Authorities say 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.
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No injuries were reported in the blast in Seaside Park around 9.30am, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office.
The explosive device went off in a trash can about 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the race, which coincidentally was delayed, in Seaside Park, a resort about 80 miles (129 km) south of New York City, officials said.
Just after the explosion, Della Fave said, the area was placed on lockdown, and police deployed bomb detection dogs.
But officials won’t say if they believe the incident in Seaside Park on Saturday was terror-related or if it had any connection with an explosion that rocked Manhattan Saturday night, injuring 29 people. Authorities immediately cleared the boardwalk and beach area. At least one other device was found, the statement said. “We do not see a link to terrorism”, he added.
“We’re out there conducting interviews, we’re out there securing evidence and we’re making sure that there is no stone left unturned”, said Brad Cohen, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Following Sunday’s explosion just before the start of the Semper Five race, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty announced that Sunday’s San Gennaro festival has also been canceled as a precaution.
According to the police chief, possibly a second or third IED was found in the same area.
Runner Adam Carswell of Toms River, New Jersey, told NBC New York that he saw smoke emitting from a garbage can after the blast.
Law enforcement authorities said they did not know the motive for the blast.
It appears the device was set off by a timer, officials said, but it is not known what explosive material was in the pipes.
A charity 5K race was cancelled because of the explosion and subsequent search, according to the race website.
The description of the bombs, in both Seaside Park and NY, “bore striking similarities to the pressure cooker devices used by the terrorists who bombed the 2013 Boston Marathon”, Fox News reported. But several beaches in the area will remain closed until further notice.
It is unclear how many runners had signed up to participate in the Semper Five race.
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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.
