Officials were forced to evacuate four blocks around the blast, while canceling the charity run.
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For now, though, they do not think the two explosions are connected. Police later found another explosive device nearby.
“We are grateful that nobody was injured, but this is a serious act of violence against the people of New Jersey”, said state Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino.
“We have some promising leads but no suspects at this time so we are continuing to work with the authorities to make sure that we bring whoever is responsible for this to justice as quickly as possible”, Christie said.
The New Jersey device contained evidence of a black powder, while the device that exploded in Manhattan had residue from an explosive called Tannerite, said a federal law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation.
Bomb experts will analyze the device and how it was made, according to CNN senior law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes.
Saturday’s blast was likely timed to disrupt the event in Seaside Park, officials said. The main component exploded but the two secondary components did not. The official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was aware of the posting and was working to determine its authenticity.
Al Della Fave, spokesman for Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, said the devices in the bin were “wired together” but did not all detonate.
“It’s obvious it was meant to affect the run”, Della Fave told News 12 New Jersey.
Since it was detonated as a race was taking place, the incident immediately drew comparisons to the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 that killed three and wounded more than 260.
Near the boardwalk in Seaside Park, New Jersey, the runners neared the starting line Saturday morning for the Seaside Semper Five, waiting patiently as officials sorted out some last-minute registration problems.
New Jersey State Police has the area on lock down while investigators track down a report of at least one other device in the area.
The race had been delayed, so there were no crowds in the area at the time, according to authorities.
It is unclear how many runners had signed up to participate in the Semper Five race.
Della Fave also said that the incident was not “a prank” because the device was too sophisticated.
Investigators are still trying to “see if there is a connection” to the Chelsea bombing, but “at this point, there doesn’t appear to be one, ” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill told reporters Sunday outside 1 Police Plaza.
“It is clearly an act of terrorism now we just don’t know who’s responsible for it”.
The blast caused “significant property damage”, he said. He said no additional devices were found after the dogs completed their sweep.
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The event was put on by the MARSOC Foundation, a nonprofit group that supports active-duty and retired members of the Marine Corps, Navy and their families.
