Boston bombing relief fund raises $20 mn

Washington: A relief fund for the Boston Marathon bombing victims has raised $20 million in just over a week, authorities announced. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino made the announcement regarding the One Fund Boston, jointly set up by himself and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, at a news conference in Boston Tuesday, according to a report by the Boston Herald. "Boston is strong and made stronger by the outpouring of support," said the mayor, noting that $5 million of the fund came from over 50,000 individual donors contributing online at onefundboston.org, and $15 million from more than 60 corporate donors, reported Xinhua.

Dozens of companies have invited employees and customers to give as well, he added. Menino said that the response has been "more than I could have ever imagined". The twin blasts near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon April 15 left three people dead and over 180 injured. One of the perpetrators of the bombings has died and the other arrested. AFP