At least two people have died after a pair of blasts put an end to the Boston Marathon. According to multiple media outlets, dozens more have been injured, some with severed limbs.

“Somebody’s leg flew by my head,” one spectator told the Boston Herald. “I gave my belt to stop the blood.”

The explosions happened just before 3 p.m. Eastern time near the marathon’s finish line.

The Associated Press via The Huffington Post:

“There are a lot of people down,” said one man, whose bib No. 17528 identified him as Frank Deruyter of North Carolina. He was not injured, but marathon workers were carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area as blood gushed from her leg. A Boston police officer was wheeled from the course with a leg injury that was bleeding.

Neither race officials nor public officials could immediately estimate the number or degree of injuries.

About three hours after the winners crossed the line, there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another explosion could be heard a few seconds later.

Smoke rose from the blasts, fluttering through the national flags lining the route of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. TV helicopter footage showed blood staining the pavement in the popular shopping and tourist area known as the Back Bay.

Read more

(Watch another video of one of the explosions here.)

— Posted by Tracy Bloom.

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