After Boston Marathon explosion, Pinoys in US told to avoid large crowds

April 16, 2013 2:00pm


After deadly explosions marred this year's Boston Marathon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday advised Filipinos in the United States to avoid large crowds for now.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez also said they will continue coordinating with the Philippine consulate in New York and the Filipino community for updates on the incident.

"Iwasan ang malaking gathering para sa kanilang kaligtasan at kapakanan," Hernandez said in an interview over radio dzBB on Tuesday noon.

However, he also advised them to remain alert and keep updated on developments.

So far, Hernandez said no Filipino has been reported to be among those killed or injured in the blast, which has claimed the lives of at least three people.

"Nakikipagugnayan ang konsulada sa New York sa police, hospital, Filipino communities para alamin kung may Pilipinong nadamay at kung anong tulong maaring ibigay," he said.

"So far walang report na may nadamay," he added.

Two bombs


According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, two bombs ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people, maiming others and injuring more than 100 in what a White House official said would be treated as an "act of terror."

It was the worst bombing on U.S. soil since security was tightened after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and President Barack Obama promised to hunt down whoever was responsible for the attack on a day when tens of thousands of spectators packed the streets to watch the world-famous race.

No one has been arrested and the White House official said it would have to be determined whether the attack came from a foreign or domestic source.

Investigators found what could be five additional, undetonated explosive devices around the Boston area, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing two unnamed people briefed on the investigation. The evidence had yet to be fully analyzed, the Journal said.

The blasts a few seconds apart knocked some runners off their feet and shattered what had been a resplendent spring day with the state of Massachusetts celebrating Patriots' Day, which commemorates the U.S. war of independence on the third Monday in April.

April 15 is also the deadline for U.S. taxpayers to file their annual income tax returns.

Many runners were heading for the finish when a fireball and smoke rose from behind cheering spectators and a row of flags representing the countries of participants, video from the scene showed. - with a report from Reuters, VVP, GMA News