Boy of 8 died watching father finish Boston race

Martin Richard, from Dorchester, a neighbourhood of Boston, was among the three people killed in the blasts yesterday that erupted just metres from the marathon finish line.

A candle has been reportedly placed on the stoop of his family’s home, while the word “Peace” has been written in chalk on the front walkway.

As the FBI launched a hunt for those responsible, US President Barack Obama said: “We will find out who did this. We’ll find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack, the most serious in the US since the 9/11 atrocity.

Betty Delorey, who lives nearby to Martin’s family home, told reporters Martin loved to climb the neighbourhood trees and hop the fence outside his home.

His father, Bill, is the director of a local community group, while his mother Denise works at the Neighbourhood House Charter School.

Bill Bratton, a former head of Boston police who is now based in London, said: “Unfortunately in my country there are no shortage of potential suspects.”

Meanwhile, counter-terrorism expert Richard Barrett said the incident had hints of a right-wing attack rather than al Qaida-inspired extremism.

Mr Barrett, the former United Nations co-ordinator for the al Qaida and Taliban monitoring team, said it was too early to say who was to blame for the marathon blasts.

But Mr Barrett, who has served with MI5 and MI6, said the timing on Patriots’ Day and the relatively small size of the devices suggested the work of a domestic extremist.

“At the moment it looks more likely that it was a right-wing terrorist incident, rather than an al Qaida attack because of the size of the devices.”

He added: “This happened on Patriots’ Day, it is also the day Americans are supposed to have their taxes in, and Boston is quite a symbolic city. These are all little indicators.”

The Pakistani Taliban, which has threatened attacks in the US because of its support for the Pakistani government, denied any role in the bombings.

Police were searching a flat in the Boston suburb of Revere as part of the investigation.

Massachusetts State Police confirmed that a search warrant was served last night but gave no more details.

Some investigators were seen leaving the property early today carrying brown paper bags, plastic binbags and a duffel bag.

The Boston Marathon is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious and about 23,000 runners took part, including hundreds from the UK and Ireland.

The race honoured the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting with a special mile marker.

Boston Athletic Association president Joanne Flaminio previously said there was “special significance” to the fact that the race is 26.2 miles long and 26 people died at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Scores of victims were hurt, many suffering shrapnel wounds, in the two blasts which rocked the finish line. Massachusetts General Hospital said “several amputations” had to be performed on survivors.

Horrifying images of injured spectators and blood-spattered pavements were caught as television cameras broadcast footage of the explosions.

Hospitals reported at least 144 people injured, at least 17 of them critically.

The eight-year-old boy who died was with his mother and sister, who were also injured as they waited for his father to finish the race.

At Massachusetts General Hospital, Alasdair Conn, chief of emergency services, said: “This is something I’ve never seen in my 25 years here... this amount of carnage in the civilian population. This is what we expect from war.”

Tim Davey, of Richmond, Virginia, was with his wife, Lisa, and children near a medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners when the injured began arriving.

“They just started bringing people in with no limbs,” he said.

Ed Davis, the city’s police commissioner, said there had been two “simultaneous explosions” near the finish line.

The first occurred just before the photo bridge that marks the finish line. The second could be heard a few seconds later.

They occurred about four hours into the race, a time when large numbers of runners would be finishing, with many more relatives and friends cheering them on.

Security for the London Marathon on Sunday will be reviewed following the explosions.

But sports minister Hugh Robertson insisted he was “absolutely confident” that the London event could be kept safe.

He said: “I think this is one of those incidents where the best way to show solidarity with Boston is to continue and send a very clear message to those responsible...”

London Mayor Boris Johnson has spoken to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe about the possibility of extra security for the London Marathon.

Mr Johnson said: “These attacks were aimed at its core, at innocent men, women and children enjoying a spring day out at a major sporting event.

“We do have robust security measures in place for Sunday’s London Marathon but, given events in Boston, it’s only prudent for the police and the organisers of Sunday’s race to re-examine those security arrangements.”

A spokeswoman for the Home Office confirmed that Home Secretary Theresa May had been fully briefed and held a meeting with MI5 director-general Jonathan Evans and the Met’s assistant commissioner for specialist operations, Cressida Dick.

The current threat level to the UK from international terrorism, set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), remains at substantial.

There were 176 casualties in the bombings, including three fatalities and 17 people who remain in critical condition, a press conference in Boston heard.

Democrat governor of Massachussets Deval Patrick said: “It’s important to clarify that two and only two explosive devices were found yesterday.

“Other parcels, all other parcels, in the area of the blast have been examined but there are no unexploded bombs. There were no unexploded explosive devices found.

“Over 150 people were injured yesterday in the blast, some gravely. Our thoughts go out to all of those injured and killed and to their family and friends.”

Mr Patrick added: “Everyone should expect continued heightened police presence and everyone should continue personally to be vigilant.”

Rick DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, said: “Our mission is clear - to bring to justice those responsible for the marathon bombing.

“The American public wants answers, the citizens of the city of Boston and Massachusetts want and deserve answers.”

He added: “This remains a very active investigation, are ongoing investigation in various locations throughout the area goes on.

“However, there are no known additional threats. We continue to interview various witnesses and process the crime scene, which could take some time.”

He said the FBI had received “voluminous” tip-offs over the last 18 hours.

He added: “The FBI is logically following up on a variety of leads.”

Mayor Thomas Menino said: “This is a bad day for Boston. but that I think if we pull together we’ll get through it. We’re a strong city.”

Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren said: “The president of the United States has pledged his full support in all efforts to keep the city safe and to find the person who did this and bring them to justice.

“We did not have to reach out to the president, the president reached out to us. He called the governor, he called the mayor, he called the members of the delegation, because the president is actively involved here in responding.”

She added: “Boston will survive.”

Boston police commissioner Ed Davis said: “We’re in the process of securing and processing the most complex crime scene that we’ve dealt with in the history of our department.”

Mr DesLauriers confirmed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was a “key component” of the joint terrorism task force and were interviewing witnesses.

He added that he would not comment on who may or may not be held in custody.

Addressing a press conference, president Barack Obama confirmed the explosions at the Boston Marathon were being investigated by the FBI as an act of terrorism.

“This was a heinous and cowardly act,” he said. “The FBI is now investigating this as an act of terrorism.”

But he added: “The American people refused to be terrorised. What the world saw yesterday in the aftermath of the explosions were stories of heroism and kindness and generosity and love.”