President Obama today declared that the bomb explosions at the Boston Marathon are now being investigated as terrorism, stating that "any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror."
But, appearing briefly in the White House briefing room, the president stressed that much is yet unknown, indicating that investigators are not close to identifying the bombers responsible for the deaths and mayhem that left the finish line of the marathon looking like a war scene.
While blasting the attack as "a heinous and cowardly act," Obama quickly added, "What we don't yet know, however, is who carried out this attack or why, whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual. That's what we don't yet know." Later, in what seemed to be comments added after he had completed his prepared remarks, he again stressed how much investigators still need to learn.
"We know it was bombs that were set off. We know that obviously they did some severe damage. We do not know who did them. We don't know whether this is an act of an organization or an individual or individuals. We don't have a sense of motive yet." With so many rumors being spread on social media and websites, the president stressed, "Everything else at this point is speculation." But he promised, "as we receive more information as the FBI has more information, as our counterterrorism teams have more information, we'll make sure to keep you and the American people posted."
