Pipe bomb explosion occurs before start of charity 5K in New Jersey
An explosion in a garbage can in Seaside Park, N.J. forced the cancellation of a 5K charity run on Saturday morning (photo: Kathy Madsen).
Look at black can. Hole in side. Explosion 9:30ish. There is also a backpack Seaside Park police are checking out pic.twitter.com/JtEXuVZM7J
— Kurt Siegelin (@kurtsiegelin) September 17, 2016
An explosion that went off in a roadside garbage can in Seaside Park, N.J. was intended to disrupt a local charity 5K run, according to CNN. The third annual Seaside Semper Five race, an event in support of the U.S. Marine Corps, was cancelled after pipe-bomb-like devices exploded in the New Jersey beach town.
No injuries are being reported and a four-block stretch has been evacuated as police are sweeping the area. Bomb detection dogs did not find any additional devices. USA TODAY is reporting that two to three devices were placed in the trash can but only one exploded, limiting the damage. No one was in the area at the time of explosion.
Seaside Park Police at the scene. #seasidepark'sfinest pic.twitter.com/Ci8chr9YZp
— Kathy Madsen (@kathy_madsen) September 17, 2016
FBI is on the scene at Seaside Park, NJ. No reported injuries at this time. Will provide updates as received. #SeasidePark #FBI
— FBI Newark (@FBINewark) September 17, 2016
A spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office told CNN that “it’s obvious it was meant to affect the run.” Race organizers posted a notice on the event website saying that the run was cancelled out of extreme precaution.
Ocean County spokesman addresses media
More than one thousand runners were expected to take part in the annual charity run. The explosion took place at 9:35 a.m. local time as runners were on the start line. The run was intended to begin at 9:30 a.m. local time but, according to USA TODAY, delays in registration forced the start time back.
Up to 3000 people incl. 1600 runners evacuated from #seasidepark Boardwalk according to race director @News12NJ #breaking
— Jim Murdoch News12NJ (@ReporterJim) September 17, 2016
NJSP helicopter?patrols area near ?PIPE BOMB EXPLOSION #seasidepark NJ. Robot called in looking for more devices. pic.twitter.com/Er7dgBl0S1
— Boston Bobblehead (@DBloom451) September 17, 2016
Very loud explosion at Semper 5K in Seaside Park at E Street. OMG #explosion #seasidepark pic.twitter.com/4K5V7gXpy8
— Kathy Madsen (@kathy_madsen) September 17, 2016
The FBI is on scene as is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and local law enforcement.
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