Back Bay

Little sticky notes appeared all over Davis Square this morning. Photo by Dave Frost.

Newbury Street near Mass. Ave. Photo by Cherie L. King.

BU Today reports she was Lingzi Lu, a graduate student in statistics and mathematics. Her friend and fellow BU grad student, Danlin Zhou was seriously injured.

Aaron Tang was watching and photographing the Marathon from his office when the first explosion went off. He's posted a set of photos, some taken seconds after the blast.

Meanwhile, Ethan Long reports on being inside Forum when the second bomb went off right outside:

Brian D'Amico was walking around Copley Square tonight when he saw these folks who had just gone out and bought some food for the police and National Guard members patrolling the area.

UPDATE: One of the people, Mary Adamczyk, tweets:

Glad we could help out. In those bags were homemade chili, cornbread, chips, water and chocolates. We fed 50 people!

Photo copyright Brian D'Amico.

The South China Morning Post reports that among the injured yesterday is Zhou Danling, a graduate student at Boston University.

The Chinese consulate in New York reports she is in stable condition but that a second Chinese national died in the bombings.

Boston University Today did not identify either victim, but reported the murder victim was also a BU graduate student and went to the race with two other friends, one of whom required surgery and was in stable condition.

At a press conference this afternoon, Gov. Patrick said he visitied a Northeastern student named Victoria, at Tufts Medical Center with shrapnel wounds from one of yesterday's explosions. Victoria, he said, told him how scared and hysterical she was as she was triaged in the Marathon medical tent. But then a man managed to calm her down, showed her his own scars from a shrapnel wound and told her she'd be OK.

Patrick said Victoria would love to thank the man, who only gave his name as Tyler. If you know him, call 617-725-4000.

BU Today reports.

Gov. Patrick said today an interfaith prayer service will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, with President Obama in attendance.

Mayor Menino, meanwhile, said the city has set up a fund to help victims. Boston public-safety unions have set up their own fund to help victims and to post a reward for the capture of whoever was responsible.

Richard DesLauriers, head of the FBI in Boston, says remains of the devices have been sent to an FBI lab in Virginia for analysis.

DesLauriers said the heavy devices appeared to have been carried in black nylon bags or backpacks and asked the public to alert the FBI to anybody they might know who had recently blown things up or asked questions about topics such as explosives, or bought several pressure cookers or asked about April 15. Transcript of his comments.

An ATF official said bits of the explosive devices were recovered from Boylston Street rooftops.

He said no suspect has yet been identified and that the FBI is still going through some 2,000 tips received as of noon today.

Police Commissioner Ed Davis said Boston Police had more officers than ever at the finish line; said protecting such a large event is difficult in part because it's "a soft target."

"You can't lock it down like a military operation," he said.

Krystle Campbell was at the finish line to cheer on a friend.

InsideMedford.com has more.

Earlier, Martin Richard, 8, of Dorchester, was also identified as one of the murder victims.

Meanwhile, the Lowell Sun reports on a Lowell woman who lost both her legs, and her daughter, who suffered serious leg injuries. A fund has been set up to help them.

Or the areas where they happened just before, you can submit them to the FBI or Boston Police at:

Boston@ic.fbi.gov

If you have the time you took the photo, include that in your message.

The injuries suffered by bomb victims taken to Mass. General are consistent with those caused by pellets, nails or other sharp objects, the chief of trauma services said at a press conference this morning.

Dr. George Velmahos said several of the patients at his hospital remain sedated and intubated as they recover from emergency surgery.

Dr. Ron Walls, chair of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, says three patients were hit with "small, round projectiles," another with "a collection of nails."

National Guard watching Red Line entrances. Photo by Gedalia Pasternak.

The heart of Copley Square remains shut down. Boston Common resembles a military encampment. Cafe tables along Newbury Street remain uncleaned as police comb the area for possible evidence.

Kirty Lee took the Green Line into work today:

Held it together until I rode through Copley station pitch black. Haunting.

