Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
Monday 15 April. Patriots’ Day. A public holiday in Boston and a true celebration as the world’s oldest marathon is run for the 127th time. Runners are still streaming across the finish line, now a good four hours after the start, when the ugly face of terrorism suddenly shows itself. Two bombs explode in the finish area, and three people lose their lives while 143 are injured. Several of them have limbs blown off.
The race is called off and everything is in chaos. Fortunately, help was quick and close at hand. But the great damage had already been done. And the whole world is left in disbelief, asking where such evil can come from. And in the aftermath come all the stories. About 78-year-old Bill Iffrig, who was knocked to the ground by the shock wave but still managed to get back up and complete his third Boston Marathon. But then we also hear about 8-year-old Martin Richard, who died in the explosion while waiting for his father to cross the finish line.
A terribly sad and utterly senseless event, which will also have consequences for other marathons and most likely other sporting events as well. The London Marathon takes place next weekend, and tightened security measures will certainly be put in place there. Dansk Atletikforbund, as we all know, will organise the World Half Marathon Championships in March 2014, with 25,000 runners taking part. DAF has already contacted the security police about what needs to be done.
FÍF condemns the bomb attack in Boston and all terrorism in general. For 24 years, 15 April has been a day of remembrance for the victims of Hillsborough, when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death. Now 15 April will also stand as a day of mourning, when, in a festive Boston, terrorism suddenly maimed and killed innocent runners and spectators.
