An event that was initially meant to be a place of celebration, turned into a scene of tragedy.

Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killing three people, including an 8-year-old boy, and injuring more than 100 bystanders.

Although a White House official asserted the attack was being treated as an act of terrorism, it is still to be determined who would perpetrate an atrocious act of the magnitude and what statement was intended with such disregard for human life.

At Massachusetts General Hospital, Alisdair Conn, chief of emergency services, said: “This is something I’ve never seen in my 25 years here … this amount of carnage in the civilian population. This is what we expect from war.”

These moments call for extraordinary courage, camaraderie and resolve, which no doubt the people of Boston and American citizens will accordingly portray.

Following the attack, firefighters as well as other volunteers rushed to assist with the evacuation of uninjured civilians and provide medical care and comfort to the injured spectators.

Yet, it is infuriating and wearying that the nation must bear the impact of a violent outbreak once more.

It is truly appalling to think that someone would be filled with enough hatred as to set bombs off at the finish line of what is considered a patriotic celebration and a civic holiday for many.

The awfulness of Monday’s events will take a while to process and analyze thoroughly.

Certainly, the fear and justifiable paranoia will permeate for years. For now, we can unite in prayers and thoughts for the affected families and victims.