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.
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No one was hurt in the initial blast.
Two officials briefed on the investigation said preliminary results indicate that the devices in the trash can packed enough explosive punch to cause serious injury to people if the race had actually started on time. Around 30 homes were also evacuated and bomb-sniffing dogs sent out to search the surrounding streets.
Officials said participants in the third annual Semper Five run to benefit Marines and sailors had been scheduled to pass by the area around the time the blast occurred.
The race, which was canceled, benefits the MARSOC Foundation. “We will not rest until we find the person or persons responsible”, he said.
Local law enforcement are now working with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the area near this incident is safe, evidence is collected, and any possible suspects are apprehended.
An explosion occurred near the route of a Marine charity 5K run Saturday morning.
A statement issued by Ocean County Police, Fire and EMS said: “An explosive device discharged within a garbage pail at approximately 9:35 am”.
The pipe bomb was in a garbage can near E Street when it exploded about 9:30am. – the exact time when runners would have been passing by the location.
The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation, a spokesperson for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.
“You would have to assume that, at a military type event, the U.S. Marines, a device is placed along the route of a charity event, it would be hard to think it would be anything else”, Della Fave said.
Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino confronted Gov. Chris Christie on the incident. But the start of the race was delayed when an unattended backpack was found in the area.
He described the community as military centered, with lots of veterans and active duty military personnel.
By 5:30 p.m., Federal Bureau of Investigation officials said the lockdown that had been placed in the area had been lifted, but residents who live near the area where the explosion occurred would have to show an ID to get home.
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It wasn’t clear when the boardwalk and beach would reopen. It was no immediate clear whether the second device was detonated.
