmed so that pretty much ties off any other possibilities.

  321. 321.

    dance around in your bones

    I cannot imagine the mind of a person or persons who would do something like this. Bombing always seems so cowardly to me. Hope they catch this cowardly piece of crap, and soon.

    I’m so sad for all those folks who were out there running, having fun, enjoying the event….and to have it end like this. It’s just fucked up.

  322. 322.

    Petorado

    Just saw this mentioned in a tweet on Boston Globe site:

    Apparently families of Newton victims were seated in VIP section 10 feet from explosion. Last mile was dedicated to them.

    What a horrible world this is turning into.

  323. 323.

    raven

    CBS, and the photo above tends to confirm, the library explosion appears to be a molotov cocktail sort of device.

  324. 324.

    aimai

    @Soonergrunt:

    I don’t get the distinction between a bomb attack on a large crowd and a “terrorist attack.” Its a terrorist attack definitionally at this point, already.

  325. 325.

    Davis X. Machina

    @Redshirt: DKos is I think rushing things a bit. Brownie is on record as being interested…and owns property up theah.

  326. 326.

    LanceThruster

    @Tractarian:

    A little “groupthink” would do you some good.

    That “groupthink” got us into a couple of useless wars.

    “Americans were so outraged over the killing of thousands of innocent US citizens over a political beef, that they responded by killing hundreds of thousands of innocent foreign civilians over a political beef.” ~ LT

  328. 328.

    Liquid

    “This is not just an attack on America, it’s an attack on the World.” — Oh fuck you Clint van Zandt.

  329. 329.

    shortstop

    @Redshirt: He’s not confirming it. He’s not denying it. But his granny has lived there for 20 years or something like that, so who among us would be churlish enough to call it carpetbagging?

  331. 331.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    @Soonergrunt: There is no need to get everybody freaked out when it could have been something like a steam line rupturing or some other such.

    You’re absolutely right – but this is Boston. Remember the Adult Swim ad scare?

  332. 332.

    Davis X. Machina

    @NBCSN: Reports of Marathon Runners that crossed finish line and continued to run to Mass General Hospital to give blood to victims.

    We aren’t all ass-hats, us humans…

  334. 334.

    Angela

    @Petorado: I hope that the fact the Newtown families were there is a terrible coincidence instead of part of the reason this attack was planned. That is beyond words.

  335. 335.

    scav

    @cyntax: well, tweets on the beeb from the conference are agnostic

    2158: Boston officials say there has been a “third incident” at the JFK Library but are not sure if it is related to the two other explosions.

    and something about all bags left behind in the rush being treated as suspicious and possibly some have been blown up.

  339. 339.

    Trollhattan

    Interesting.

    A law enforcement official tells the Associated Press news agency that mobile phone service has been shut down in the Boston area to prevent remote detonation of explosives.

    –BBC

  345. 345.

    JPL

    @bemused: my son was working for Marriott during the Olympics in Atlanta. don’t panic..
    btw.. he tried to call me from phones that were roped off and told a cop to fk off he had to call his mom.. probably the only time he will be able to tell a cop to fuck off..

  346. 346.

    Comrade Mary

    OK, now the library says it was just a fire, but there’s this report at TPM.

    The Boston Police Department has confirmed to TPM that an explosive device went off at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Mass. on Monday. No injuries occurred in the incident.

    “There was another device, confirmed at JFK,” Neva Coakley, an officer in the Boston Police Department’s press office, told TPM.

    Coakley said that device went off at 2:55 p.m. EST, but could not provide further details.

  351. 351.

    Calming Influence

    @kc:

    “I just want to secede from the human race right now.”

    You can’t do that, although you can go to a costume shop and try cross-dressing as a big fuzzy animal. I do understand the feeling, though; times like this make me want to spend more time with my cats.

  353. 353.

    Comrade Mary

    @Redshirt: That’s from the New York Post, not from any official source.

    The NY Post was also claiming 12 dead some time earlier. Caveat lector.

  354. 354.

    Soonergrunt

    @cyntax: well, yes. Yes it does. And while I have always thought it was a bombing, it’s OK for US to speculate. I don’t think that public safety people should be doing that. When a guy with a badge says things, then right or wrong, people take that as gospel and you end up with bad shit happening that could have been avoided.

