Explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon

[schild]

People are not speculating on North Korea's involvement. That's some paranoid false flag bullshit and just dumber than nails. Anyone saying that should be punched square in the groin.

[Nerf]

Those explosions look like something on the order of a pipe bomb, and not a very well-designed one (all concussion, not much shrapnel).  Could be a stick of dynamite or chunk of C-4, but somebody with access and skills for that could have made something considerably deadlier.

--Dave

Check some of the pictures - *lots* of lower limb trauma, several folks with their legs blown off.  Reports of ball bearings being found at scene.  Smoke color/quantity points this towards a black powder based explosive. AQ's western-aimed online magazine thing has instructions on how to make one of these in its first issue :/

[MahrinSkel]

Check some of the pictures - *lots* of lower limb trauma, several folks with their legs blown off.  Reports of ball bearings being found at scene.  Smoke color/quantity points this towards a black powder based explosive. AQ's western-aimed online magazine thing has instructions on how to make one of these in its first issue :/

Yeah, I was fooled by the first pictures I saw, which didn't show much smoke and made it look like people comparatively close to the explosion weren't affected much.  Just a bad angle.  Overhead shots of the bomb sites make it clear there were injuries with severe bleeding spread over a 50 foot or more radius.  They're also reporting more devices that apparently failed, that both takes this out of the "lone nut" category and moves it towards "inexperienced".  Still not going to speculate on motives or identity, but I'd say they were not veterans of either side of Iraq/Afghanistan.

--Dave

EDIT: Controlled detonation of a device near the JFK library (doesn't specify, and the Boston Public Library is right on the finish line).

[K9]

Some kind of mental survivalist, anti-government type, or fringe libertarian does seem like a far more plausible agent, aye.

[Nerf]

They've already got a suspect in custody, he's in the hospital with the police, injured by shrapnel.  Saudi National, apparently there is video of him placing at least one of the bombs.

I suppose he *could* be one of them crazy, right-wing survivalist loner Saudi nationals tho.

[Tale]

I have literally no idea how anyone could draw a connection between this and North Korea that takes a special kind of retard.

I don't think it's correct (i.e. it's probably homegrown), but I don't think it's a retarded theory. It's the 101st anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death (North Korea's founder), they always do something on this day, they've been threatening to attack the US, they said they would do it today, and we've been expecting they would achieve something less than the nuclear attack they were threatening. A half-arsed kimchi restaurant terror cell sounds like just the thing.

[Ingmar]

They've already got a suspect in custody, he's in the hospital with the police, injured by shrapnel.  Saudi National, apparently there is video of him placing at least one of the bombs.

I suppose he *could* be one of them crazy, right-wing survivalist loner Saudi nationals tho.

Only the NY Post is reporting this, so... yeah. Waiting for a real news outlet to say something.

[Hoax]

I have literally no idea how anyone could draw a connection between this and North Korea that takes a special kind of retard.

I don't think it's correct (i.e. it's probably homegrown), but I don't think it's a retarded theory. It's the 101st anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death (North Korea's founder), they always do something on this day, they've been threatening to attack the US, they said they would do it today, and we've been expecting they would achieve something less than the nuclear attack they were threatening. A half-arsed kimchi restaurant terror cell sounds like just the thing.

No dude. Just no. They didn't send over a unit of NK commandos to pipe bomb a fucking marathon finish line. Please stop.

[SurfD]

I have literally no idea how anyone could draw a connection between this and North Korea that takes a special kind of retard.

I don't think it's correct (i.e. it's probably homegrown), but I don't think it's a retarded theory. It's the 101st anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death (North Korea's founder), they always do something on this day, they've been threatening to attack the US, they said they would do it today, and we've been expecting they would achieve something less than the nuclear attack they were threatening. A half-arsed kimchi restaurant terror cell sounds like just the thing.

No dude. Just no. They didn't send over a unit of NK commandos to pipe bomb a fucking marathon finish line. Please stop.

unless someone WANTS US TO THINK THEY DID.!!!111! 

[MahrinSkel]

Reports are about as scrambled as you'd expect, but it looks like at least one to as many as 4 additional devices have been found (2 may have been in the Mandarin and Lenox hotels. high-end places).  There was something happening at the JFK library (quite a distance away), but exactly what isn't clear, may just have been a coincidental fire.

