With the suspected culprits of the Boston bombings now away from reach of causing harm, does this mean the threat has also been dismissed or is this just a warning to what may be to come? What we can be sure of is that for the rest of the world to drop everything, including America's close ally, Britain, and to hide in silence is only giving these people what they want. That is for them to hold all the cards.
For the city of Boston in Massachusetts, and the Americans who turned out on 15th April to support those running the Boston Marathon, their world has exploded into complete chaos after the race came to an unexpected, frightful end. At the finish line, where inspirational runners normally collapse due to fatigue, it was not exhaustion which had the impact but the strong tremors which occurred from two consecutive explosions, forcing them to the ground.
Three people have been confirmed dead and 170 others wounded after the explosions, which are now believed to have been set off by two brothers, originally from Chechnya in southern Russia, who had only been living in America for about a decade. 13 seconds of time and 91 meters in distance separated the first from the second bomb and caused many people in the crowd, family and friends there to support the runners, to be catapulted into the air. The pavement was left covered in a sheet of shattered glass and the blood of the innocent whilst people left the most well respected marathon in the world with fewer limbs than they began the day with. The race spiralled into a state of panic with people feeling confused, shocked and in fear of their life. The city went into total lockdown with the transport system closed to ensure the containment of any possible suspects. This was a suspicious act of terrorism therefore it would have seemed vital to do all that was possible to not allow the culprits to escape.
It was not until the Friday night, that the suspected teenager, Dzhokhar Tsarnaey was found hiding in a boat in the back garden of the local resident who found him hours after the FBI released photos of the suspects. The police exchanged gun fire for at least an hour before they were able to subdue him. This was a day after his brother, Tamerlan his suspected partner in crime was shot and killed. Although in hospital, the younger brother has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and destruction of property resulting in deaths. It is possible that he could be sentenced to death and for many this would be seen as justice.
Initially, here in England, the effect of the incident on us was very much unknown meaning that to expect the worse and that the threat was more than just a planned explosion in Boston but that it was actually part of a larger terrorist plot seemed the correct approach to take. However, although this was a worry for the London Marathon which was supposed to take place within days of the attack this didn't turn people away from running or especially coming to support their loved ones who were, you could say, prepared to risk their lives for a good cause. This provides an accurate representation of the fight and bravery we as a human race have and shows that we do not tolerate terrorism and will not allow it to control us. As President Obama says "If anyone wants to know who we are; how we respond to evil and terror - that's it. Selflessly. Compassionately. And unafraid."
