By David E. Hubler
Contributor, EDM Digest
Boston public safety officials and representatives from the local governing athletic association met Tuesday to discuss safety measures for the 122nd running of the Boston Marathon on April 16, the Boston Herald reported.
The FBI, Boston police and the Massachusetts State Police are among the agencies involved in protecting an expected one million spectators and over 30,000 runners.
The Boston Marathon begins at the Doughboy Statue on East Main Street in the town of Hopkinton. It finishes on Boylston Street, directly in front of the Boston Public Library.
Security has been tightened along the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course since 2013, when terrorists planted two bombs near the finish line. The explosions killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 others.
Security efforts are complicated because the route takes runners through eight cities and towns, including downtown Boston, the Herald noted.
Spectators Warned to Leave Drones, Backpacks and Large Items at Home
In recent years, authorities have used surveillance drones, bomb-sniffing dogs and aircraft equipped with technology to detect a radiological “dirty” bomb.
“The course is what we call a ‘no-drone zone,’ so we’re asking people to leave their personal drones at home as well,” Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Chris Besse told WBZ NewsRadio.
Besse said spectators should also leave backpacks, large bags, bulky items, glass bottles, large sticks, poles and other similar items at home. Some of those items will be banned in spots closer to the start and finish lines, Besse warned.
Patriots Day, Boston Marathon Commemorate First Battles in the Revolutionary War
The Boston Marathon is always held on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April. The day commemorates the first battles of the Revolutionary War, fought near Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
Begun in 1897, the Boston Marathon is now one of the best-known road racing events in the world.
Comments are closed.