BOSTON (AFP) - One year after the deadly Boston Marathon bombings, the north-eastern US city on Tuesday will pay solemn tribute to the victims of the grisly attack that stunned the nation.
The solemn ceremonies will take place at the scene of the carnage at one of the world's nation's sporting events - in the heart of the city, on Boylston Street.
Church bells will toll at 2:49pm, the moment the first bomb exploded at the race's finish line on April 15 last year.
The two pressure-cooker devices allegedly planted by two brothers of Chechen descent, who had lived in the United States for years, sent metal fragments flying through the crowd, killing three people and wounding more than 260 others. Several people lost limbs.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who is now 20, and his 26-year-old brother Tamerlan were identified thanks to pictures and video footage and eventually cornered by police after a four-day manhunt that paralysed the city of nearly one million.
Tamerlan died after an exchange of fire with police, and Dzhokhar was wounded and captured. The younger Tsarnaev, a naturalized US citizen, will go on trial in November and could face the death penalty if convicted.
US Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, Boston mayor Martin Walsh and his predecessor Tom Menino - who was in office at the time - will speak at the event at the Hynes Convention Centre, along with survivors.
Tuesday's tribute ceremony "will honour those affected by last year's events, including those who lost lives, survivors, and first responders," organizers said.
There will be a flag-raising ceremony and a moment of silence will be observed at the race's finish line.