FAMILIES of North East Lincolnshire runners are said to be anxiously awaiting news following two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon race. The two large explosions have killed three people and injured over 100. The Grimsby Telegraph understands runners from our area had travelled to America to take part in the event.
Among them was Robin Ruston, 56, of Healing, who is safe and well. His daughter Abby said: "After what seemed like an agonising wait, got confirmation at 9.11pm that my Dad was safe and well. "From what we can gather, we believe he had finished the race about 20 mins before the first explosion occurred. "A running friend of my Dad's phoned my Mum to say he was safe and well and back at his hotel "As yet we have not heard, anything directly from him, but we saw he had finished the race as my sister and I had been tracking his progress during the race." At this time, no further details about who the other local runners were, or their safety, is available. Mobile networks are also said to be jammed by participants trying to get hold of their friends and loved ones.There was no information from police on the cause of the blasts, which occurred without warning. At a media briefing, Boston police commissioner Ed Davis was asked whether the city was under a terrorist attack. "We're not being definitive about this right now, but you can reach your own conclusions based on what happened," he said Video and photographs from Boston show emergency services taking bloodied spectators to a medical tent following the incident, said to have come around three hours after the winners crossed the line.
"There are a lot of people down," said one runner quoted by AP news agency.
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.
"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.
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.
The Boston Marathon is one of the biggest annual athletic events in the United States, attracting a large field of runners and tens of thousands of spectators.
If you, or your loved ones were among those taking part, please contact our news team on 01472 372236.
More information is available at the marathon's official website, http://www.baa.org/