Pinoys in US, even outside Boston, urged to be cautious after Boston Marathon explosion

United States-based Filipinos, including those residing outside the Boston area, were advised on Tuesday to take extra safety precautions after two blasts killed at least three people at the Boston Marathon.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Philippine Consul General to New York Mario de Leon Jr. said, "We tell our people here to exercise more precautions this time. Hindi tayo nakasigurado kung may plano sa New York."

When asked if the Consulate General will issue an advisory about the explosion, he said they will issue one but did not elaborate.

"Ang unang priority namin to ensure safety ng kababayan natin," he added.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York has jurisdiction over Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Reuters news agency on Tuesday reported that two bombs ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people, causing several amputations and injuring more than 100 in what a White House official said would be handled as an "act of terror."

It was the worst bombing on US soil since security was tightened after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and President Barack Obama promised to hunt down whoever was responsible for the attack on a day when tens of thousands of spectators packed the streets to watch the world-famous race.

Obama II said the marathon explosions would be handled as an "act of terror."

No one has been arrested and the White House official said it would have to be determined whether the attack came from a foreign or domestic source.

Many runners were heading for the finish when a fireball and smoke rose from behind cheering spectators and a row of flags representing the countries of participants, video from the scene showed. - with a report from Reuters, VVP, GMA News

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