Terrorism

New Jersey: Pipe bomb explodes at Marine Corps charity run, no injuries

Pipe bomb explodes at charity run. (Twitter)
Pipe bomb explodes at charity run. (Twitter)

Some may call it pure coincidence, other may call it an act of God. However one desires to frame the happenstance today in New Jersey, the slight delay in a race’s start time just may have saved more than a few from death or injury from a concealed pipe bomb.

As reported both by the United Press International (UPI) and NBC New York, a pipe bomb hidden in a trash can not far from the starting line of the third annual Marine Semper Fi 5k race to benefit the MARSOC Foundation (Marine Corps Special Operations Command). No injuries have been reported.

However, the charity race at Seaside Park, NJ, was suppose to start precisely at 9:00 AM, but was delayed for a full half-hour due to an unexpected large number of participants that caught organizers off guard.

Start time was delayed until 9:30 so the 5,000 participating men, women and children could be registered.

As noted by UPI, “The blast inside the garbage can occurred about three-quarters of a mile from the starting line at 9:30 a.m.”

With what could also be chalked up to either coincidence or Divine Providence, NBC New York is also reporting, “The device that exploded was connected to at least one other explosive device that did not detonate in the blast, a law enforcement official said.”

UPI also cited;

Prior to the explosion, the Seaside Semper Five 5K Charity Run was canceled when a suspicious backpack was found on the planned route.

“Out of extreme precaution, this year’s Seaside Semper Five has been canceled due to an unidentified suspicious backpack found at the race site,” a post on the event’s Facebook page stated. “The safety and security of our participants, spectators, staff and volunteers is of utmost importance.”

NewJersey.News12.com is also reporting that disaster just may have been everted because of the 30 minute delay in the fund raiser;

A shorter “fun run” event for youth runners had also just ended when the blast occurred.

In what may have to be filed under You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me, News12 is also noting;

Della Fave, the prosecutor’s office spokesman, says it is too soon to know whether the bomb was placed with criminal or terroristic motives. But he agreed that the incident appears to have targeted U.S. military members and their families, due to the timing and nature of the detonation.

The MARSOC Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money to support “active duty and medically retired MARSOC personnel and their families as well as to the families of Marines and Sailors who have lost their lives in service to our Nation,” according to their official website.

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