Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) broke from his prepared remarks on the Senate floor Monday, interrupting a speech on gun control legislation to inform his colleagues about a pair of bombs that exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing at least two and injuring dozens more.
“It appears that tragedy has struck the Boston Marathon,” he said. “And bombs have gone off and there are injuries we know of, causalities the severity of which we do not yet know.”
(Watch the video above.)
As the Associated Press reports, both the House and Senate later marked the tragedy:
With moments of silence in both houses of Congress, lawmakers are marking the deadly explosions that occurred at the site of the Boston Marathon.
Majority Leader Harry Reid led the Senate in a brief pause, and officials said Speaker John Boehner intended to do the same when the House convened later Monday.
In brief remarks on the Senate floor, Reid expressed sympathy for victims of the explosions, and praised the first responders who rushed to their aid.
Massachusetts Sen. Mo Cowan said he and other members of the Senate are expecting briefings from officials in Boston.
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