An eight-year-old is among those confirmed dead, while more than 100 are being treated at hospitals in the city.

THERE have been multiple deaths after two explosions ripped through crowds gathered at the finishing line of the Boston marathon, in a terrorist attack on America.

The Patriot’s Day massacre, according to some reports in US media, has resulted in the deaths of up to 12 people, with more than 100 injured.

Two blasts went off within quick succession as runners came down the home straight towards the finish line on Boylston Street, where the Irish consulate is also located.

In a press conference from the White House US President Barack Obama said that authorities “will get to the bottom of this”. "We still do not know who did this or why," he said. "People shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have the facts. Make no mistake, we'll find out who did this and why they did this. Any responsible individuals or groups will feel the full weight of justice.

The scene, which had moments earlier been a picture of celebration as competitors, many of them fun-runners made their way over the line at 2.45pm local time.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Boston Police stand near the scene of a twin bombing at the Boston Marathon, on April 16, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Three people are confirmed dead and at least 141 injured after the explosions went off near the finish line of the marathon. A woman is helped from the scene near the finish line after two bombs exploded during the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Two people are confirmed dead and at least 28 injured after at least two explosions went off near the finish line to the marathon. A woman is loaded into an ambulance after he was injured by one of two bombs exploded during the 117th Boston Marathon near Copley Square on April 15, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. A man is loaded into an ambulance after he was injured by one of two bombs exploded during the 117th Boston Marathon near Copley Square on April 15, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Two people are confirmed dead and at least 23 injured after two explosions went off near the finish line to the marathon. Two blood stained feet of a man hangs outside an ambulance outside a medical tent located near the finish of the 117th Boston Marathon after two bombs exploded on the marathon route on April 15, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. A runner sits near Kenmore Square after two bombs exploded during the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Two people are confirmed dead and at least 23 injured after two explosions went off near the finish line to the marathon. A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after two bombs exploded during the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Two people are confirmed dead and at least 23 injured after two explosions went off near the finish line to the marathon. boston_marathon_explosion.jpg @CBSNews/Twitter BH6mNYRCYAAbPrr.jpg A Boston police officer wheels in injured boy down Boylston Street as medical workers carry an injured runner following an explosion during the 2013 Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria at the marathon's finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Crowds gather a distance away from the explosions during the Boston Marathon. @globedavidlryan/Twitter bostonmarathon1.jpg BH6nnsWCYAAWjn9.jpg A woman is comforted by a man near a triage tent set up for the Boston Marathon after explosions went off at the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 15, 2013. Medical workers aid an injured man at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion there Monday, April 15, 2013 in Boston. Two explosions shattered the euphoria at the finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Medical workers and authorities work on the scene near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. (AP Photo/WCVB-TV/ABC) MANDATORY CREDIT A Boston police officer clears Boylston Street following an explosion at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria at the finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Medical workers wheel the injured across the finish line during the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Still image taken from video courtesy of NBC shows the scene of an explosion at the Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013. Two explosions struck the marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, witnesses said, injuring an unknown number of people on what is ordinarily a festive day in the city. REUTERS/NBC/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: CIVIL UNREST SPORT ATHLETICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO ARCHIVES. UNITED STATES OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN UNITED STATES. NO ONLINE USE. NOT FOR SALE FOR INTERNET DISPLAY Still image taken from video courtesy of NBC shows the scene of an explosion at the Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013. Two explosions struck the marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, witnesses said, injuring an unknown number of people on what is ordinarily a festive day in the city. REUTERS/NBC/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: CIVIL UNREST SPORT ATHLETICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO ARCHIVES. UNITED STATES OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN UNITED STATES. NO ONLINE USE. NOT FOR SALE FOR INTERNET DISPLAY Medical workers aid an injured man at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two bombs exploded near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing two people, injuring 22 others and sending authorities rushing to aid wounded spectators, race organizers and police said. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) People react to an explosion at the 2013 Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/The Boston Globe, John Tlumacki) Boston Police coordinate the scene after explosions reportedly interrupted the running of the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 15, 2013. Two explosions hit the Boston Marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring 23 on a day when tens of thousands of people pack the streets to watch one of the world's best known marathons. REUTERS/Dominick Reuter (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CIVIL UNREST DISASTER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Medical workers aid injured people at the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/The Boston Globe, David L Ryan) Medical workers aid injured people at the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/The Boston Globe, David L Ryan) Boston Police and Firemen stand by at the scene after explosions reportedly interrupted the running of the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 15, 2013. Two explosions hit the Boston Marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring 23 on a day when tens of thousands of people pack the streets to watch one of the world's best known marathons. REUTERS/Dominick Reuter (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS CIVIL UNREST DISASTER) A child is comforted after explosions went off at the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 15, 2013. Two explosions hit the Boston Marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring 23 on a day when tens of thousands of people pack the streets to watch one of the world's best known marathons. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: CIVIL UNREST DISASTER SPORT ATHLETICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after explosions went off at the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 15, 2013. Two explosions hit the Boston Marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring 23 on a day when tens of thousands of people pack the streets to watch one of the world's best known marathons. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: CIVIL UNREST DISASTER SPORT ATHLETICS) Medical workers aid injured people at the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions shattered the euphoria of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/The Boston Globe, David L Ryan) A runner is escorted from the scene after explosions went off at the 117th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts April 15, 2013. Two explosions hit the Boston Marathon as runners crossed the finish line on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring 23 on a day when tens of thousands of people pack the streets to watch one of the world's best known marathons. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: CIVIL UNREST DISASTER SPORT ATHLETICS) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Boston Police stand near the scene of a twin bombing at the Boston Marathon, on April 16, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Three people are confirmed dead and at least 141 injured after the explosions went off near the finish line of the marathon.

