Malta marathon enthusiasts react to Boston horror

Two bomb blasts struck terror at this year's Boston marathon on Monday, but failed to deter local running enthusiasts who plan to participate in this weekend's London marathon regardless of terrorism fears.

Robin Parnis England, 40, will be participating in this Sunday's London Marathon to raise funds for a 'Disability Rights UK': which aims to create a society where everyone with lived experience of disability or health conditions can participate equally as full citizens.

A regular at the Malta marathon, he admits that the Boston bombing both shocked and disheartened him, and that he momentarily thought twice about his own participation in the weekend's race.

But he nonetheless resolved to go ahead as planned.

'It did occur to me for a few minutes that maybe I should not run on Sunday. But that would be giving up, so I'll be running..."

The tragic events of Monday have undeniably cast a shadow over the annual charity run in the British capital, although enthusiasm for the event remains high.

"I don't think the attack will have any effect on similar events in the future, apart from beefed up security," Parnis England adds. "You can't live your life being scared of terrorists."

Nonetheless an element of fear has undeniably crept into proceedings. "My wife and one of my kids are coming to watch. I will ask them not to wait for me at the finish line..."

Similarly, marathon runner Thomas Jacobsen, 42, admits that the tragedy has jolted and shocked the international running community.

"This is very scary," Jacobsen, who ran the New York Marathon in 2010, told MaltaToday. "Some cowards have decided to attack people participating or watching what is in essence a real peoples grass-roots event. There are no tracks or fancy stadia: all you need is a pair of shoes, a pair of shorts and the streets. These are not political events by any stretch of the imagination, just a real manifestation of people coming together to perform and to have fun..."

Jacobsen believes that Monday's terrorist attack may affect future events, though like most participants he remains undeterred.

"People will be hesitant in the future to participate and to come as spectators," he said.  "But the best way to respond is to show the bastards that no matter what, they cannot break us. Double the participation next year, have more fun, make it an even bigger event..."

Meanwhile investigations continue into Monday's attack, in which two bombs struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon: turning a celebration into a bloody scene of destruction.

The death toll has since risen to three. One of the dead was an 8-year-old boy, according to a state law enforcement source.

Hospitals reported at least 144 people are being treated, with at least 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious condition. At least eight of the patients are children.

Several of the injured had limbs amputated, according to a terrorism expert briefed on the investigation.

Several of the patients treated at Massachusetts General Hospital suffered injuries to lower limbs that will require "serial operations" in the coming days. Some injuries were so severe amputations were necessary.

In Washington, President Barack Obama vowed: "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice."

The terrorist attack, near the marathon's finish line, triggered widespread chaos, shattered windows and barricades and sent smoke billowing into the air at Copley Square.

The blasts were about 50 to 100 yards apart, officials said, on a stretch of the marathon course lined with spectators cheering runners through the final yards of a 26-mile, 385-yard endurance feat.

Allan Panter, a doctor who was near the finish line waiting for his wife to finish the race, said he was standing about 20 to 25 feet from the first blast. He said he treated victims on the street after the explosion.

"I saw at least six to seven people down next to me," he said. "They protected me from the blast. One lady expired. One gentleman lost both his (lower) limbs. Most of the injuries were lower extremities."

Bill Iffrig, 78 and a veteran marathoner, was nearing the finish when "the shock waves just hit my whole body and my legs just started jittering around." Iffrig, who can be seen in video of the explosion wearing an orange tank top, was helped to his feet by an event volunteer and had just a scratch from his fall.

Federal authorities are classifying the bombings as a terrorist attack, but it's not clear whether the origin was domestic or foreign, a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said.

A federal law enforcement official said that both bombs were small, and initial tests showed no C-4 or other high-grade explosive material, suggesting that the packages used in the attack were crude explosive devices.

Authorities in Boston found at least one other explosive device that they were dismantling, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.

One unexploded device was found at a hotel on Boylston Street near the bomb site and another unexploded device was found at an undisclosed location, Keating, a Democrat and member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said. He called the bombing a "sophisticated, coordinated, planned attack."

It was unclear who may have planted the marathon bombs. There were no credible threats before the race, a state government official said.

There is no suspect in custody, but many people are being questioned, Davis said.

Also, a Saudi national with a leg wound was under guard at a Boston hospital in connection with the bombings, but investigators cannot say he is involved at this time and he is not in custody, a law enforcement official said Monday evening.

The unexploded devices that were recovered could provide a treasure trove of information such as fingerprints and indications of the bomb maker's design, and from the bombs that did explode, investigators would be looking for fragments and anything indicating the "signature" of the bomb makers.