“We don’t yet have all the answers. We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts.”

So said US President Barack Obama, speaking this morning after bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon. At least three people are dead — including an eight-year-old boy — and more than 100 have been injured after the bombs went off near the finish line of the marathon around 5am Sydney time.

As Crikey hit deadline, there are reports the FBI has said this is a “potential terrorist investigation”. At this stage, authorities say they have no suspects in custody, although at least two people are “assisting police”.

CNN is calling it a terrorist attack; other networks are more cautious. NBC News reports the bombs may or may not be the result of a domestic or international terrorist group.

There are media reports that authorities are looking for “a darker skinned or black male with a black backpack” who was turned away from a restricted area shortly before the bombs went off. It’s reports like this that highlight the need for the media to be careful in how it covers tragic events like this.

Bring us the news from the scene, and quickly. People around the world are shocked and upset, and want to know the latest developments. But don’t rush to judgement on who might have carried out the attacks. Once claims have been reported, they can never be recalled — and such claims can cause real damage to innocent people who might get caught by association. We saw that after September 11.

The perpetrators of these bombings have committed a heinous and unforgivable crime and should face the full force of the law. But they should do so as the result of a rigorous, evidence-based legal process. As Obama says, now is not the time to leap to conclusions.