    @Redshirt: Any information about him? Cause it wouldn’t surprise me at this point if he were arrested for being Arab near a terrorist attack site.

  356. 356.

    JenJen

    @Redshirt:

    Suspect in custody. Saudi Arabian national.

    Pretty sure the only outlet reporting that right now is the New York Post.

    @Comrade Mary: And the NY Post is still reporting 12 dead. My local wingnut radio station is reporting the same thing without citing that it’s only one source and that source happens to be about the most irresponsible source imaginable.

  357. 357.

    raven

    @4tehlulz: Damn, I just went there:

    “A law enforcement source confirmed to The Post that 12 people were killed and nearly 50 were injured in today’s blast.”

  359. 359.

    Comrade Mary

    (OK, Caveat auditor, not lector).

    Guys, if we’re going to share info, can we cite sources?

  360. 360.

    mouse tolliver

    @Liquid:

    “This is not just an attack on America, it’s an attack on the World.” — Oh fuck you Clint van Zandt.

    This is the same jack ass who pointed to the knife wielding maniac in China during the Newtown coverage, trying to make a point about every country having a fair share a lunatics. Nevermind that none of those Chinese kids died.

  364. 364.

    lol chikinburd

    @Liquid: Could be worse; you could be watching the network that put Jane Harman on to babble something about Yemen.

  371. 371.

    Soonergrunt

    @aimai: A terrorist attack could be accomplished any number of ways. And while bombing is certainly the generally desired method, there have been mass shootings, multiple guys with machine guns, and so on. What I meant is that some terror groups have preferred methods while other groups use entirely different methods. Al Quaeda seems to have a hard on for air planes, and to a lesser extent, car bombs. Domestic terrorists tend to use pipe bombs. But none of that should be taken to mean that they don’t watch the news and read the papers and learn from each other. The largest IED truck bombing ever in the US was carried out by an anti-government fanatic with white supremacist and Christian Identity leanings.

  372. 372.

    Trollhattan

    @Soonergrunt:

    Yup. We speculate because we (okay, most of us) are human and humans want answers. Even if they’re easy. Even if they’re wrong.

    Officials have to play it close to the vest and not speculate, publicly. They could cause panic or rash actions. They could also screw up an eventual trial.

    Us? We have no such restrictions, only our desire for information.

  373. 373.

    A Ghost To Most

    I’d bet large dollars that the explosion I saw on video was a black powder bomb.

    You know who likes to use black powder bombs?

  374. 374.

    Comrade Mary

    BPD: No Arrests Made in Bombing

    The New York Post reported that a “Saudi national who suffered shrapnel wounds in today’s blast” has been identified as “a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing.” The Boston PD spokesperson did not confirm that report.

    “Honestly, I don’t know where they’re getting their information from, but it didn’t come from us,” said the spokesperson.

    The Post report was attributed to “a law enforcement source.” According to the Post, the “suspect” is “currently being guarded in a Boston hospital.”

  376. 376.

    Heliopause

    An appropriate punishment for the perpetrator would be to lock him in a room with Jane Harman.

  380. 380.

    Suffern ACE

    @Liquid:

    Christ Tweety, Munich? Really?

    Oh. Lets just turn the damn news off and talk about gardening for a few days. We can read about this next week. I’m not saying that its a no big deal news story. But there’s no reason to sit through “It’s Munich all over again”.

  382. 382.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Liquid: Christ Tweety, Munich? Really?

    As in Neville Chamberlain? Huh? I sometimes defend Tweety, but I can’t think of another non-Fox major personality who should be kept farther away from microphones at a time like this

  384. 384.

    Randy P

    My brother in Boston is reporting they may shut down cell service for a while as it looks like these devices are cell-phone triggered.

  385. 385.

    bemused

    @ranchandsyrup:

    A friend did get word from them that they are all ok. Whew. Now I feel shaky. Our friends were at the finish line but didn’t get hurt. They were staying a a hotel right there too but evacuated.

  387. 387.

    scav

    @JenJen: How could they really know yet either way, without some really obvious clues (and even those they’d need to check because people like claiming stuff). They’re busy with other things, including abandoned bags, and tests take time.

  389. 389.

    Kyle

    The New York Post reported that a “Saudi national who suffered shrapnel wounds in today’s blast” has been identified as “a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing.” The Boston PD spokesperson did not confirm that report.