I'm really tempted to speculate about an attack by well-read but inexperienced persons unknown involving multiple devices (and probably perps) on Tax Day in Boston.  But it's premature to do more than point at that aspect of the profile and say "Hmmm".

--Dave

EDIT: Boston Police are saying no arrests have been made.  The New York Post is full of shit, and everyone else with it is just linking them.

[K9]

A bunch of NK commandos wearing turbans and carrying curvy swords for added effect no doubt...

Meanwhile, in NY:

[WayAbvPar]

Are they at the NY Post to arrest whoever is signing off on their bullshit?

[Ghambit]

That Saudi angle is starting to get picked up by other agencies now.  BPD denies they've got anyone in custody, but if I had to place money on it I'd bet they're "guarding" someone of Arab descent in a hospital whether it's for his own protection or as a suspect.  I wouldn't want to be a Muslim in Boston right now regardless of who's at fault.      

[Surlyboi]

You don't want to be a Muslim in Boston most days.

[MahrinSkel]

Photo surfacing of someone getting arrested on Boston Common at 5:30 local, photographer says that he's wearing a white baseball cap and that truck belongs to the police.  Note that 5:30 was after the police spokesman denied having anyone in custody, IOW this is not a contradiction and has jack-shit to do with the NY Post's mysterious Arab.

--Dave

EDIT: Confirmation that there was an explosion at the JFK Library.

EDIT2: That story has changed since I first linked it, now says it might have been just a fire when before Boston PD were confirming it as an explosion.

[Teleku]

It's the 101st anniversary of Kim Il Sung's death birth (North Korea's founder)

FIFY

Guess its just a bad day to be in Boston.  Tax day (and all the Boston Tea Party stupidity associated with it), Crazy Anti-American Korean dictators birthday, Major international event....  

And no, there is no god damned way NK had anything to do with it, but kind of funny seeing how many anniversaries there are on this particular date after reading the conspiracy theories.

Between it being Boston on tax day, and a confirmed 3rd bomb at the JFK presidential library, I'm going with crazy right wing nutter.  As a further guess, probably some crazy libertarian time cube genius MIT student, but of course it could be one of many breeds.  I'm not seeing enough about the 'Saudi guy' in custody yet for me to believe it (only see NY Post as the most major news outlet reporting it).  Not saying there is no way this couldn't have been done by some Islamic terror group, but if so, then AQ has mastered a new level of Trolling by preforming terror attacks at dates and places other entirely different groups should be preforming them.

[Merusk]

And once again we see why the age of twitter and live by-the-second coverage is actually more harmful to ANY sort of understanding of reality and fact-based reporting.

[Ghambit]

Definitely seems like crude shrapnel devices (ala pipe bomb) or Anti-personnal IED (re-used mines, etc) .  Saw that old runner in the video get taken out in the legs from 10yds.  The concussion doesn't seem that big a factor either.

[Teleku]

Boston Globe has a video taken by a guy at the finish line that captures the explosions and every thing that happened afterwards for the next few minutes, if your in the mood to watch.

http://live.boston.com/Event/Live_blog_Explosion_in_Copley_Square

Edit:  Even though I was 100% sure they were all ok and it was totally stupid to even worry, its still a nice feeling to confirm that all my friends living in Boston are ok.

Edit 2:  Weird, the direct youtube version cuts out of the explosions.  Just go to that boston globe link and click on the first video.

[MahrinSkel]

Better video, possibly the one you were trying to link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=046MuD1pYJg

The JFK Library bomb moves theorizing about motives and identity out of "premature" and into "speculative".  Either we're talking Tea Party type right wingers, or someone trying very hard to make us think that they were.

--Dave

EDIT: NBC news citing "Federal officials":

Federal officials told NBC News that Boston police were guarding a “possible suspect” who had been wounded in the blasts, but they cautioned that there was no information at the federal level to consider that person a suspect.

So that might be an independent confirmation of the Post report.

EDIT2: And now CBS news is tweeting that the Boston Police are guarding a "Saudi National" that was injured in the blast, who is reported to be cooperative and denying involvement.  So barring better information it looks like we've got a victim that looked suspiciously Arab too close to an explosion.

