President Obama Addresses Boston

By Tessa Roy 4-16-2013 

Pete Souza/Creative Commons

Governor Deval Patrick has announced President Obama will attend Boston’s interfaith ceremony Thursday morning in memory of the Boston Marathon bombing victims.

The bombs went off at 2:50 pm at the Boston Marathon finish line, injuring more than 170 people and killing three. Among the dead are 8-year-old Martin Richard and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell. The third victim’s name has not yet been released.

The President was cautious in his early remarks about the attack, avoiding use of the words “terror” and “terrorism.” However, his tone soon changed.

“Given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism,” he said today. “Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror.”

President Obama also added that the search for the perpetrator of the attack will be relentless, and that the person or group responsible shall feel the “full weight of justice” for their crime. He ended his remarks expressing hope for a strong recovery in Boston.

This is not the first time the President has visited a city in the wake of a tragedy. He has made four such visits, the most recent being Newtown, CT after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The service will be Thursday morning at 11 am at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End neighborhood.