A law enforcement source said an initial investigation suggested the explosion occurred in a dumpster but the cause was still undetermined.
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The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) joined local police in the investigation, State Police said.
No damage to surrounding structures was reported after after the blast.
The device was in a plastic garbage can when it exploded.
No-one was injured in the blast on Ocean Avenue in the town of Seaside Park, which happened shortly before 3,000 runners were due to take part in a charity race to benefit United States marines.
Runners in the charity race had been scheduled to pass by the area at the time of the blast, but the event had coincidentally been delayed.
The kind of bomb not created to damage buildings but rather to hurt people, as was the case at the Boston Marathon, where 3 people died and 260 were injured in 2013…
The boardwalk area in Seaside Park was evacuated Saturday because of an explosion, according to authorities.
Officials added that there was at least one other device reported that the New Jersey State Police would “make safe” but did not give further details.
“We’re out there conducting interviews, we’re out there securing evidence and we’re making sure there is no stone left unturned”, said Brad Cohen, acting special agent in charge of the Newark office.
Officials said residents who had been told to leave their homes earlier in the day would be allowed to return Saturday night.
Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Al Della Fave says “multiple additional devices” were wired to the pipe bomb that was detonated, but the others did not go off.
The charity run was organized to benefit military veterans and the families of those lost in military service.
About 3,000 people, including 1,600 runners, had been in the area at the time for the event, which is meant to support USA military service members.
One of the officials said the three devices actually appear to be three separate components of one device.
The FBI is investigating along with another number of agencies as prosecutors admitted they “don’t know” what the motive is. Authorities were able to isolate the location of the blast to a parking garage located at D Street near Ocean Avenue in Seaside Park.
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Authorities told NBC the bomb exploded in a trash can around 9:30 a.m.in Seaside Park near the site of where a marine charity race was set to begin.
