‘Please continue to pray for us’

The father of the eight-year-old boy killed in the devastating Boston Marathon bombings has spoken of his grief.

As well as killing Martin, the explosion reportedly tore off one of his five-year-old sister Jane’s legs and delivered a blow to the head that gave his mother Denise, 43, serious brain injuries.

Martin’s father Bill said: “My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries.

“We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin.”

Mr Richard, a runner and cycling enthusiast who did not run the race, had to have several ball bearings removed from his leg, congressman Stephen Lynch, a family friend, said.

The family were trying to get over the race barriers and into the street after the first blast when the second bomb struck.

Boston has paid a tearful tribute to the three victims

More than 1,000 people held a candle-lit vigil on Tuesday in a park near the boy’s home in the Boston suburbs.

Other ceremonies were held in the city for the three dead and at least 180 injured from Monday’s attack on the marathon finish line.