New York City on high alert after Boston explosions

Barack Obama to address the nation on the situation as NYC goes into security lockdown.

SECURITY HAS BEEN tightened around landmarks in New York City after the explosions which rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon today.

Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD, Paul Browne, said in a statement:

We’re stepping up security at hotels and other prominent locations in the city through deployment of the NYPD’s critical response vehicles until more about the explosion is learned.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a statement on his personal website, confirming that the police force had stepped up security at “strategic locations” and at major infrastructure points, including New York’s subway train system.

He said that citizens would notice Criticial Response Vehicles on the street and that one thousand NYPD officers had been assigned to “counter-terrorism duties” alongside the rest of the force. He also asked New Yorkers to “keep victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers”.

This photograph from Press Association shows a New Jersey State police helicopter fly by the construction site of One World Trade Center, as police forces began to secure the city following the news from Boston:

On alert in Times Square (pic via @clarerrrr):

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama is preparing to make a statement at 23.10 (Irish time) on the explosions. This was the scene in the Oval Room a short time ago as he received information updates on the situation:

Pic: White House

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