(CNN)– President Barack Obama said he ordered the “full resources” of the federal government to respond to the Boston bombings on Monday, and that he also called for increased security around the United States as necessary.
“We still do not know who did this or why,” he said from the Brady Press Briefing Room, cautioning people against jumping to conclusions. “But make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this, and we will find out who did this, we’ll find out why they did this.”
Any individuals or groups responsible for the “senseless” bombing, he added, will “feel the full weight of justice.”
“The American people will say a prayer for Boston tonight,” he said.
Notably absent from his remarks was the word “terror,” though federal investigators are classifying the bombings as a terror event. It is not clear if it’s from a domestic or foreign source, a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said.
“Today is a holiday in Massachusetts, Patriot’s Day. It’s a day that celebrates the free and fiercely independent spirit that this great American city of Boston has reflected from the earliest days of our nation, and it’s a day that draws the world to Boston’s streets in a spirit of friendly competition,” he said. “Boston is a tough and resilient town, so are its people. I’m supremely confident that Bostonians will pull together, take care of each other, and move forward as one proud city and as they do, the American people will be with them every single step of the way.”