A.P. Blake reports:

At a press conference this morning, Gov. Patrick said that the only explosive devices on Boylston Street yesterday were the ones that exploded.

Police Commissioner Ed Davis said 176 people were injured by the blasts and that 17 are in critical condition. The death toll remains at 3.

Patrick said we can expect a heightened police and National Guard presence until the investigation is complete.

"There are no known additional threats," FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers said, adding Copley Square could remain shut for several days. Also, "this will be a worldwide investigation."

Transcript of DesLauriers's comments.

UPDATE: Meetinghouse Bank has set up an account for the Richard family. EasCare Ambulance, 500 Neponset Ave. (under the Planet Fitness) is also accepting donations, and is open 24 hours.

The Dorchester Reporter tells us about Martin Richard, whose sister and mother were seriously injured in yesterday's bombings on Boylston Street.

His neighbors have set up an online spreadsheet for people who want to help the family.

The Revere Fire Department posts on its Facebook page:

Deputy Chief, Engine 5, Ladder 1, Cataldo Paramedics & Chief were called in for Operational standby for State Police Bomb Techs for search of a "person of interest " apartment at 364 Ocean Ave. FBI, ATF, ICE, Boston PD, Revere PD as well as MSP detectives and Bomb Techs from Boston PD and State.

Ed. note: City Councilor Matt O'Malley, himself a Marathon runner, posted the following on his Facebook page tonight. Reprinted here with permission.

In 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, and 2012 I took a right on Hereford and then a left on Boylston. After running 26 miles, seeing the finish line of the Boston Marathon ranks among the greatest feelings in the world. Last year, in fact, I videotaped the final 2/10th's of a mile and uploaded it to Youtube. I wanted to record the feeling of pure bliss.

I am equally sad and angry that someone has sought to destroy that.

It is beyond difficult to comprehend how some coward could commit the acts of today. To understand how someone could attempt to destroy this uniquely Boston tradition strains all credulity. This is the only sporting event where EVERY spectator is rooting for EVERY runner. Joy, camaraderie, and fellowship is shared among all participants: athlete and fan alike.

The side of the Brooklyn Academy of Music tonight.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, an A's fan reports:

Oakland A's fans have organized to change tonight's chant from "Let's go Oakland" to "Let's go Boston".

Brian D'Amico was near the finish line and took photos, including this one of the remains of somebody's sneaker.

Police Commissioner Ed Davis just announced. He said the exact number of injured is still being tallied, added "there is no suspect at Brigham and Women's Hospital."

Meanwhile, the FBI has taken control of the investigation because it might be a terrorist attack.

Davis added T riders can expect extra bag and backpack checks in coming days.

Photographynatalia was in Kenmore Square this afternoon to photograph runners when the bombs went off. A shocked runner reacted to the news of the explosions.

Copyright Photographynatalia. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Text of his statement.

Crime-scene zone. Map by NotifyBoston.

All of Copley Square, along with blocks going down to Hereford, are considered a crime scene and will stay that way for the next 24 hours, possibly longer, police say. Specifically: Clarendon from Huntington to Newbury, Newbury from Clarendon to Hereford and Huntington from Belvidere to Clarendon.

The MBTA says Copley station on the Green Line will be shut indefinitely.

Via this form, which is building this Google Docs spreadsheet.

Runner reunited with husband after explosions. Photo by Dani B.

Second explosion. Photo by Dan Lampariello.At least two bombs exploded near the Marathon finish line around 2:50 p.m. killing two people. One was an eight-year-old boy, the Globe reports. WCVB and WBZ report scores of people are being treated at local hospitals.

The windows of Marathon Sports blew in. Every ambulance in the city was ordered in as first reponders rushed in to help people with limbs ripped off. Boston University reports one of the critically injured was a BU student.

As late as 3:30 p.m., police were continuing to find injured runners, as far away as Mass. Ave. and Commonwealth Ave.