Breaking news: US beefs up security

Security at airports and hotels has been stepped up across the United States following the bomb blasts at yesterday’s Boston Marathon.

Critical response teams have been deployed around New York City, and officials are increasing security at hotels and other prominent locations, reports Sky News.

An emergency operations centre has been opened in Los Angeles and increased transit patrols have been put in place. A police vehicle checkpoint has also been put in place at the entrance of Los Angeles International Airport.

In Boston, the Federal Aviation Administration has warned pilots that it has created a no-fly zone over the site where three people were killed and more than 130 injured in two blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Meanwhile, Delta has advised that, due to heightened security and increased passenger congestion at Boston’s Logan Airport, travel could be delayed. Passengers travelling to or from the airport are urged to review their flight status frequently for up-to-the-minute info about their flight plans.  Passengers are entitled to a refund should their flight be cancelled or significantly delayed. Even if a flight is not cancelled, passengers are allowed to make a one-time change to their ticket without charge.

US Airways also confirmed that it had relaxed its change-fee policies and would waive the change fees for passengers who had been affected.