(CNN) The full horror of Monday's bomb attacks in Boston was reflected in emergency rooms across the city as doctors were forced to perform amputations and treat injuries normally expected on a battlefield.
Around 11 p.m. ET at least 144 people were reported to have been taken to hospital with wounds sustained from the blasts that brought terror and chaos to the city's annual marathon race.
Get up to the minute updates on CNN.com's live blog
Three people including an eight year old boy were killed while at least 17 people are reported to be in a critical condition.
Designed to propel shrapnel
An injured man is loaded into an ambulance on Monday April 15 after two bombs went off near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon. Read our developing news story and follow up to the minute reports on CNN.com's This Just In blog. A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A second explosion goes off near the finish line. Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78 year old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race. A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square. A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street. An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair. A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line. People run down Exeter Street after the blasts. The explosions occurred around 2 45 p.m. about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27 000 runners had crossed the finish line. Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion. A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller. A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions. A man's blood stained feet hang outside an ambulance. A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers. The second explosion goes off near the finish line. Boston police look at blown out windows. The bombs shook buildings sending people to seek shelter under tables witnesses said. Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish. Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack. Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack. Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions. An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square. A SWAT team arrives on the scene. A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack. Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions. Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion. A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston. Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion. Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square. Bystanders embrace near the finish line. Police officers gather on Newbury Street. Women and children are evacuated from the scene. A woman is carried down the street. Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts. A woman is comforted after the blasts. Two injured women are taken away on stretchers. An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance. First responders load injured people into an ambulance. An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance. An injured woman is placed on a stretcher. A runner is comforted following the attack. The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions. Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions. Carlos Arredondo who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated leaves the scene. A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square. A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off. People comfort each near the site of the blasts. Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line. Emergency personnel respond to the scene. Police and emergency crews tend to victims. An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher. A man lays on the ground after the incident. Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston. Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions. Police inspect one of the blast sites. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Photos Deadly attack at Boston Marathon Runner Shock waves hit my whole body Producer captures Boston blast on video Runner Bombs sounded like AfghanistanImages in the immediate aftermath showed people being carried away on stretchers one man in a wheelchair had blood all over his face and legs.
While many patients were treated for cuts and scrapes doctors have also been pulling ball bearings out of people in the emergency room suggesting the bombs were designed to propel shrapnel according to one terrorism expert briefed on the Boston blasts though CNN is yet to confirm this.
Medical teams have also carried out at least 10 amputations and treated many leg injuries suggesting the device was low to the ground according to CNN's Deborah Feyerick.
Among the 28 people taken to the city's Brigham and Women's Hospital the most common types of injuries are to the bone and tissue hospital spokesman Tom Langford told CNN.
He said nine of those patients have potentially limb threatening wounds. A 3 year old victim was transferred to Boston Children's Hospital for treatment.
Amputated limbs
Dr. Peter Fagenholz a trauma surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital told reporters he treated many of the 29 patients who arrived at the hospital for shrapnel wounds.
Many of the victims were hit with a lot of small metal debris he said.
Some people have asked already whether they were BBs or parts of bombs he said referring to earlier reports that ball bearings have been pulled from victims. We can't say whether they were placed their intentionally or whether they were just part of the environment.
He said the most serious wounds have been combined complex lower injuries that involve blood vessels bone and tissue. Some of the patients had to have limbs amputated Fagenholz added.
A number of patients will require repeat operations and serial operations over the next couple of days he said adding that he had been in surgery for almost 14 hours.
Describing the horror
Theresa Panter who had been running in the marathon described the scene as she approached the finishing line.
When I heard the bomb and saw the reaction of the spectators I was just alarmed. Then I was pushed back by a spectator and then a Boston Athletic official he grabbed a bunch of us and pushed us back. It was pretty upsetting.
Her husband Dr. Allan Panter was in the crowd and described how he ended up tending to people on the streets.
I saw at least six to seven people down next to me they protected me from the blast. One lady expired one gentleman lost both his limbs his lower extremities. Most of the injuries were mainly lower extremity injuries.
I could not figure out why the young lady had expired I could not find any injury on her thorax.
Read the full wrap up of the terror attack in Boston
Witness 'I saw blood everywhere'
LZ Granderson April 15 2013 will serve as terrible reminder
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