LF: PIPE BOMB detonated on route of Jersey Shore military 5K race: Thousands of runners, including wounded vets and their children, evacuated after trash can explodes; further two explosives found

Title: PIPE BOMB detonated on route of Jersey Shore military 5K race: Thousands of runners, including wounded vets and their children, evacuated after trash can explodes; further two explosives found
Source: Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... es-charity-5K-no-injuries.html
Published: Sep 17, 2016
Author: Dailymail.com Reporter and Associated Pr
Post Date: 2016-09-17 17:30:31 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 675
Comments: 4

A pipe bomb exploded in a Jersey Shore town shortly before thousands of runners were due to take part in a charity 5K race to benefit marines and sailors on Saturday.

At least 1,000 people gathered just blocks away from the explosion, including wounded veterans and their families, many with children.

There were a total of three devices in the garbage can in Seaside Park — including two that didn't explode.

Police located at least one separate additional device, and bomb-sniffing dogs continue searching for more possible devices in the area, NJ.com reported.

The start of the race was initially delayed after authorities were alerted to an unattended backpack. The pipe bomb was near D Street when it exploded about 9.30am, the exact time when runners would have been passing by the location.

A pipe bomb set in a garbage can (pictured) exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, before thousands of runners were due to take part in a charity 5K race to benefit marines and sailors

Detectives are now searching for a second suspicious device after a bomb exploded inside this trash can (pictured)

'It was a big puff of smoke, fairly large,' said Adam Carswell, who was registered to run the race, to NBC 4 New York.

A rep for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says the device was too sophisticated to have been a prank.

'We did find that within that same garbage can there were other devices wired to the one that did explode,' Della Fave told CBS.

'I thought it might have been an explosion of some sort or a sonic boom,' Lauren Rispoli, who heard the explosion from her bed, told NBC 4 New York.

Officials say runners (pictured in last year's event) had been scheduled to pass by the area around the time the blast occurred

The 5K was organized by the MARSOC Foundation, which is a nonprofit that raises money to support active duty and medically retired Marines and Sailors, as well as their families

Event organizers canceled the race because of a suspicious backpack found at the site

Officials say runners had been scheduled to pass by the area around the time the blast occurred.

'Out of extreme precaution, this year's Seaside Sempre Five has been canceled due to an unidentified suspicious backpack found at the race site,' event organizers said Saturday morning.

'The safety and security of our participants, spectators, staff and volunteers is of utmost importance.

The race - the third annual Semper Five run - was canceled.

The area remained 'on lock down while bomb dogs search of additional devices' into the afternoon, the county prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The pipe bomb was in a garbage can near D Street when it exploded. Authorities immediately cleared the boardwalk and beach area

The blast occurred on N Ocean Ave near D and E Streets, where the runners would have been had the race not been delayed

Would-be runner Cathy Howath, 50, said it was a 'blessing in disguise' that there were delays at the start of the race.

One of them was for a blue backpack near a media tent.

'They kept making the announcement, "There’s an unclaimed, blue backpack by the News 12 tent and the radio station tent. If this is your backpack, please come and claim it" — it was repeatedly,' Howath told USA Today.

'It was a blessing in disguise, because the pipebomb would have gone off when the 5K was going,' Howath added.

Last year's Semper Five Run drew thousands of runners (pictured). This year's race was due to attract a similar number of participants

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating, alongside a number of other agencies.

'We've evacuated within a four-block perimeter,' Della Fave told NJ.com. 'Traffic into Seaside Park is closed, but (drivers) are allowed to go to Seaside Heights.'

It wasn't clear when the boardwalk and beach will reopen.

The 5K was organized by the MARSOC Foundation, which is a nonprofit that raises money to support active duty and medically retired Marines and Sailors, as well as their families.