2013 Boston Marathon bombing

2013 Boston Marathon bombing
Aaron Tang · CC BY 2.0 · source
Title	2013 Boston Marathon bombing
Caption	Damage near the finish line
Date	April 15, 2013
Location	Boston, Massachusetts
Target	Boston Marathon
Injuries	>260
Perpetrators	Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Tamerlan Tsarnaev

2013 Boston Marathon bombing was a domestic terrorist attack that occurred during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, when two improvised explosive devices detonated near the race finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 260, shocking United States public life and prompting a massive law enforcement response across Massachusetts and the wider New England region.

Background

In the lead-up to the attack, the annual Boston Marathon—established by Boston Athletic Association and historically associated with figures such as JFK and events like the Boston Marathon bombing (note: do not link this)—drew elite runners from organizations including Kenya-born athletes and teams from Ethiopia, United Kingdom, and United States collegiate programs. The race, run on Patriot's Day, passed through neighborhoods like Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Ashland, Massachusetts, Framingham, Massachusetts, and concluded on Boylston Street near landmarks such as the Boston Public Library and Copley Square. Security planning involved agencies including the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and coordination with the United States Department of Homeland Security and local emergency medical services like Boston EMS.

The Bombings

At approximately 2:49 p.m. local time, two pressure cooker devices detonated near the finish line on Boylston Street outside the Boston Public Library and across from the John Hancock Tower, producing shrapnel injuries, burns, and traumatic amputations among spectators and runners. First responders from the Boston Fire Department, Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Brigham and Women's Hospital triaged victims, while the FBI Boston Division and ATF documented the blast site. The explosions prompted lockdowns of nearby institutions including Boston University, Northeastern University, and the New England Conservatory of Music, and disrupted events tied to the Patriot's Day observance and local sporting schedules such as those of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Suspects and Manhunt

Investigators released surveillance images showing two suspects captured near the explosions; public identification efforts involved media outlets such as The Boston Globe, The New York Times, CNN, and NBC News. The suspects were later identified by law enforcement as brothers with ties to Chechnya and Dagestan origins; they were linked to residences in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Watertown, Massachusetts neighborhoods. A violent confrontation on April 18 between suspects and officers from the Massachusetts State Police and MIT Police Department in Watertown included gunfire and an explosion that left one suspect deceased and precipitated a citywide shelter-in-place order affecting municipalities like Cambridge and businesses including Harvard University. The surviving suspect was discovered hiding in a boat in a Watertown backyard, leading to his arrest by tactical teams from the FBI SWAT and Boston Police Special Operations Unit.

Investigations and Legal Proceedings

The FBI led the forensic investigation, assisted by the National Transportation Safety Board for scene analysis and the ATF for explosive residue examination; evidence included remnants of pressure cooker casings, ball bearings, nails, and remote-detonation components traced through purchases at retailers in the Merrimack Valley and later tied to purchase records. Prosecutors from the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts charged the surviving suspect in federal court with multiple counts including use of a weapon of mass destruction and interference with interstate commerce by explosives; the case involved defense counsel from the Federal Public Defender system and private attorneys. The federal trial in United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts resulted in a conviction and death sentence, invoking debates involving the United States Supreme Court, clemency petitions to the United States Department of Justice, and appeals lodged to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and later filings to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Victims and Community Response

Among the dead were an eight-year-old child and two adult spectators; injured victims included professional athletes, amateur runners, and international visitors from countries such as Canada, Russia, and United Kingdom. Hospitals including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital coordinated with trauma teams, orthopedic surgeons, and rehabilitation services, while organizations like the One Fund Boston were established to support survivors and families. Community responses included memorials at Copley Square, fundraising efforts by civic institutions such as the City of Boston, solidarity responses from sports franchises like the New England Patriots, and public vigils attended by officials including Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino. Cultural reactions were reflected in artistic tributes from institutions like the Boston Symphony Orchestra and media coverage by outlets such as NBC, CBS, and FOX News.

Aftermath and Security Changes

The attacks prompted revisions to public safety protocols for mass gatherings, influencing policies at venues like Fenway Park and events such as Thanksgiving parades and internationally at marathons in London, Berlin, and New York City Marathon security reviews. Federal and local agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and municipal police forces, implemented enhanced screening, surveillance camera deployments, explosive-detection training, and interagency communication improvements. Legal and civil liberties debates involved entities such as the ACLU and prompted legislative discussions in the Massachusetts Legislature and United States Congress on information sharing, surveillance authorities, and victim compensation programs. The event also influenced emergency medicine protocols at hospitals including Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital and led to long-term rehabilitation, prosthetics provision, and mental health services coordinated by nonprofits and philanthropic organizations.

Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States