Boston Marathon hit by explosions

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Semtex?

[Ayaan]

ABC News is reporting at least 86 injured.

[Ian]

If it was domestic terrorism, and somehow organized, a better target like a government building, like the OK City bombing, would have been picked.

Since there are very few casualties, at least that we know of so far, the bombing was executed fairly incompetently. If it was real terrorism, it would have been a much bigger bomb and higher value target more likely.

I mean who targets a marathon? Talk about pointless. Very poor choice of target if you're trying to make a point of any kind.

It does seem rather incompetent. Several other devices were found that did not go off (well, at least one was control-detonated by the bomb squad). Plus, there are better opportunities for mass casualties at the same event - that starting line, for example. And why set them off towards the tail end, after many runners had already finished? Maybe poor timers setting off the bombs (which might help to explain the others that did not kill anyone). Also, over three hours and still no confirmed claim of responsibility. I'm still leaning towards thinking it was idomestic terrorism, but a lone whacko sound more and more possible.

[FBM]

I don't think the real goal of terrorist acts is to rack up a body count, though. It's to scare people, no? Hence the name?

[klr]

I don't think the real goal of terrorist acts is to rack up a body count, though. It's to scare people, no? Hence the name?

No, but it helps if you're seen to be effective - and ruthless.

I agree with the other posters: If it's domestic job, then the perpetrators have a good sense of timing, but they are not the most competent. As bad as this has been, it had the potential to be much worse.

[Bella Fortuna]

One of the two killed was an 8-year-old child.

[FBM]

Gug.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Sad stuff, this.

[cronus]

It is horrible but this kind of futile idiotic violence is a daily event in some parts of the world and hardly merits a headline despite the scale of the horror ongoing.

[mistermack]

The people of Boston blatantly financed the IRA bombs for many years.

Now they know what it feels like. Shame it's always the wrong ones that get hurt. That's what bombs are like.

[Twoflower]

I hope all my kids are ok. The explosions were very close to where I babysit.

[Ian]

The people of Boston blatantly financed the IRA bombs for many years.

Now they know what it feels like. Shame it's always the wrong ones that get hurt. That's what bombs are like.

Fuck you. Fuck you for indiscriminately blaming all of Boston. And fuck you even if you didn't quite mean it like that.

[klr]

Alright people, everyone calm down and take a stress pill ...

[Wumbologist]

I wonder if Wumbo will be there...

I was not. I need to start looking for a new job. We had easily ten trucks there and I was stuck doing the dialysis taxi circuit while I could have been helping people who really needed helping.

On the other hand, listening to the radio traffic from those who *were* there was very surreal.

[mistermack]

The people of Boston blatantly financed the IRA bombs for many years.

Now they know what it feels like. Shame it's always the wrong ones that get hurt. That's what bombs are like.

Fuck you. Fuck you for indiscriminately blaming all of Boston. And fuck you even if you didn't quite mean it like that.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

I don't know the names of all those who donated to the IRA. But I do know that they didn't get condemned in Boston, when they went round the pubs with the collection tins.