Boston, US: LIVE UPDATES "One suspect is dead"
BREAKING NEWS: infonews.co.nz has been advised to create live updates for New Zealand residents due to a developing situation in Boston.
PRESS CONFRENCE - infonews.co.nz is at the scene of a confrence.
- A doctor that looked after the suspect while at hospital has told media of his distressed mind as he heard gunshots in his Waterhouse home. He rushed to the hospital to help.
- Police have not yet told press names or ages of the suspect.
- The police officer that was shot had multiple wounds.
- The suspect was in cardiac arrest before he got in hospital.
WHAT WE KNOW
One of the Boston Marathon bomb suspects has been killed and another is on the loose after a dramatic car chase and gunfight in the US city.
Local police have confirmed that Suspect 1, identified by the FBI this morning has died following a shoot-out with officers, while Suspect 2 has fled the scene.
It follows a night of chaos in the city, which saw one officer killed and another in a critical condition, as well as explosives thrown at police after the bombers stole a car and raced it through a residential suburb.
A massive manhunt is now underway to find the second man, who police say is believed to be armed and dangerous.
The dramatic night began when a police officer was killed during a shooting at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Cambridge campus at around 10.48pm local time (2.48pm NZT), which saw the prestigious university evacuated.
Shortly afterwards an armed car-jacking sparked a police chase, which saw chaotic scenes as officers chased the car from the Cambridge area to the suburb of Watertown a few miles away.
Witnesses reported that they heard explosions and police shouting that the suspects had explosive devices.
Police have now confirmed that the two men wanted in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing, stole a Mercedes SUV at gunpoint. After officers tracked the vehicle it prompted a persuit in which explosives were thrown from the car at officers.
A gunfight also ensued, and Suspect 1 was critically injured. He was taken to hospital and later died. A police officer has also been injured and is in hospital.
Suspect 2 fled the scene, and police are currently searching the neighbourhood for him. They have asked local residents to stay in their homes and not to answer the door unless it is the police.
At a press conference police confirmed that Suspect 2 is the man shown in FBI photos with the white cap, wanted in connection with Monday's Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and wounded 176.
"We believe this to be a terrorist, we believe this to be a man who has come here to kill people," police said.
"LOUD BLAST"
Witnesses described to local media a scene of panic and chaos as police engaged in gunfire with the two suspects.
Rebecca Carbone, 30, stood on the street wearing pyjamas and a sweatshirt and had stepped out when she heard sirens.
"We heard a loud blast and we didn't know what it was," Carbone she told the Boston Globe. "It sounded like a car backfiring."
John Grimes, 69, a retired letter carrier, said that he heard three loud explosions, "and you don't hear explosions at night a lot."
Reporters at the scene were also told to switch off their mobile phones as it was believed the suspects had phone-triggered explosive devices in their backpacks.
Police have also tweeted tonight that there are report of possible suspicious package near the scene, however they did not elaborate.
OFFICER KILLED
In the earlier shooting, a police officer suffered multiple gunshots wounds, and was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, but could not be saved.
Cambridge Police issued a statement saying: "An MIT campus police officer responding to a report of a disturbance in the area of Vasser and Main streets was reportedly shot.
"According to authorities, the officer was found evidencing multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital and pronounced deceased.
"Authorities launched an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting.
"There are no other victims. No arrests have been made. The investigation remains ongoing."
It also tweeted: "Our thoughts & prayers are with the officer's family & our brothers & sisters at the #MIT Police."
MIT now says that the shooting suspect in no longer on campus, and that it is "safe to resume normal activities". But it is warning students to "remain vigilant".
It released a statement on its website saying it was "heartbroken" by the death of the campus police officer.
"Our thoughts are now with the family," it said, adding that further information will be released later.
MIT has about 11,000 students and is considered one of the world's leading universities.
MIT is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston, where three people were killed and 180 injured in a double bomb attack on the city's marathon on Monday. Authorities made no immediate link between the two incidents.
INFONEWS CAN CONFIRM THAT ONE OF THE SUSPECTS HAS DIED
Live Updates from our infonews.co.nz team:
8.52PM NZL: From MIT WEBSITE: Police have investigated the suspicious package in the area of 500 Memorial Drive. It presents no danger to the MIT community.
8.30PM NZL: From MIT WEBSITE: A suspicious package has been reported in the area of 500 Memorial Drive. Police are setting up a perimeter. Please stay away from this area until further notice.
8.29PM NZL: infonews.co.nz can confirm by official police that one of the suspects has died.
8.00PM NZL: "Although the situation is considered active and extremely dangerous, an investigation is underway," MIT says.
8.00PM NZL: Motion sensors have been tripped at a building in Watertown. It is believed the suspect may have locked himself inside.
7.55PM NZL: Police and FBI say "Do not open the door to anyone unless police have ID, if someone is at your door call 911 straight away"
7.52PM NZL: Police will be going DOOR TO DOOR in the area with ID to investigate homes.
7.51PM NZL: Police appeared to be chasing two young men carrying backpacks. One has been arrested, the second man is still on the loose