A range of different agencies are involved in the hunt to find out who carried out the lethal attack and why, but officials are cautioning that very little is known at this point.
"This will be a combined federal, state and local effort," Richard DesLauriers, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston Division, said at a news briefing by law enforcement officials on Monday evening.
Describing it as a "criminal investigation" that is also "a potential terrorist investigation," DesLauriers said the FBI was declaring federal jurisdiction over the matter through the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force.
An injured man is loaded into an ambulance on Monday, April 15, after two bombs went off near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon. Read our developing news story and follow up-to-the-minute reports on CNN.com's This Just In blog.
Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon
Obama: We will get to the bottom of this
Boston witness: It was a war zone
Coach: Boston Marathon changed forever
Doctor: 'We were ready for this'
Police: 'I have multiple people down'
Runner, 78, blown off his feet by blast
An injured man is loaded into an ambulance on Monday, April 15, after two bombs went off near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon. Read our developing news story and follow up-to-the-minute reports on CNN.com's This Just In blog.
A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
A second explosion goes off near the finish line.
A second explosion goes off near the finish line.
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race.
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race.
A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square.
A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square.
Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi carries a woman from the scene.
Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi carries a woman from the scene.
A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street.
A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street.
An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair.
An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair.
A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line.
A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line.
People run down Exeter Street after the blasts.
People run down Exeter Street after the blasts.
The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion.
Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion.
A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller.
A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller.
A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
A man's blood-stained feet hang outside an ambulance.
A man's blood-stained feet hang outside an ambulance.
A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers.
A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers.
The second explosion goes off near the finish line.
The second explosion goes off near the finish line.
Boston police look at blown-out windows. The bombs shook buildings, sending people to seek shelter under tables, witnesses said.
Boston police look at blown-out windows. The bombs shook buildings, sending people to seek shelter under tables, witnesses said.
Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish.
Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish.
Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack.
Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack.
Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack.
Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack.
Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square.
An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square.
A SWAT team arrives on the scene.
A SWAT team arrives on the scene.
A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack.
A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack.
Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions.
Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions.
Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion.
Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion.
A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston.
A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston.
Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion.
Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion.
Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square.
Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square.
Bystanders embrace near the finish line.
Bystanders embrace near the finish line.
Police officers gather on Newbury Street.
Police officers gather on Newbury Street.
Women and children are evacuated from the scene.
Women and children are evacuated from the scene.
Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts.
Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts.
A woman is comforted after the blasts.
A woman is comforted after the blasts.
Two injured women are taken away on stretchers.
Two injured women are taken away on stretchers.
An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance.
An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance.
First responders load injured people into an ambulance.
First responders load injured people into an ambulance.
An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance.
An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance.
An injured woman is placed on a stretcher.
An injured woman is placed on a stretcher.
A runner is comforted following the attack.
A runner is comforted following the attack.
The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions.
The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions.
Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions.
Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions.
Carlos Arredondo, who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated, leaves the scene.
Carlos Arredondo, who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated, leaves the scene.
A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square.
A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square.
A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off.
A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off.
People comfort each near the site of the blasts.
People comfort each near the site of the blasts.
Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line.
Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line.
Emergency personnel respond to the scene.
Emergency personnel respond to the scene.
Police and emergency crews tend to victims.
Police and emergency crews tend to victims.
An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher.
An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher.
A man lays on the ground after the incident.
A man lays on the ground after the incident.
Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston.
Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston.
Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions.
Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions.
Police inspect one of the blast sites.
Police inspect one of the blast sites.
Deadly attack at Boston Marathon
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Photos: Deadly attack at Boston MarathonObama: We will get to the bottom of thisBoston witness: It was a war zoneCoach: Boston Marathon changed forever
It wasn't clear Monday whether the origin of the bombings was domestic or foreign, according to a federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. And a state government official said there had been no credible threats ahead of the race.
"People shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts," President Barack Obama said. "But make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this, and we will find out who did this."
Obama said that "any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice."
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security "are mobilizing the appropriate resources to respond," according to the president.
A law enforcement official in Boston said investigators "have a number of active leads and some good early progress in the forensics analysis" but are yet to identify any suspects.
"The situation remains fluid, and it remains too early to establish the cause and motivation," the FBI's Boston Division said in a statement asking people to call in with any information, images or details related to the explosions.
"No piece of information or detail is too small," it said.
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said many people were being questioned.
A federal law enforcement official told CNN that both bombs were small, and initial tests showed no C-4 or other high-grade explosive material, suggesting the packages used in the attack were crude devices.
Doctor: 'We were ready for this'Police: 'I have multiple people down'Runner, 78, blown off his feet by blast
U.S. Rep. Bill Keating of Massachusetts said authorities had discovered two other explosive devices that hadn't gone off.
One unexploded device was found at a hotel on Boylston Street near the bomb site, and another unexploded device was found at an undisclosed location, according to Keating, a Democrat and member of the House Homeland Security committee.
He called the bombings a "sophisticated, coordinated, planned attack."
The unexploded devices that were recovered could provide a treasure trove of information such as fingerprints and indications of the bomb maker's design, a federal law enforcement official who now works in the intelligence community said.
And from the bombs that did go off, investigators would be looking for fragments and anything indicating the "signature" of the bomb makers, the official said.
In addition to scrutinizing images of surveillance cameras in the area, the FBI was most likely issuing subpoenas for records from cell towers in the area to isolate and trace calls from around Copley Square at the time of the blasts, according to the official.
As authorities searched the scene, numerous suspicious packages were found, possibly because people fled the area, leaving items behind. Investigators were checking those objects.
Bomb-sniffing dogs were working the area of the bombings and nearby streets, checking every single item on curbs or near the street -- including "every construction cone, every Port-a-Jon" -- to make sure there were no explosive devices left, CNN affiliate WHDH in Boston reported.
Law enforcement officials were also chasing possible leads.
Investigators warned police officers to be on the lookout for a "darker-skinned or black male" with a possible foreign accent in connection with the Marathon bombs, according to a law enforcement advisory obtained by CNN. The man was seen with a black backpack and sweatshirt and was trying to get into a restricted area about five minutes before the first explosion, the lookout notice states.
A Saudi citizen with a leg wound was under guard at a Boston hospital in connection with the bombings, but investigators cannot say he is involved at this time and he is not in custody, a law enforcement official said Monday evening.
After initial suggestions that a third blast Monday, which took place at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, could be related to the marathon bombings, police said that that incident was connected to a mechanical problem.
The library said all staff and visitors were safe.
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