Doctors are “pulling ball bearings out of people in the emergency room,” suggesting that the bombs were designed to propel shrapnel, a terrorism expert briefed on the investigation told CNN’s Deborah Feyerick.
As news of the reported explosions in Boston continues to unfold, many online are criticising the rush to circulate graphic images on both social and mainstream media.
A person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still going on said the explosives were put in 6-liter kitchen pressure cookers, hidden in black duffel bags and left on the ground. They were packed with shrapnel, the person said.
The person said law enforcement officials have some of the bomb components but do not yet know what was used to set off the explosives.
Earlier, a doctor treating the wounded appeared to corroborate the person’s account, saying one of the victims was maimed by what looked like ball bearings or BBs.
“We’ve removed BBs and we’ve removed nails from kids. One of the sickest things for me was just to see nails sticking out of a little girl’s body,” said Dr. David Mooney, director of the trauma center at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Two children remain in critical condition at the hospital with serious leg injuries. Mooney said that tourniquets applied by emergency responders at the race saved the children’s lives.
- Two killed – including 8-year-old boy – in bomb blasts near finish line of Boston Marathon, Boston police say. Area hospitals say at least 132 are injured, including eight children.
- Two explosions happened at about 2:50 p.m., more than two hours after the first of the race’s nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
- Boston.com journalist reports “blood everywhere,” people missing limbs.
- Race called off; Red Cross and Google set up websites to help people find loved ones in the area
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