BOSTON (AP)/ CBS Hartford

The 26th Mile Marker of the Boston Marathon, which included the location of the second explosion this afternoon, had previously been dedicated to the victims of Newtown, Connecticut, recalling another haunting moment of unimaginable violence.

CBS Boston previously reported that Mile Marker of the Marathon had been dedicated to victims of the Newtown shooting that took place just over four months ago.  That same mile now serves as ground zero of today’s two explosions, which occurred within moments of one another.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton commented on the morbid irony of the two tragedies in a Tweet earlier today:

The last mile in the Boston Marathon was dedicated to the Newtown families. Some parents of Newtown victims were seated in the VIP section.— MayorMark (@MayorMark) 15 April 2013

Boston Athletic Association president Joanne Flaminio previously said there was “special significance” to the fact that the race is 26.2 miles long and 26 people died at Sandy Hook Elementary school.