The beach and boardwalk in Seaside Park have been evacuated due to an explosion in a trash can, which came moments before a charity race was set to begin.
(News12)- A police source tells News 12 New Jersey that a pipe bomb caused the explosion, and a possible second device has been found.
Authorities are now inspecting other potentially suspicious items in the area. People are being told to get inside and clear the area along the beach. News 12 New Jersey reporters were told to go into a neighbor’s house and remain indoors.
Runners had been scheduled to pass by the area at the time of the blast, but the event had coincidentally been delayed due to a suspicious backpack found nearby.
No injuries were reported from the blast.
The race was a Semper Five event for U.S. Marines. The explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m., the same time that the race had been set to begin. The site of the blast was about three-quarters of a mile from the starting line.
A photo of the garbage can where the blast occurred was snapped by witness Chad Rudin. It shows that the bottom of the can had been completely blown off. Rudin says he was a couple blocks away from the blast site, but assumed it was to signal the start of the race when he heard it. He walked over and snapped the photo of the garbage can as police began to arrive.