BOSTON -- Boston police say two people were killed and 23 people were hurt when a pair of bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

The blasts shattered the end of the race Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry away the injured while stragglers in the 26.2-mile race were rerouted away from the smoking site.

Competitors and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners.

"There are a lot of people down," said one man, whose bib No. 17528 identified him as Frank Deruyter of North Carolina. He was not injured, but marathon workers were carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area as blood gushed from her leg. A Boston police officer was wheeled from the course with a leg injury that was bleeding.

Neither race officials nor public officials could immediately estimate the number or degree of injuries.

About three hours after the winners crossed the line, there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another explosion could be heard a few seconds later.

CBS reporter Kylie Atwood witnessed the chaos first-hand.

“I was here at the marathon. I was right, you know, the last 20 yards where the marathoners were running by and on my left a huge explosion went off,” Atwood said. “We ran to the right and then we basically ran into the second explosion. And it looks like it was coming out of the storefront and then suddenly there were four people on the ground around us and there was a police officer carrying a child in his hands.

Atwood said the young boy being carried by the officer appeared to be about three years old and was injured. She said, at first, she did not think the booming was from an actual explosion.

“Well the first one was a really loud noise, but it almost sounded like a celebration of sorts and then we looked to our left and then suddenly there was smoke everywhere and people screaming and then you could smell the sulfur-type sensation in the air,” she said.

Smoke rose from the blasts, fluttering through the national flags lining the route of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. TV helicopter footage showed blood staining the pavement in the popular shopping and tourist area known as the Back Bay.

"There are people who are really, really bloody," said Laura McLean, a runner from Toronto, who was in the medical tent being treated for dehydration when she was pulled out to make room for victims of the explosions. "They were pulling them into the medical tent."

Cherie Falgoust was waiting for her husband, who was running the race.

"I was expecting my husband any minute," she said. "I don’t know what this building is ... it just blew. Just a big bomb, a loud boom, and then glass everywhere. Something hit my head. I don’t know what it was. I just ducked."

Runners who had not finished the race were diverted straight down Commonwealth Avenue and into a family meeting area, according to an emergency plan that had been in place.

Did staffy hack your account?

But in all seriousness, I don't see why this particular event was chosen other than to dish out as much damage to people as possible. Doesn't seem like a political statement to me.

They've been going door to door and pointing guns at people apparently while they search and sometimes seize- from firearms to laundry detergent.

Land of the free, and home of the brave.

Got to love 'murrkia.