President Obama To Visit Boston In Wake Of 'Heinous And Cowardly' Bombings
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) --President Barack Obama will travel to Boston on Thursday for an interfaith service for the bombing victims, the White House announced Tuesday afternoon.
Obama delivered a statement from the White House Tuesday morning after a briefing by his national security team. It was the second time Obama has spoken to the public since Monday afternoon's bombings at the finish line of the famous race.
The President said the FBI is investigating the Boston Marathon explosions as "an act of terrorism."
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"This was a heinous and cowardly act and given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism," Obama said. "Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror."
The president said authorities still don't yet know who carried out the attack and why and said "it will take time to follow every lead."
"We will find whoever harmed our citizens and we will bring them to justice," Obama said.
Watch Obama's full statement below:
The president also urged Americans to "speak up" to authorities if they see something suspicious.
Earlier Tuesday, Obama ordered flags at the White House and all government buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the Boston Marathon explosion victims.
Obama signed a proclamation making the order Tuesday morning, calling it a "mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence'' perpetrated in Boston the previous day. He ordered flags to remain lowered through sunset Saturday.
Three people were killed, including 8-year-old Martin Richard and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, and more than 170 were wounded in Monday's bombing at the famous marathon's finish line.
President Obama traveled to Newtown, Conn. and spoke at an interfaith vigil in the immediate aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre.
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