EDIT3: The reason I'm so willing to entertain the Tea Party angle is that every year around April 19, I get nervous.  "Patriot Day" is either April 19 or the third Monday in April, depending on which definition you're using, but April 19 has been the usual day for incidents.  IOW, Patriot Day is either this Friday or...today.

[Hammond]

Being they found several more devices this will help some to track down whoever did this. Judging from the amount of people injured it looks like this was a shock and awe type of event. Several smaller explosives spread throughout the crowd. And seriously New York Post WTF? Judging from the coverage so far from them they are REALLY pushing the fear to get eyeballs on them.

[Nevermore]

And seriously New York Post WTF? Judging from the coverage so far from them they are REALLY pushing the fear to get eyeballs on them.

From a Rupert Murdoch rag?  Say it ain't so!

[Cheddar]

Sad event. Funny, first place I looked on f13 was politics.

[kildorn]

Sad event. Funny, first place I looked on f13 was politics.

We're still reacting to new events. Give it a day to wind up in politics or the den.

[Teleku]

Sad event. Funny, first place I looked on f13 was politics.

ditto

[pxib]

I have a cousin who regularly runs the Boston marathon with her husband but they had already reached the finish and were relaxing in a park by the time the bomb went off. Apparently the city is in chaos and they predict it will be impossible to drive anywhere for at least a week.

[Ghambit]

NSFW:
Here's a VERY graphic (ogrish levels of graphic) img. of a man who's lost both his legs.  It looks like the guy who was laying down on the ground (on his side) in the Boston Globe video.  Witnesses are saying they had limbs flying past their heads.

Here are some conspiracy theory pics (guy on roof and misc. detained arab in the commons):

[Morat20]

My facebook feed is about 80% "Oh, damn, is there any way to help?" about 10% "The only reason I have faith in humanity was the sheer number of people running TOWARDS the explosions to help" and 10% "Obama didn't call it terrorism".

Given how many devices there were and at least one of them was set off deliberately by the police, I'm guessing they'll have some actual leads since they probably have some good photos and some scrap. (And who knows, some reports say one failed to go off -- they may have a whole device).

Boston Marathon's a big deal, lots of people -- can see lots of groups happy to blow that up to make a point.

However, JFK library is a little different. And no one has taken credit.

Sounds more homegrown nut than foreign terrorist. Hopefully the police will find the guy that did it quickly before crazy speculation hits peak hysteria.

[Abagadro]

Library was just an electrical fire. Had nothing to do with this.

[Venkman]

Yep. For awhile, I was trying to parse that. Four(?) IED style devices by the marathon and one at the... library?

This sucks. Very curious how this goes. Doubt it's domestic. No real logic, just a feeling that any domestic group with that much of a beef would pick a political or police/FBI target. Also curious nobody's claimed credit. You'd figure they'd be out there right now, unless the claims are being suppressed by the MSM (which wouldn't suprise me, and which I wouldn't blame our government for doing while they chase it down). Some Yemeni AQ group maybe?

Thankfully some partners in the Boston area were all in their offices on the other side of the city. One girl lives a few blocks from Copley, and thankfully didn't choose to be home today.

[bhodi]

Given how many devices there were and at least one of them was set off deliberately by the police, I'm guessing they'll have some actual leads since they probably have some good photos and some scrap. (And who knows, some reports say one failed to go off -- they may have a whole device).

MSNBC reports that law enforcement is denying claims of any other devices. The others (5?) that were detonated were just suspicious packages they weren't taking any chances with, and after examination weren't malicious. And, the library was an electrical fire, as was noted above.

[Venkman]

Oh, well that's good to know. So then the two initial devices only?

[bhodi]

Looks like.

[Fabricated]

This just reminds me how much I hate the NYPost.

Edit: Also I haven't looked to see what he said since fuck him, but for what I imagine he IS saying I think it'd be pretty awesome if Alex Jones somehow got thrown out of a C-130. It'd be fitting.

[Tmon]

I'd guess not right wing extremists protesting tax day, if only because RWE (and most LWEs I can think of) tend to attack government buildings more than random collections of people standing around.   Large public attacks in the US so far this century have involved either lone psychos or what the press calls Muslim Extremists.