Obamas, Romney to attend service for Boston bombing victims
Days after the deadly bombings that turned the Boston Marathon into a scene of triage and tears, President Obama and the first lady were due to attend an interfaith service for the victims.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also planned to be at Cathedral of the Holy Cross for the service, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday.
“The service is an opportunity for the community to come together in the wake of the tragic events at the Boston Marathon this week,” Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s office said.
The event will operate under “airport-like security,” officials said. People won’t be allowed to bring bags, sharp objects, liquids or signs.
FULL COVERAGE: Boston Marathon attack
Meanwhile, authorities planned to spend a fourth day scouring photographic and video evidence for signs of what happened in the moments leading up to the explosions.
Two suspects have been singled out from department store surveillance footage, authorities told the Los Angeles Times. But despite a frenzy of conflicting media reports Wednesday, officials had not made any arrests in the bombings that revived memories of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, a Massachusetts native who oversaw the 9/11 victims compensation funds, will arrive in Boston on Friday to head a fund created to help bombing victims.
VIDEO: Boston marathon explosion
By Wednesday evening, companies and individuals had committed $7 million to The One Fund Boston.
“We are humbled by the outpouring of support we’ve received over the past few days,” Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement. “The world stands with the City of Boston during this difficult time.”
Maeve Reston in Los Angeles and Richard A. Serrano in Washington contributed to this report.
marisa.gerber@latimes.com
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