# Pipe bomb at Marine Corps Charity 5K Run **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 17, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206 "2016-09-17T22:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/1 "2016-09-17T22:30:47Z")
This could have been really bad. Thankfully the bomb went off before the race started. I wonder if this bomb was potentially bigger than the one in Boston? Reports say only one part of it went off. > **[Feds probe blast near Marine race as possible terror | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/17/us/nj-explosive-trash-can/index.html)** > > An explosion in a garbage can near a Marine Corps charity run in New Jersey is being investigated as a possible terrorist act, authorities told CNN Sunday. > [@](#): > > Three pipe-bomb-type devices wired together were found near the boardwalk in Seaside Park. No injuries were reported, and a four-block area was evacuated, authorities said. > An initial examination showed the devices were rudimentary, with some type of timer, and only one of them detonated, two federal law enforcement officials told CNN ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/2 "2016-09-17T23:08:16Z")
More details. This one delay made all the difference. > **[UPDATE: Terrorism probed in Seaside Park blast; residents return home](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/09/17/device-explodes-before-nj-5k-benefit-race/90577006/)** > > The FBI said it was "unaware of any known threat" to public safety > [@](#): > > They kept making the announcement, ‘There’s an unclaimed, blue backpack by the News 12 tent and the radio station tent. If this is your backpack, please come and claim it.’ It was repeatedy,” Howath said. > > Eventually, a student claimed the backpack, Murphy said. She and her sister said they believe this also delayed the start of the race and spared participants from injury. > > “It was a blessing in disguise, because the pipebomb would have gone off when the 5K was going,” Howath said. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/3 "2016-09-17T23:08:59Z")
It’s trivially easy to plan an explosive device, or to pull out a gun and start shooting people. I wish we would work harder to prevent this kind of thing from happening. America needs to be tough on this kind of behavior. We should work harder at turning our culture into one of love, caring, and community. We should exhaust ourselves trying to make all people feel loved and supported, regardless of race, class or creed. Instead of inspiring each other to be afraid and hateful towards others, we should welcome outsiders with open arms. Because there is no fucking way that the game of ‘tighter security’ or more extreme vetting is ever going to solve this problem. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/4 "2016-09-18T00:04:47Z")
From the look of [the picture at the scene](http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2016_37/1712911/160917-pipebomb-jersey-shore-mbe-1055a_41b8a827b5f99f18694d943ce051a668.jpg)the single pipe blew up a public trash/recyclables bin. To **aceplace57** ’s question, just as an initial impression with no specific data in hand it would look like the Boston Patriots’ Day were quite more powerful (and more dangerously designed as shrapnel weapons) but a real answer will have to wait for the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/5 "2016-09-18T13:31:37Z")
One of the things I hate about news reports is that they never tell you where things take place. I finally found a map showing the explosion site at the corners of D street and Ocean Avenue (right before the beach) in Seaside Park > **[Pipe Bomb Explodes Along 5K Seaside Park Racecourse on Jersey Shore](https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/explosion-evacuates-seaside-park-boardwalk-area-reports)** > > The boardwalk area in Seaside Park was evacuated Saturday because of an explosion, authorities say. A lockdown was in place. I used to go there constantly, and stayed a few blocks away from that point. If there had been a lot of spectators watching (the race was delayed, apparently because of a suspicious backpack), and if all the bomb components had gone off, it might have resulted in serious injuries. In the absence of more information, though, it’s impossible to tell. Putting the bomb in a plastic recycling bin, though, might have slowed down or stopped a lot of potential debris. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/6 "2016-09-18T14:23:47Z")
I guess the bomb maker(s?) are still figuring this out. Only one of them went off at the race. Then in NY, one out of two went off. No proof yet if the incidents are connected. The ones at the race were called pipe bombs. NY found a pressure cooker device. Different designs. Forensics should be easier since they recovered intact bombs from both cities. Fingerprints or DNA may solve these crimes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/7 "2016-09-19T18:43:38Z")
So I’m a little confused: someone other than the bomber\* claimed the unattended backpack, which was clearly not actually their’s? What’s the deal?! \*Presumably, as (1) the bomber would hardly want it back, and (2) the police aren’t saying they have a rather idiotic bombing suspect in custody. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/8 "2016-09-19T18:50:27Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > So I’m a little confused: someone other than the bomber\* claimed the unattended backpack, which was clearly not actually their’s? What’s the deal?! > > \*Presumably, as (1) the bomber would hardly want it back, and (2) the police aren’t saying they have a rather idiotic bombing suspect in custody. 🙂 The backpack had nothing to do with the bomb. It was coincidently left unattended and delayed the start of the race until it was claimed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/9 "2016-09-19T18:51:04Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > So I’m a little confused: someone other than the bomber\* claimed the unattended backpack, which was clearly not actually their’s? What’s the deal?! > > \*Presumably, as (1) the bomber would hardly want it back, and (2) the police aren’t saying they have a rather idiotic bombing suspect in custody. 🙂 Are you talking about the bomb found in Elizabeth? I’m hearing a couple of homeless guys grabbed it then saw when was in it. They were very lucky. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pipe-bomb-at-marine-corps-charity-5k-run/766206/10 "2016-09-19T19:05:46Z")
Ah, clearer now. I had hashed together two separate aspects of the story: (1) backpack was claimed, and (2) someone other than the bomber had the bomb but then gave it to the police once they realized what it was.