Boston Marathon hit by explosions
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Two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon race have left an unknown number of people injured.
Video and photographs from Boston show a scene of confusion, with emergency services descending on the scene and bloodied spectators being taken to a medical tent.
"There are a lot of people down," said one runner quoted by AP news agency.
The incident reportedly came about three hours after the winners crossed the line.
"There was an explosion, police, fire and EMS are on the scene. We have no indication of how many people are injured," spokeswoman for the Boston Police Department said.
AP said there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the bridge that marks the finish line. Another loud explosion could be heard a few seconds later.
Mike Mitchell of Vancouver, Canada, a runner who had finished the race said he was looking back at the finish line and saw a "massive explosion."
Smoke rose 50ft (15m) in the air, he told Reuters news agency, and people began running away and screaming after hearing the noise.
"Everybody freaked out," he said.
Stragglers heading for the finish line were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts as the scene was locked down.
The Eastern Massachusetts branch of the Red Cross has set up a disaster response centre in the area.
Last year's finish line showing the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in the background 

Earlier today, multiple explosions have occurred in Boston resulting in two confirmed deaths and hundreds injured at .  Two explosions within seconds of each other tore through the finish line at the Boston Marathon, approximately four hours after the start of the men's race. '''' reporter and eyewitness Chris Cassidy said it appeared that the first of the two blasts originated from trash cans along the sidewalk which was heavily populated with marathon spectators.

A third explosion also occurred at the , however the  are not reporting any casualties at that scene. Area police do not believe the two events are related. 

President Obama commented on the events saying federal resources were being made available to the Boston local authorities to hold whomever was responsible accountable.

"I kept running and I heard behind me a loud bang. It looked like it was in a trash can or something. That one was in front of Abe and Louie’s," said the ''Herald'''s Cassidy who was participating in the event at the time.

Ed Davis from the Boston police informed the media that persons wishing to contact persons at the scene should phone 617-635-4500.  Anyone at the scene who may have information for the authorities should contact the incident line on 1-800-494-TIPS.