London Marathon WILL go ahead, promises race chief as police review security in wake of Boston blasts Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309608/Boston-bombings-London-Marathon-WILL-ahead-promises-race-chief-police-review-security.html#ixzz2QboYhUvT Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Police have vowed to review security around the London Marathon following the devastating bomb attack in Boston. Last night’s horror un...
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Police have vowed to review security around the London Marathon following the devastating bomb attack in Boston.
Last night’s horror unfolded just six days before thousands of athletes and fundraisers will take to the streets of the capital for the London Marathon on Sunday.
The atrocity will heap pressure on authorities to safeguard the safety and security of those taking part in big sporting events here in the UK.
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Blast: In the hours after the Boston attack (pictured) the London race's chief executive Nick Bitel confirmed that Sunday's events will go ahead
As the next major international road race to take place, the eyes of the world will doubtless be on London and police will be taking no chances.
Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry, the event commander, confirmed that security arrangements will be reviewed following the explosions in Massachusetts.
She said: ‘A security plan is in place for the London Marathon. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with London Marathon.’
But eyewitness Keith Luxom told BBC Breakfast: 'My plan is very much to run London. This shouldn't be allowed to stop what is one of the greatest events of human good, of the best of people.
'Both the runners, the millions of pounds raised for charity, but also the million or so people who will come out and support total strangers and cheer them on for hours, we can't let that be stopped by absolutely mindless acts.
'I'll definitely be running. I'll probably be wearing my Boston finishers' shirt to support the people of Boston and to say we'll carry on and we'll carry on running, as I think most runners will.'
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson insisted he was 'absolutely confident' that the London Marathon could be kept safe.
Asked if he believed it should still go ahead, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'Yes, I do.
'These are balance of judgments but we are absolutely confident here that we can keep the event safe and secure. I think this is one of those incidents where the best way to show solidarity with Boston is to continue and send a very clear message to those responsible.'
Britons were today feared to be among the injured after two explosions rocked the Boston Marathon, killing two and injuring at least 23 people.
A list of competitors on the Boston Marathon website showed hundreds of British runners were expected to line up for the race.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are aware of the incident and we are trying to gather information.'
Foreign Secretary William Hague tweeted: 'Appalled by news of explosion at Boston marathon. My thoughts are with everyone affected by it and all those waiting for news.'
According to the Boston Marathon website, there are more than 25,000 registered entrants, 374 of whom are British. The marathon is one of the world’s oldest and is held each year on Patriot’s Day.
Carnage: Dozens of seriously injured people are given urgent medical treatment at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following two separate explosions
UK Athletics said that none of their elite runners had taken part and added that Ross Murray, who ran yesterday’s one mile invitational was 'absolutely fine'.
Twenty-two-year-old Murray Tweeted: 'Just so everyone knows, I’m ok and well, wasn’t around the bombs. Xx'
'In the hotel, most seem ok but a few seem shaken up, witnessed a few very relieved families meeting up.'
Tatyana McFadden, who won three golds in the London Paralympics, won the women’s wheelchair race and later Tweeted: 'I’m am okay my family and teammates are okay. Please please pray for those who were running and got hit by the bomb. Pray 4 family’s-friends.'
TODAY'S POLL
Runner Darren Foy, 40, from Southampton, and his wife Sandra and their two children missed the explosions by just 30 minutes after he finished the marathon in three and half hours.
Speaking from the city, the chartered surveyor said: 'We were on our way home when we heard something had happened and I was getting messages like "are you Ok?" which I never get. It’s all quite shocking really.
'We got home and we looked at the BBC online and saw there had been explosions but we are OK because I finished in three and a half hours and we were on the bus when it happened.
'We are staying five miles outside and I’m not intending to go back into the city for a few days.'
Mr Foy, who is chairman of the Lordshill Road Runners in Southampton and was competing in his fourth marathon, added: 'There are reports here that the explosions came from a hotel at the finish line and I walked past there a few days ago to pick up my race number.
Warnings: Security officials say as yet there is no specific or credible threat to the London Marathon
'It’s such a soft target. There are hundreds of thousands spectators on the streets and 27,000 runners, so we got off lightly.'
Jez Hughes, a firefighter from Morley, West Yorkshire, completed the marathon and was walking to the subway with his wife when they heard two explosions.
He had been standing only 100 yards from the finish line with other competitors but walked around the corner to meet his wife.
'It is a very sad day for athletics and for our friends in marathon running'
Nick Bitel, London Marathon chief executive
'I had already finished and a few of us had congregated 100 yards past the finish line,' he said.
'I was waiting for my wife as I had asked her to meet me there but she was in the family area. Fortunately for me I went round the corner there to meet her.
'While we were going to the subway we heard two explosions. I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one. We were a couple of blocks out of the way so it did not affect us.
Devastation: Medical workers aid injured people at the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion
'This is my tenth marathon but this is my first time in the USA. I’m watching the aftermath on the TV now, which is a bit surreal to be honest.
'My wife is very shook up but we are out here until Thursday evening and no terrorists are going to spoil our day, don’t let them get the better of you.
'A security plan is in place for the London Marathon. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with London Marathon'
Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry
'Our condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones.'
Since returning to his hotel, Mr Hughes, who was running for The Fire Fighters Charity, said he has been able to contact his two teenage children and reassure them that they are safe.
He said: 'We have been inundated with messages from family and friends asking if we are all right. My daughter Georgia and son Harry are still in the UK.
'She was very upset but I have been able to speak to them and reassure them.'
Security review: Security at the London Marathon, which is one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar, will be review following the Boston bombings
London Mayor Boris Johnson has spoken of his shock at the events unfolding in Boston.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Shocked by events at the Boston Marathon - my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families tonight.’
Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter: 'The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected.'
'The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected'
Prime Minister David Cameron
The Labour leader Ed Miliband wrote on Twitter: 'Appalling news from Boston. All of my thoughts are with the casualties and their families.'
In a city that has already shared the trauma of terror attacks no caution was spared in the run up to London Olympics with both the police and military on high alert throughout.
In 2005 a series of suicide attacks on the underground and on a bus killed 52 people and the government has long termed the threat against the capital as ‘substantial.’
Yesterday’s horror coming ahead of this weekend’s annual fixture offers grim echoes of the dark comedy spoof Four Lions in which the London Marathon becomes the target of a bungled terrorist attack.
But security officials last night emphasised that as yet there is no specific or credible threat against the event.
One official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity said there are no credible or specific threats against the London Marathon but that security may well be stepped up regardless as a result of yesterday’s events. Last year more than 37,000 athletes competed in the race.
Informação: Telenoticias Mundial
