Bomb attack in Boston

[Benj]

Things that happen today, or happened on this day in history...



1. It's Patriots' Day

2. It's Tax Day

3. It's the anniversary of the start of the Civil War (when Lincoln sent troops to stop an armed insurrection)

4. It's the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death

5. It's the 100th birthday of North Korea's founder

6. Two security guards were murdered in Massachusetts, and italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti would be executed for it amid much controversy.


Also, in 5 days or so, it's the anniversary of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Hitler's birthday.

For what it's worth, it was already April 16th in North Korea by the time of the explosions. So they did not occur on Kim Il-sung's birthday.

[Benj]

This is the first successful terrorist attack (not counting Fort Hood, which is debatable if it were terrorism or just a mass shooting by a nut job) since 9/11 when you give thought to it.

So... what distinguishes terrorism from mass shootings by nutjobs (that makes Fort Hood "arguably terrorism" but Tucson "just" a mass shooting)?

[Benj]

I'm really surprised, relieved, and thankful that there have only been three deaths. This could have been a lot worse and I thought it would be from initial reports/photos.

Apparently that's because the bombs were placed on the ground, causing mostly leg injuries (and amputations) as opposed to afflicting more fatal areas of the body.

At least one of the bombs was apparently in a garbage can, not on the ground directly, which itself probably mitigated the damage significantly as the can would have absorbed a significant amount of the force of the blast. But, yes, the bombs appear to have been low.