KnightNews.com spoke with UCF students following Monday’s events at the Boston Marathon where explosions killed two people and injured at least 130 people, according to CNN.
Around 27,000 people were participating in the Boston Marathon when two simultaneous explosions rocked the city. The blasts occurred near the race’s finish line where many spectators were watching and waiting for loved ones to cross.
One UCF Alumnus was at the Boston Marathon near the finish line just as the devices exploded.
“I’m okay but a little shaken,” Matt Smith posted on his Facebook page. “Lauren and I were at the finish line and an explosion went off. Then we starred running away and another bomb went off in front of us. A little bruise but that’s all I think we’re safe now. Thank you for all the messages of support.”
KnightNews.com was able to message Smith via Facebook to find out more.
“I saw an explosion about a block or half a block right in front of me and then ran the other way with my girlfriend and a second explosion happend where we were running,” Smith said. “Just thankful I was in the right place at the right time to not have been next to where it went off.”
“It’s just surreal, Smith also said. “You see on the news things like this happen in Israel or Iraq, but not here…”
Many students KnightNews.com spoke to on the UCF campus were either unaware or uninformed about the situation, having been in class or doing academic work for most of the afternoon.
Students who were caught up on the news, however, were shocked at the events that took place at the marathon, especially after the recently foiled plot to attack the UCF campus.
“Especially after what was happening at UCF, you know, it kind of gets you nervous, nervous, if anything,” the student said.
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