    The Bush Administration immediately offered to his relatives a flight out of the country without being questioned.

  390. 390.

    Heliopause

    Who was that just now on CNN saying, “thank God the bomb wasn’t bigger”? Well, yeah, genius, thank God it wasn’t bigger. What if it were an atom bomb? What if it were a hydrogen bomb. OMG, what if were a supernova? Thank god it wasn’t the antimatter universe folding into our matter universe and annihilating both.

    Jesus, where do they come up with these people?

  391. 391.

    raven

    CBS just showed video looking at the finish line and the interval between explosions is only about 15 seconds. Pretty sophisticated timer or command detonated. Sooner?

  393. 393.

    raven

    Scott Pelli is saying over and over that there will be more dead. Want to give me a fucking hard time on that?

  395. 395.

    JenJen

    @scav: At the 4:30 pm news conference the Boston PD spokesman called the JFK Library fire the “third event” following the two explosions at the marathon. Seems as though he shouldn’t have said anything about JFK Library at all.

  396. 396.

    LanceThruster

    @Heliopause:

    The God Hates Fags guy sez every tragedy is God trying to pummel humanity into recognizing His awesomeness and turn away from sin. Kind of like holding your kid’s hand over the stove burner to teach them not to play with fire.

    The prosperity Gospel says that God rewards the devout and punishes those “He” is displeased with.

    Like micromanagement by the insane.

  397. 397.

    Randy P

    Do I remember correctly that the Oklahoma City bomb also had a Middle-Eastern suspect reported in the first few breathless hours?going to wait at least till tomorrow till there’s something about suspects I might believe.

  398. 398.

    cckids

    @lol chikinburd:

    you could be watching the network that put Jane Harman on to babble something about Yemen.

    No lie. I had to leave when she said “We can be thankful it was a holiday; people were home rather than at work so there were fewer people around.” Jesus Crocheting Christ, has she heard of the Marathon? It is “somewhat popular”. Oy.

  399. 399.

    scav

    @JenJen: probably better. ideally a world would exist where he could say “We don’t have a clue yet, we’re busy.” but it ain’t here.

  400. 400.

    LanceThruster

    @Chyron HR:

    I was differentiating between the (relatively) short-lived, low-intensity violence of a “false flag” and the more exrtensive acts perpetrated against US citizens in “the war on drugs,” “the war on terror,” GWOT, GSAVE, etc.

    And I meant to type “AFAIAC” but who doesn’t love a good spelling flame?

  402. 402.

    cckids

    Per MSNBC, Boston press conference: “There is no one in custody at this time, those reports are incorrect”.

  403. 403.

    Jamey

    Who will be the first guest to tell Hannity that those people would be alive today if the runners had been armed?

  404. 404.

    Mnemosyne

    @Soonergrunt:

    I recall seeing someone say that al-Qaeda learned their trick of two detonations about 30 minutes apart (to try and kill the first responders) from the IRA.

  405. 405.

    Bob h

    My candidates:

    1. Right wing, home-grown terrorists tied ideologically to Tea/Republican Party
    2. North Korea
    3. Pakistani-based Islamists seeking revenge for drone strikes.

    All dirtbags of the same order.

  406. 406.

    LanceThruster

    @aimai: I beg to differ. I was not stating any inclination towards a conclusion based on facts I had, I was stating that my first reaction is quite often (more accurate than most often) that these horrible occurances generate animus towards a particular group. Sometimes those are the tactics of the group so it is not unreasonable to take the event at face value. Other times it seems as to work against whatever agenda a given group has. To interpret any of my previous comments as anything other than healthy suspicion of anything we’re told these days is to ignore my point. Whoever did this wanted to instill a sense of dread and terror. Those investigating these murders will look into motive. Many of the lies we get told have a clear motive, but have the cover of being unthinkable. I do not consider a whole lot of things “unthinkable” anymore.

    I’m just a handle on the interwebs so take it for what it’s worth, but I had a friend who was an emergency responder (EMT pararescue) who was flown out to OKC after the Murrah building bombing. He was prevented from conducting any search and rescue in the debris until feds had secured files and documents on the scene.

    Obviously not all conspiracy claims are legit (I am making none re: Boston), but not all dismissals of same have merit either.

    If I was to guess, I’d say domestic terrorism. Beyond that…?

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