Eyewitness describes 'mass chaos,' exploding glass after 2nd Boston Marathon explosion
Kathryn Burton was sitting and chatting with her husband when the second explosion at the Boston Marathon’s finish line detonated, shattering the restaurant’s windows and sending patrons scrambling toward the back exit.
(The immediate aftermath of Boston Marathon explosions. Photo via Twitter by @NightShiftPol)
APTN National News
BOSTON–Kathryn Burton was sitting and chatting with her husband when the second explosion near the Boston Marathon’s finish line detonated, shattering the restaurant’s windows and sending patrons scrambling toward the back exit.
Burton spoke with APTN National News via cell phone while she was walking away from the scene late Monday afternoon. She said the smoke from the second explosion also drifted into the restaurant, which sits about two blocks from the marathon’s finish line.
Boston police said at least two people were killed and at least 100 were reportedly injured by the two explosions which hit the world’s most famous marathon at about 2:50 p.m. Monday. The explosions occurred nearly simultaneously about 50 to 100 yards apart, authorities said. There was a report of a third explosion occurred at about 4:30 p.m. at the JFK Library, but it turned out to be fire related.
There was no warning before the explosions shattered the festive atmosphere at the marathon.
There were about 26,000 runners in the race, including 2,000 Canadians.
Burton, who is Mi’kmaq and originally from Eskasoni, said no one really reacted to the first explosion which sounded like a “firework.” The second explosion, however, shattered the restaurant’s windows and knocked over tables and chairs.
She said people immediately began calling loved ones on their cell phones and heading toward the restaurant’s back exit.
“The first explosion did not seem troublesome and then the second one was more intense and that is when the glass started exploding and the smoke was coming in,” said Burton, who works for the Massachusetts State Democrats in Boston. “It is mass chaos right now.”
Burton said there was a widespread belief immediately following the explosions that it was the result of a terror attack.
“That is the belief by those who have been in the area,” she said.
NBC, quoting law enforcement sources, said a homemade bomb caused the explosions.
The Associated Press, quoting intelligence sources, reported that two more explosive devices were also found and disabled.
The airspace over the Boston explosion site was closed and security was tightened in New York City and at the White House.
