NEW YORK, NY April 16 (DPI) – The Boston Marathon bombing was America’s first terror incident in the social-media age, as comment boards flooded almost instantaneously with one-line remarks of sadness and speculation — and before anyone had a clear idea of what had happened.

The avalanche of short comments on cnn.com, nytimes.com and wsj.com – only minutes after the first headline Monday afternoon – underscored the powerful sense of community that media comment boards cultivate.

Speculation on who was responsible and the motives, counter-talk accusing others of accusing too soon, comments about the response of the media and general expressions of sadness all filled the emotional void for perhaps millions of people glued to internet screens through the course of a workday.

Even by Tuesday afternoon, there was no public indication that the authorities had an idea who was responsible for the two blasts at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, which killed three and injured more than 170 others. So the nature of the comments remained short and emotional, even into Tuesday.

Highest recommended post on NYTimes.com Tuesday expressed a broad reaction:

While Americans wait to hear who is behind this criminal and senseless act, we are thinking of all the innocent victims. And especially of the runner whose entire family was there to see him cross the finish line. Today his wife has a severe brain injury, his daughter has lost her leg, and his little son is dead. All because some sick individual or group wanted to kill to promote their own warped idea of justice. No amount of punishment will be too harsh for the perpetrators of this massacre.