16 April 2013
Last updated at 02:23 GMT

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Nick Bitel “We fully expect the London Marathon to go ahead.”

Security for Sunday’s London Marathon will be reviewed after two fatal explosions hit the Boston Marathon, but the event will go ahead, officials say.

The London Marathon said its “detailed security plans” would be reassessed with the police in light of events.

At least three people were killed and more than 100 injured by the blasts near the finish of Monday’s US event.

About 375 Britons were listed as taking part, but there has no been no confirmation of any British casualties.

Meanwhile, the police said security for Baroness Thatcher’s funeral in central London on Wednesday would not be affected by the Boston explosions.

The Metropolitan Police said these plans were extensive and that it was a very different event.

‘Shocking and horrific’

The Met Police’s Ch Supt Julia Pendry, the commander in charge of policing the London Marathon, said of Sunday’s event: “A security plan is in place. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with London Marathon.”

London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news from Boston.

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Analysis

Organisers of the London Marathon moved quickly to announce a full review of security following the tragic events in Boston.

But chief executive Nick Bitel insisted there was “absolutely no chance” that this year’s marathon would be cancelled.

While that comment may have felt a bit knee jerk, the defiant sentiment was right.

A total of 36,000 runners, including the double Olympic champion Mo Farah are due to take part in the race from Greenwich Park to the Mall. But, as with so many big city marathons, London’s is a joyous celebration of all talents, not just the elite. This is what makes it one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar.

The peaceful triumph of last summer’s Olympic Games in London had reduced security concerns around this year’s event. But protecting a 26-mile course which is completely open to hundreds of thousands of spectators is always a major challenge for the Metropolitan Police and organisers.

The dreadful and terrifying images emerging from America overnight have ensured that the question of terrorism will now hang heavy over Sunday’s event.

What happened in Boston provides another chilling reminder of how vulnerable sport can be.

“Our immediate thoughts are with the people there and their families. It is a very sad day for athletics and for our friends and colleagues in marathon running.”

Mr Bitel later told the BBC that he “fully expected” the London Marathon, which first took place in 1981 and was completed by more than 37,000 people last year, to go ahead.

He said: “The London Marathon has detailed security plans which are developed in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police.

“They take account of many contingencies, including this type of threat and incident, but one can’t be complacent and when it has happened, you need to then review those plans you have in place to see what else may be necessary.

“That is certainly what we are going to be doing in the forthcoming hours and days.”

BBC sports editor David Bond said what had happened in Boston “provides another chilling reminder of how vulnerable sport can be”.

And BBC Sport news correspondent Richard Conway added: “There will be reviews of security throughout sporting events now, not just in marathons.

“We are in an era of globalised sport, where there are mass events attended by tens, hundreds of thousands of people. Police and organisers will be concerned and worried by these scenes at this sporting event.”

The explosions happened at what is one of the biggest sporting events in the US

The London Marathon route, which is lined by hundreds of thousands of spectators every year, starts in Blackheath and finishes near Buckingham Palace, passing some of the capital’s most recognisable landmarks including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and Big Ben.

Of the deadly Boston blasts, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific – my thoughts are with all those who have been affected.”

According to the Boston Marathon website, 374 of the more than 25,000 registered entrants to one of the US’s biggest sporting events were British.

UK Athletics confirmed that none of its elite runners had taken part.

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I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one”

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Jez Hughes
British runner in Boston

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the incident and we are trying to gather information.”

Darren Foy, 40, from Southampton, had finished the marathon about 30 minutes before the explosions happened.

He said: “I was getting messages like ‘are you ok?’ which I never get. It’s all quite shocking really.

“We got home and we looked at the BBC online and saw there had been explosions but we are OK because I finished in three-and-a-half hours and we were on the bus when it happened.”

‘Awful news’

Jez Hughes, from Morley, West Yorkshire, had also completed the marathon and was walking to the subway with his wife when he heard two explosions.

“I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one. We were a couple of blocks out of the way so it did not affect us,” he said.

“Our condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones.”

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy are both due to run the London Marathon.

The London Marathon takes place this Sunday with about 36,000 people due on the starting line

Mr Balls tweeted: “Awful tragic news from Boston – nothing more uplifting to the spirit than a cheering marathon crowd – terrible to see this happen.”

And Mr Murphy wrote on Twitter: “Horrible injury and death at Boston. Too early to speculate who did it but need to look again at security for London this Sunday.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Labour leader Ed Miliband all said on their Twitter accounts that their thoughts were with the victims and their families.

The US embassy in London confirmed that police and security officials in Boston were investigating the cause of the explosions.