Horrific terrorist bombing in Boston
Police and people react after the explosion - Photo: Reuters
| Stock market turmoil According to AFP, the explosions in Boston were a major factor in the turmoil in the US stock market yesterday, April 15. The S&P 500 index fell 2%, the Dow Jones lost 1.79%, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.94%. Investors also sold off commodities such as oil and gold. |
According to AFP news agency, the two bombs exploded just seconds apart. At least two people died on the spot, including an 8-year-old boy. In addition, 134 others were injured, including 8 in critical condition and 14 seriously injured. At least 8 of the victims were children.
The US government has determined that this was a terrorist attack. However, authorities are still not sure whether foreign or domestic terrorists carried out this attack. The two bombs were small and did not contain C-4 or other “high-grade” explosives. It is likely that these two bombs were homemade using crude materials.
Bloody scene
More than 23,000 people had run the Boston Marathon and 17,600 had finished when the two explosions occurred. The explosions created a chaotic scene in the Copley area of Boston. Windows were shattered in many surrounding buildings, blood was everywhere, and smoke was billowing from the bombing site. Police have cordoned off the area to investigate.
“When the two explosions rang out, I ran over and saw at least 40 people lying on the ground. Some had lost their legs. It was horrible,” Roupen Bastajian, a marathon participant, told the NYT. “A lot of people had lost their legs. There was blood, bone fragments, flesh… everywhere. It was disgusting. It looked like a battlefield.”
Another witness, Bruce Mendelson, an Army veteran, said the two explosions were about five seconds apart, coming from a cafe near 667 Boylston Street. “The attacker probably intended to target the crowd at the marathon finish line,” he said.
Dave Watt, an expert with USA Track and Field, said there was a medical center for the marathon near the scene of the explosion. Just 30 seconds after the two explosions, doctors, nurses and assistants rushed to the scene.
“Thank God we had a medical centre right there. It could have been a lot worse. The doctors were able to get to the seriously injured. Otherwise the death toll could have been much higher,” said Watt.
According to the Boston Globe, authorities evacuated the Marriott and Lenox hotels near the crime scene as a precaution. In the area where the two explosions occurred, police discovered many suspicious-looking bags on the street. These were likely bags of belongings from people fleeing the scene.
Obama pledges to find the culprit
Reuters reported recently that US President Barack Obama stated that the Washington government does not yet know who carried out the attack and their intentions. He pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. The US will also increase security nationwide to guard against the risk of further terrorist attacks.
US and international leaders have also condemned the terrorist attack. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper described it as a sad day as the Boston Marathon was “tainted by senseless acts of violence”.
Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon emphasized: “It is impossible not to remember the day terrorists hijacked a plane and crashed it into the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York (9/11).”
Senator Saxby Chambliss said America will not surrender to terrorism. He stressed that law enforcement and intelligence agencies must do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further tragedies. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said New York City has tightened security and deployed police forces at strategic locations.
According to Tuoi Tre - TH
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