At Least Three People Killed In Boston Attack

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel.

More than 100 people injured, and police now say at least three people killed by the explosions today at the Boston Marathon. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick says the FBI is now leading multiply agencies in an investigation, and security has been tightened across Boston.

GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK: We're also asking that everyone be on a state of heightened vigilance. That is really required of everyone. Please report suspicious packages or parcels, suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

SIEGEL: The blasts happened near the finish line at about 2:50 this afternoon as runners were still crossing the finish line. Many of the casualties appear to have been spectators.

Earlier today, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said there were many bags and parcels dropped by people who fled the explosions and that police are investigating all of them. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick urged people to stay out of the area.

PATRICK: We are asking that people stay out of crowds and calmly make their way home, or if they're visiting, back to their hotels.

SIEGEL: President Obama addressed the nation this evening. He said any person or a group found responsible will be brought to justice.

BLOCK: And we turn now to WBUR's Steve Brown in Boston. And, Steve, you were watching that briefing a little while ago. As we've mentioned, the authority is now saying three people have died, more than 100 injured. We've been watching those numbers climb. What else can you tell us about what officials had to say?

STEVE BROWN, BYLINE: Well, Governor Deval Patrick says the city of Boston will be open tomorrow, but it will not be business as usual. He's telling citizens to be...

BLOCK: And I'm afraid we've lost our connection with Steve Brown in Boston. Robert, the - Steve, are you back? Yeah. We were just hearing Governor Patrick talking about what he called a horrific day there in Boston. And the story has been unfolding through the day. Not much information yet about who might be responsible - no information about who might be responsible.

SIEGEL: No. As we've said, investigators are now on the scene, along with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. And to walk us through how this kind of investigation works, we're joined now by Bryan - oh, I'm - Steve Brown is back.

BLOCK: Steve Brown is back.

BROWN: Yes, I'm back.

BLOCK: Steve, sorry, we lost your connection there.

BROWN: That's OK.

BLOCK: And what were you telling us about what else...

BROWN: Well, I was saying that it's going to be heightened security in the downtown area, about two- or three-block area around the Boylston Street, the finish line. That's closed off. It's sealed off. National Guard troops are there. Just allowing residents to get into that area, you have to show ID to get in - to get back to your homes in that area.

BLOCK: And in terms of the investigation itself, Steve, Boston police are saying they do not have suspects.

BROWN: They don't. There was a rumor going around that they were talking to somebody of interest at one of the hospitals. Police Commissioner Ed Davis said that absolutely not - they do not have a person at the hospital that they're talking to. They're talking to a number of people. They will not say, though, that it's a person of interest, or people of interest. They're just talking to people.

BLOCK: Yeah. There have also been reports throughout the day, Steve, of other suspicious packages, suspicious devices being found. What did the Boston police commissioner have to say about that?

BROWN: Again, the fact that a lot of people dropped things, so they're checking everything out around the way. A lot of - people are kind of a gun-shy right now after what had happened there. So now, they're getting a lot of reports of things that are usually innocuous, are innocuous. But people are just kind of extra concerned.

BLOCK: Mm-hmm. But no actual explosive devices that were found?

BROWN: Not that I'm aware of.

BLOCK: OK.

BROWN: There was one device that I know that they - it exploded - the bomb squad came in and exploded sometime after the initial explosions, probably about 45 minutes after that. But I'm not aware of any others.

BLOCK: OK. That's WBUR's Steve Brown in Boston. Steve, thank you.

BROWN: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.