Explosions at Boston Marathon

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Like i said, that horse left the gate already. Saying the "race begins now" when the horse is already down the track is a bit silly. Let's just hope nobody else dies instead.

Oh, I was kinda referring to the national media.

But I agree with you. Thoughts, hopes and prayers that there are no more deaths.

[Oberon]

There are three suspects in my mind at the moment:

1) Islamic militant - Probably not a full Al'Qaeda member but a wannabe or from one of the African zones.
2) Political activist - Ala Breivik or McVeigh, could be either side of the political spectrum
3) North Korea - The most unlikely of the three, but given recent events and todays date means that a few small warning lights are flashing.

In regards to choice of target, at first glance it doesn't seem to make sense for an Islamic militant, however given that the big names like New York and DC are pretty well secured, and this event was an international one, it's possible, it is possible.
If it isn't, and it is a political nutjob, then God help America because it's going to divide an already quite well divided nation, and if it's a person with a pro-2A agenda then the rhetoric is going to get even nastier than it is now, and it'll only be a matter of time before someone is copy and pasting conspiracy theories that Obama set this up in order to push through his firearm control law (especially when you consider that Biden was in a meeting with supporters of such a law when he got the news) on GT.
However, this is all matters to be concerned about tomorrow, what is important right now is that the casualty rate remains low, and that any other devices in the area are found and deactivated.
If anything, the amount of EMT people at the marathon and within easy reach of the marathon will help here.

Here's a video making the rounds of the explosion and immediate aftermath, I didn't spot any gore on it, but obviously be aware:

http://www.boston.com/video/viral_pa...=2303076923001

[yubba]

4th Tea Party, 5th NRA, 6th yubba

[Armistead]

Heard one dead was a 8 year old kid


Sometimes I try to be funny, but some people are just stupid....

[vienna]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/nationa...wASg0RQfVsH1yI

Cops also issued an all-points-bulletin for a yellow Penske truck or van that tried to get access to a marathon site, claiming it had medical supplies — and then sped off or was turned away.

Sounds like maybe it's a classic "attack the first responders" ploy as seen in attacks in places like Israel. Then, again, the report comes from the NY Post; will wait and see if this pans out...

The local radio news here in Los Angeles is just now reporting ERs in Boston are saying ball bearings are being found in the wounds of the injured civikians...

<O>

[JU_88]

@Oberon I cant imagine its NK, if so it would be very shocking!

As for Al Qaeda, i suppose its possible, but i dont feel that this is quite their style, and I'd guess that any African followers would have more of an axe to grind with France than the U.S right now - owing to recent events...

my gut tells me this is probably going to be U.S domestic - but honestly, who knows....
I just hope they get a lead and track down the bastards soon.

[GoldenRivet]

Just got to my computer a few minutes ago... a good friend of mine was running the marathon, he finished the race a short time before the bomb blasts occurred - he said they had stopped to watch the others finish and had been watching for a while, then decided to go find their hotel and get something to eat... no sooner did he turn around and walk about half a block the bombs exploded.

He is ok thankfully

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by JU_88

@Oberon I cant imagine its NK, if so it would be very surprising!

As for Al Qaeda, i suppose its possible, but i dont feel that this is quite their style, and I'd guess that any African followers would have more of an axe to grind with France than the U.S right now - owing to recent events...

my gut tell me this is going to be a U.S domestic nutjob but honestly, who knows....

It would be very unlikely, but I can't rule it out, they have had experience with South Korean infiltration operations, from there it would be a case of buying a ticket to the US, but the bomb making would be more difficult.
In regards to Al Qaeda, I'd imagine if it is an Islamic militant it would be a 'fanboy' rather than a fully fledged card carrying AQ member. In fact, AQ would probably be as surprised by it as we are (hence why they've not taken responsibility) until someone gets a video like our guys made before they hit London.
But yes, my second guess would be domestic political.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Oberon

3) North Korea - The most unlikely of the three, but given recent events and todays date means that a few small warning lights are flashing.

Doubt it was the North Koreans. Too far out of their AO, the farthest they have ever done something like this was in Rangoon and that was to target the South Korean President, and the bombing of that Seoul bound KAL 707 near Thailand.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Doubt it was the North Koreans. Too far out of their AO, the farthest they have ever done something like this was in Rangoon and that was to target the South Korean President, and the bombing of that Seoul bound KAL 707 near Thailand.

True, I did say that they were very low down the list, but just can't rule it out completely given the current events and the significant of todays date.