Sixteen runners from Columbia ran in the Boston Marathon on Monday. They are all reportedly safe.
Two bombs were detonated near the marathon finish line at about 2:45 p.m., killing three people and injuring more than 130 others, the Associated Press reported. At least 15 people are in critical condition.
The White House is handling the attack as an act of terror, the AP reported.
Shellaine Frazier, an MU assistant professor of Clinical Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, ran the marathon.
“I was past the finish line (for) roughly 5 minutes when I happened to double back for a banana,” she wrote in an email. “(That’s) when I saw and heard the first bomb. People were shocked, but thought perhaps it was a celebratory thing (although it was nothing they had done the last time I ran), or, at worst, an electrical explosion or something — an accident. Then the second bomb exploded.”
Frazier said after the second bomb, it was clear the explosions weren’t “innocent,” but everyone was still confused.
“A degree of chaos sat in fairly quickly,” she wrote. “I was barely able to walk at that point, but had to get back to my hotel (near the finish line).”
Frazier said emergency vehicles “swarmed” the streets, making it difficult to leave the scene. Once she reached her hotel, she learned what had happened from the local TV news station. As of 8:29 p.m. on Monday, she was still in her hotel. It is no longer on lockdown, but she is discouraged from leaving and no one is allowed in the building.
Other Columbia runners used social media to alert their friends and family of their safety.
“We’re okay,” Jennifer Anderson posted on her Facebook page. “Just trying to get out of downtown.”
[According to Google Person Finder]( http://google.org/personfinder/2013-boston-explosions/view?family_name=&given_name=&id=2013-boston-explosions.personfinder.google.org%2Fperson.24421071&query=william+washington&role=seek), William Washington texted Mark Flanner that he was OK at 3:34 EDT.
John Louie, Washington and Frazier all finished the marathon within 10 minutes of the explosion, according to the [marathon’s athlete tracker](http://www.baa.org/individual.html).
Darrin Young said on Facebook that he and Dan Heaviland did not run the marathon. He also said Michael Tripp and Laura Hillard finished the race safely.
The Columbia Swim Club’s [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaSwimClub/posts/10151467751699213) reported Anne Sievers is also safe .
Haley Schwarz posted on Facebook that she, Dawn Castagno-Dysart and Jordan Derose safely completed the marathon.
According to Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, the two blasts occurred 50 to 100 yards apart.
Marathon runners who had not yet completed the race were rerouted and hotels near the scene of the explosions were evacuated as a precaution. Columbia runners Becky Bond and Kathy Doisy reached the half-way mark of the marathon, but neither have a finishing time.
The Missourian reported Doisy, Keith Fernandez, Sean Kennelly and John Louie are safe.
“This is a horrific day in Boston,” Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement. “My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured. I have been in touch with the president, Mayor (Thomas) Menino and our public safety leaders. Our focus is on making sure that the area around Copley Square is safe and secured. I am asking everyone to stay away from Copley Square and let the first responders do their jobs.”
A third explosion happened near the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and although it was initially believed to be another explosive device, library and police officials have since said it was an unrelated fire.
Boston officials found five suspect devices in the area, the Wall Street Journal reported.
As news of the explosions spread, major cities throughout the country were placed on high alert.
“If you see something, say something,” Mark Boughton, mayor of Danbury, Conn., posted on Twitter. “All cities will be on a heightened state of alertness per Homeland Security protocols.”
Following protocol, Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was shut down and tourists were directed to nearby Lafayette Park.
“We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts, but make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this,” President Barack Obama said from the White House. “Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.”
Counterterrorism officials found at least one other explosive device that they were dismantling, Davis said in a press conference.
The Boston Marathon is one of the city’s largest events, held annually on Patriots’ Day. This year’s marathon was dedicated to the victims of the Newtown, Conn., shooting and even included a special mile marker.
_Claire Boston contributed to this story._
