Obama Briefed on Boston Explosions Within Minutes - East Idaho News
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Obama Briefed on Boston Explosions Within Minutes

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041513 PresidentObamaRobertMueller?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1366065106371Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — President Obama was briefed within minutes of the explosions that killed at least three at the Boston Marathon on Monday, as the federal government sprang into action with heightened security measures and pledges of law enforcement support.

Shortly after the two blasts near the marathon finish line, and as reports of injuries flowed from local sources in Boston, Washington’s security apparatus began taking precautions. At the White House, Pennsylvania Avenue was closed to tourists, who remained across the street in Lafayette Park.

Homeland security advisers briefed Obama on the explosions around 3 p.m., according to a White House official. The president is tracking the case with his homeland security team.

The president called Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to express concern for the injured and notify them that the White House is ready to supply any needed support to the city and state.

Patrick announced at a press conference shortly before 5 p.m. that FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were in Boston.

Vice President Biden was the first high-ranking administration official to publicly react. The vice president was on a conference call with gun-control advocates when he first heard of the incidents.

“As I am speaking here they just turned on the television in my office, and apparently there has been a bombing, I don’t know any of the details of what caused it, who did it, I don’t think it exists yet. But our prayers are with those people in Boston, who have suffered injury,” Biden said on the call. “I am looking at it on television now.”

Attorney General Eric Holder spoke with FBI Director Robert Mueller and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz and directed the Justice Department to ensure the incident is fully investigated, a department official told ABC News. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is coordinating the department’s response with FBI, ATF, and other federal, state, and local authorities, the official said.

The National Nuclear Security Administration has not detected any radiological material involved in the explosion, according to an official.

Authorities in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., were on high security alert after the explosions.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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