There were scene reports that 10 people had amputated limbs. Many victims are being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. The number of triage staff is regularly heightened on marathon day in order to cope with the number of injured runners, although additional staff have been brought in to cope with the injured masses.

At the most recent press conference, Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis would not confirm the number of deaths. “There are fatalities, I won’t get into the details,” he said. “There are people who have expired as a result of this.”

As for where exactly the bomb could have been stored, he added: “We don’t know.”

"There are a number of parcels that have been brought by people on the parade route. Anything brought by people is being treated as a suspicious device," he added.

There is a heightened police presence in the surrounding areas. “There are police that have been dispatched to all hospitals, as is our protocol. There’s a heavy police presence at all hospitals, hotels and other venues in the city. Don’t read too much into that,” he said.

Mr Davis said they are "stabilising the situation", but has urged people to still take caution.

Earlier this evening, there were reports that a suspect was in custody, but Mr Davis explained that there are “questioning many people” at this time.

“Those reports are not true,” he said. “We’re questioning many people, but there’s no one in custody. At this point in time, it’s still too early to get into specifics.”

He explained that authorities "had no information this was going to happen" ahead of time. Mr Davis would not say whether or not the bombs were a result of a terrorist attack, instead replying when prompted:

"You can reach your own conclusions based upon what happened.”

"Every asset of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is either here, or coming here. The President has talked to the mayor and the governor, and I had a personal conversation with the director of the FBI. We are stabilising the situation at this time, but people should be cautious."

Authorities are urging people to stay as far away as possible from the finishing line and nearby area.

In New York, the NYPD anti-terror units have been deployed at landmarks and other potential targets of terrorists. Authorities are currently looking for a third explosive in the Boston hotel building, which is on lockdown.

President Obama gave an emotionally charged speech in which he attempt to reunite the fragmented spirits of the American people. "On days like today, there are no Republicans and Democrats, we are Americans united in concern for our fellow citizens.

"All Americans stand by the people of Boston. To the police, the firefighters and the National Guard who responded so heroically and continue to do so, as we speak. You are a reminder of the Americans who sacrifice on our behalf every day.

"We still do not know who did this or why. People shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have the facts. Make no mistake, we'll find out who did this and why they did this. Any responsible individuals or groups will feel the full weight of justice.

"Bostonians will pull together and move together. The American people will be with them every step of the way.

"As we get information, our teams will provide briefings. We are still in the investigation stage at this point. We'll find out who did this and hold them accountable."

The street on which the attacks occurred at the end of the marathon



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