The Boston Police Department tweeted a plea for video from the finish line of the Boston Marathon after multiple blasts rocked the area Monday afternoon.
At time of writing, police had confirmed 23 injured and two dead as a result of the explosions, although those numbers will change. The explosions were later identified as bombs.
In the minutes after the blasts, the official Boston Police Department Twitter account posted this message asking for video from the finish line:
BostonPolice looking for video of the finish line #tweetfromthebeat via @cherylfiandaca— Boston Police Dept. (@Boston_Police) April 15, 2013
While self-shot photo, video and social media posts from the site of the Boston Marathon blasts both increased confusion and provided much-needed information Monday afternoon, the widespread presence of digital media could play another important role in figuring out just what happened and how.
The thinking here appears to be that someone may have inadvertently shot video or photos that could help piece together where the explosions came from and who was responsible for them.
While news video of the blasts has circulated online, we'll see what emerges from ordinary citizens at the scene before, during and after the violence. Vine videos, Instagram photos, Facebook and Twitter posts as well as digital keepsakes not shared to social media could play a role in the investigation to come in ways not possible just several years ago.
Police ask the public to call 1-800-494-TIPS with any information.