A series of bombs have exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon today (Monday April 15, 2013), leaving at least two people dead and more than two dozen injured.

According to the?NYTimes, a third explosion was heard just before 4 p.m., about an hour after the first two blasts. The police were apparently aware of that device before the explosion occurred.

The Associated Press, citing an intelligence official, said that two other devices were found at the marathon and were being dismantled. People were being cleared from an area near the Copley Plaza Hotel because a package was found on a footbridge nearby.

The blasts took place about four hours after the start of the men?s race, which meant that there were still several thousand runners yet to finish the race.

Boston police confirmed they were looking into the explosions, but made no further comment.

A senior United States government official said that the Boston police and the F.B.I. said they had received no reports in recent days about a threatened attack on the marathon and that there was no warning on Monday.

Several news outlets reported that a loud explosion was heard on the north side of Boylston Street, near a photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another explosion was heard several seconds later.

The Associated Press reported that authorities were helping injured runners leave the scene and that bloodied spectators were being carried to a medical tent that was being used for runners.

Eyewitnesses said the explosions were about 15 seconds apart. A few runners stopped and turned around after they heard the blasts. Some runners were seen crying and some said they saw limbs on the ground. Runners were directed to the runners? meeting area and hotels several blocks away.

My heart goes out to all those innocent people injured or killed in Boston… #prayforboston #fb

— Michelle Brown ? (@ATLien) April 15, 2013

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