- Pipe bomb exploded shortly before the Semper Five Run at Seaside Park, New Jersey
- The bomb was in a garbage can when it exploded - no one was inured in the explosion
- The race, which is a 5K to benefit marines and sailors, was canceled because of the blast
- At least 1,000 people had already gathered nearby to begin the third-annual Semper Five Run
- The event gathers huge crowds of veterans - many wounded - and their families, including children
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.
No injuries were reported in the blast.
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.
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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 don't know what this individual's agenda is,' Al Della Fave told ABC News.
'We did find that within that same garbage can there were other devices wired to the one that did explode,' Della Fave told CBS.
Pieces from the explosion were blown out as far as 150 feet.
'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.
'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.
#1: Stoner To: cranky (#0)
Stoner posted on 2016-09-17 19:03:44 Reply Private Reply
#2: misterwhite To: cranky (#0)
misterwhite posted on 2016-09-17 19:13:05 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: cranky (#0)
misterwhite posted on 2016-09-17 19:14:50 Reply Private Reply
#4: cranky To: Stoner (#1)
You've got me.
Seems to have been a pretty amateurish effort, whoever was the source.
cranky posted on 2016-09-17 19:35:24 Reply Private Reply