Day of terror: Runner Tony Frankland recounts the carnage of the Boston Bombings

Three people died and 180 were injured when two bombs were detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April.

After a manhunt which left the city in virtual lockdown, 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested following a shootout with officers and his brother Tamerlan, 26, was killed.

Tony Frankland, from West Sussex, was running the marathon and witnessed the carnage.

"I knew they were bombs as soon as they went off. I could never forget that sound from my time in the Army.

"But it was Patriot’s Day so I thought ‘Just take a look at your watch, maybe it’s some sort of a military salute.’ The time was 2.50pm and only two booms were heard, weird timing for a salute…I was right the first time.

"And then the sirens started.

"It had been an entirely different start to the day.

"Boston is beautiful, and at 6.30am you have this scene of the city being quiet, but lots of excited marathon runners from all over the world walking through the pretty streets towards Boston Common.

"That’s where you go to pick up the busses; hundreds of those big yellow American school busses like in the films, all lined up waiting to whisk you to the start of the race.

"Police cars escort you along the way and it takes a good hour to get to Hopkinton, a tiny town to the west of Boston. It’s quite a ritual, that drive out.

"The town gives itself up to the marathon for three days every year, and everyone gets behind the event.

"The atmosphere pre-race is electric - it is a wholly positive event. So many people are involved, everyone has come together to make this event happen.

"Everyone has put in a lot of work in to get there, either training for it, or preparing the event, or cleaning the streets, or even just getting up early to come out and watch.

"To terrorise an event so positive is tragic.

"I’ve run marathons all over the world, and there is just something wonderful about them. And Boston particularly because it is the oldest marathon.

"It’s the second time I’ve done the event and it was great. It’s a tough undulating course, with a couple of big hills. You go through many small towns full big, supportive crowds cheering you on – lots of people barbequing and having a great time.

"About three miles to the finish you hit the city. The final left hand turn brings you into Boylston Street, the home straight. The cheers get louder, and you can feel yourself giving it one last push. It’s a great finish.

"I was pleased with my time. I finished within minutes of what I expected.

"The immediate end of the race is a bit of a blur. The pace slows down as you make your way through all the people to collect your belongings. I know I ate something, but I’ve no idea what.

"I sat down on the pavement to put some clothes on, and then made my way to Boston Common to soak up the atmosphere.

"It must have been about an hour and a half after I’d finished when I heard the first blast.

"Simultaneously every head on the Common turned to the start line four or five hundred metres away.

"For a split second it was silent as everyone battled comprehension staring into the distance.

"And then the sirens started. All of them – police, fire, ambulance. Nobody hung around, it was time to head back to the hotel.

"I didn’t know any details, but I knew enough. When I got back to the hotel others were starting to arrive.

"People who had been at the finish line and were incredibly upset and completely shocked. Fortunately I wasn’t where they had been.

"When I called my family they hadn’t heard about it. As we were talking the news started popping up on the internet and we found out more. But at least they knew they didn’t have to worry about me.

"My flight home wasn’t until late, but I got in a cab as soon as I could. The T-Line – their tube – was closed and huge sections of the city were just shut down. I told the driver to pick up anyone we saw going in the same direction – I wasn’t in any rush. We took three different people home, one of them still in their running gear.

"There was a lot of talk about flights being cancelled, but mine was fine. I got upgraded, I’ve no idea why – maybe they just thought I needed it after that day.

"Marathons are like festivals. You just can’t find a more wonderful spirit anywhere in the world. I hate that people have tried to spoil that, and tried to make something so positive political.

"But it won’t stop me, I’ll be back soon to do my third Boston Marathon."