AG’s George O. Wood Offers Prayer for Boston Marathon Bombing Victims
Two explosions blasted at the Boston Marathon Monday as runners crossed the finish line. Three people were killed, with 176 injured, in the worst attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001.
George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, offers this statement: “Our hearts go out to all those affected by the bombings in Boston. We stand with the victims and their families and hold them up in prayer even as we thank God for the courageous first responders who risked their lives to help those caught in the middle of violence. May the entire nation feel the comfort of an ever-present God who shares in our suffering.”
Authorities believe the bombs, believed to have been made out of pressure cookers packed with explosives and shrapnel, were dropped near the finish line in dark-colored nylon bags before the explosions. Though officials have reportedly identified suspects, no one has been arrested yet.
The first two explosions happened at 2:50 p.m.—nearly five hours after the start of the race—about 100 yards apart, according to Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. Though police have not said if it was related to the earlier explosions, a third blast occurred near the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in the Columbia Point section of Dorchester—several miles southeast of the finish line—at aroud 4:15 p.m.
Nearly 25,000 people, including runners from around the world, participated in the 117th Boston Marathon, attracting huge crowds of people, especially near the finish line.
