Suspicious Bags Found Near Boston Marathon Finish Line
Published at
Ryan Catalani/@magicofpi/Twitter(BOSTON) — On the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three and injured 264 people, law enforcement officials in the city were not taking any chances. The Boston Police bomb squad was dispatched to the area near the marathon finish line to investigate and detonate two unattended backpacks.
As a precaution, Boston Police established a perimeter around the questionable items left in the area of Boylston Street and Exeter Street while the bomb squad investigates. Authorities asked pedestrians and drivers in tweeted safety alerts Tuesday to “avoid the area in and around the Boston Marathon Finish Line.”
Police say the man they believe dropped at least one of the bags, identified as Kayvon Edson, has been detained and charged for disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and possession of a hoax device. Edson had been seen in the area earlier Tuesday shouting, “Boston strong,” while wearing a black veil, dark makeup and no shoes.
There was no indication that either of the bags were dangerous, but the bomb squad detonated the items to be safe. Police confirmed that Edson’s bag contained a rice cooker, thus the hoax device possession charge.
Similar measures were taken Tuesday morning when the bomb squad was sent to an area near South Station to investigate a suspicious item that they later detonated.
The backpack in question at the marathon finish line. @universalhub pic.twitter.com/oahl97sKcM
— Ryan Catalani (@magicofpi) April 15, 2014
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio