In a late afternoon press conference, FBI Special Agent Brad Cohen, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Newark field office, said federal authorities are working “side by side” with local and state officials in investigating the explosion that happened near the boardwalk in the area of D Street and North Ocean Avenue in the barrier island community around 9:30 a.m.
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About 5,000 people were set to run the 5km race in Seaside Park, local media 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.
Shortly after the blast occurred, Della Fave told reporters at the scene that preliminary reports said there may have been other devices connected to the pipe bomb, but those devices apparently had not gone off.
The race was later canceled.
New Jersey State Police say there was nothing to reports of another explosive device near the Jersey Shore site where a pipe bomb exploded.
He said he’s confident law enforcement will find the person responsible.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, there are no reported injuries or damages to surrounding structures from the blast.
No one was injured in the blast, which is being investigated by the FBI, New Jersey State Police, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and Seaside Park Police Department.
A pipe bomb exploded in a New Jersey beach town on Saturday along the route of a charity race to benefit military veterans, but no injuries were reported in what investigators were treating as a possible act of terrorism. The beaches are along the same streets will also be closed until further notice, he said. The area was evacuated and placed on lockdown as bomb dogs searched for additional devices. But the start of the race had been delayed after an unattended backpack was found, and the area was mostly empty when the blast occurred.
“The one went off, and the others did not”, he said. But officials would not say whether they believe the incident was terror-related or if they suspected participants in the third annual Semper Five run were targeted.
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It wasn’t clear when the boardwalk and beach will reopen.
