UPDATE: At Least 3 Dead After Explosions at Boston Marathon

Three people are dead and over 100 injured after two explosions near the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon, which featured more than 500 runners from New Jersey.

A loud explosion was heard near a bridge that marks the finish line in the annual race, the New York Times reported. The marathon was stopped as authorities tend to the wounded and lock down nearby buildings.

NBC Nightly News tweeted that a "small homemade bomb" was the source of the explosions. 

PBS reports 562 runners from New Jersey among the 23,000 in the race.

The White House has issued an official statement:   

"The President has been notified of the incident in Boston. His administration is in contact with state and local authorities. He directed his administration to provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response."

Shortly after 5 p.m., Jersey Shore Running Club President Carly DePolo said in an email to Patch that members running in the marathon appear to be safe, though she was continuing to reach out to all who traveled to Boston.

Runner's High, which has stores in Metuchen and Freehold, reported on its Facebook page that owner Rob DeFilippis and his wife, Christy DeFilippis were safe, as was employee Pete Forgach. Christy DeFilippis of Tinton Falls and Forgach of Long Branch completed the marathon before the explosion, according to the Boston Marathon's athlete tracking.