# Explosions at Boston Marathon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781 "2013-04-15T19:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/241 "2013-04-15T21:52:03Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > According to CBS, the library has reported that it was indeed an electrical fire which just happened to have occurred by coincidence and that no one was injured. So it appears that the commish spoke out based on insufficient information. Wow! An electrical fire at the library is good news. As many as 60 reported wounded now, but many of those are probably minor injuries. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/242 "2013-04-15T21:55:38Z")
My mother’s there today, running. She’s fine; she got through with a borrowed cell phone before the city shut down the cell network. Scary. The BBC was reporting that some runners were reaching the improvised finish line and continuing directly on to the hospital to give blood. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/243 "2013-04-15T21:56:35Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Far enough that the explosions at the finish line didn’t cause an electrical problem at the JFK library. Sorry—I didn’t read what you were responding to, really. I just got home from the area about half an hour ago and I’m pretty shaken up. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/244 "2013-04-15T21:57:59Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Sorry—I didn’t read what you were responding to, really. I just got home from the area about half an hour ago and I’m pretty shaken up. You ok? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/245 "2013-04-15T22:00:00Z")
The cell networks have not been shut down, AP has retracted that. Several major carriers have said that usage right now far exceeds capacity in the area so most voice calls will not go through. They’re asking civilians to use text messaging so emergency calls can go through. Also, NBC is reporting that federal officials told them they have a “suspect” in custody. A suspect isn’t a perpetrator though, and given what happened at the Olympic bombings people shouldn’t rush to any conclusions based on such a chaotic event with so few facts available. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/246 "2013-04-15T22:01:00Z")
Clarification–Federal officials are reporting Boston police are guarding the person, he isn’t in federal custody. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/247 "2013-04-15T22:01:08Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I don’t even care to fact check it. I need to believe it right now. No reason to disbelieve. At least one runner who finished before the explosions went back to give blood. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/248 "2013-04-15T22:02:18Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Clarification–Federal officials are reporting Boston police are guarding the person, he isn’t in federal custody. The police are now saying they have a lot of cops at all the hospitals, but won’t say anyone is under guard. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/249 "2013-04-15T22:03:31Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You ok? Yeah. Just…shell shocked. I was at work and I just wanted to get home to my family but I was scared to leave in case there were other incidents. I did eventually leave but by then it was wall to wall ambulances and just…ugh. Scary. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/250 "2013-04-15T22:04:53Z")
The Boston police commissioner says they are questioning multiple “suspects,” but that no one has been arrested so far. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/251 "2013-04-15T22:05:13Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Obama to speak at 6:10 pm Eastern. Here’s a link to the White House feed: [http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-makes-statement-2](http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-makes-statement-2) ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/252 "2013-04-15T22:05:13Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Clarification–Federal officials are reporting Boston police are guarding the person, he isn’t in federal custody. Boston Police Commissioner says nobody in custody—just rumors. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/253 "2013-04-15T22:05:49Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Yeah. Just…shell shocked. I was at work and I just wanted to get home to my family but I was scared to leave in case there were other incidents. I did eventually leave but by then it was wall to wall ambulances and just…ugh. Scary. I’ve lived all over the US, but went to college in Boston. It’s the city I love the most. I’m sorry this happened to you and your home. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/254 "2013-04-15T22:06:28Z")
It’s been 3 hours since the explosions and we’ve held pretty steady at 2 dead…hopefully that’s a sign the rest of the critically injured are going to be stabilized. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/255 "2013-04-15T22:06:28Z")
NY Post is reporting that authorities have a 20 year old Saudi national in custody (well, he’s a “suspect” and he’s “under guard,” and presumably, not free to leave as he wishes) at the hospital: [Authorities ID person of interest as Saudi national in marathon bombings, under guard at Boston hospital](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/authorities_under_suspect_guard_y2m8cJO29uC2PDGIjYBalO) ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/256 "2013-04-15T22:08:18Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > NY Post is reporting that authorities have a 20 year old Saudi national in custody (well, he’s a “suspect” and he’s “under guard,” and presumably, not free to leave as he wishes) at the hospital: [Authorities ID person of interest as Saudi national in marathon bombings, under guard at Boston hospital](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/authorities_under_suspect_guard_y2m8cJO29uC2PDGIjYBalO) The NY Post was also reporting 12 dead, so until it’s confirmed by other sources take this one with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/257 "2013-04-15T22:08:52Z")
It’s the Post, which means it can be ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/258 "2013-04-15T22:09:03Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > NY Post is reporting that authorities have a 20 year old Saudi national in custody (well, he’s a “suspect” and he’s “under guard,” and presumably, not free to leave as he wishes) at the hospital: [Authorities ID person of interest as Saudi national in marathon bombings, under guard at Boston hospital](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/authorities_under_suspect_guard_y2m8cJO29uC2PDGIjYBalO) Boston Police have [repudiated that report.](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/boston-police-no-arrests-have-been-made-in) ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/259 "2013-04-15T22:09:36Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > The NY Post was also reporting 12 dead, so until it’s confirmed by other sources take this one with a grain of salt. Post has a lot of details regarding his apprehension, which tends to bolster credibility. But hold out hope that it’s a Tea Partier on a tear for Patriot Day! ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/260 "2013-04-15T22:10:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Boston Police have [repudiated that report.](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/boston-police-no-arrests-have-been-made-in) FBI’s is pointedly not commenting. If this is international terrorism, it wouldn’t be BPD’s jurisdiction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=14)