[Witnesses] 2 explosions heard near finish line of Boston Marathon

[The Core DJ's]

By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

Two explosions were heard near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, witnesses told NBC News.

Will Ritter, the spokesman for a Massachusetts Senate candidate, said that he heard what sounded like two explosions and saw smoke rising near the Boston Public Library. He said that he saw three fire engines and police running to the site.

“We heard two really large explosions in rapid succession, about a second apart from each other,” Ritter said. “Everybody kind of ducked and hit the ground.”

Janet Wu, a reporter for NBC affiliate WHDH, told NBC News that she heard two loud explosions. Jackie Bruno, a reporter for New England Cable News, said on Twitter that she saw people’s legs blown off.

“Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror,” she said.
Boston police confirmed there was an incident but did not immediately give details. Police, fire and medical technicians were responding. New England Cable News reported that the emergency response came within seconds.

Federal authorities told NBC News that they had no immediate information.