We strongly condemn the perpetrators of the Boston bombings and offer our sympathies and condolences to the victims and their relatives.

Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon, killing three people, including an 8-year-old boy, and injuring more than 140 others, at least 17 of whom are in a critical condition. There are reports that another two unexploded bombs were found nearby.

Images of the messy and bloody aftermath of the blasts have revealed the violence of the attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts and no suspects have yet been identified, but the bombs appear to be a well-organized terrorist attack.

The thoughts of people around the world are with the injured and the families of the victims at this moment. Any attack targeting civilians, whatever the excuse, should be condemned and those responsible should be brought to justice.

US President Barack Obama has vowed to "find out who did this and why they did this" and let any responsible individuals or groups "feel the full weight of justice".

The Boston blasts, the worst attack on US soil since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, have raised concerns about whether the world's sole superpower has constructed an effective homeland security network. Other countries should learn from the blasts and conduct a timely and thorough overhaul of the efficacy of their own security facilities and emergency mechanisms to prevent similar attacks on their soil.

Former US president George W. Bush claimed many times that a full victory had been won against the terrorists following the intense anti-terror campaign he launched overseas in the wake of the Sept 11 attacks, including the war in Afghanistan and the protracted hunt for Osama bin Laden.

But while al-Qaida has suffered deadly blows ever since and Bin Laden has been killed, the Boston bombings are a bloody reminder that terrorism has not been defeated.

The sense of fear the Sept 11 attacks generated globally has cost the world dearly both psychologically and economically, and the Boston bloodshed has again sent shock waves around the world.

We hope the investigation will quickly determine who was responsible and the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice, so that the fear and sense of insecurity engendered by the attack do not dampen the fragile hopes for a global economic recovery.

(China Daily 04/17/2013 page8)