Law enforcement officials say there is no ‘specific or credible' attack threat to Boston Marathon
Besides the Boston Marathon, which attracts around 30,000 runners and thousands more spectators each year, hundreds of people will also travel from across the country to
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'What concerns us most are homegrown, violent, extremist, or lone actors,' Davis said. 'Those who self-radicalize with little to no warning and look for soft targets and easily accessible weapons like the tragedy we witnessed on New Year's Day in New Orleans.'
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In the early morning hours of New Year's Day, an Islamic State group-inspired attacker
Officials said their strategy for race day is 'based on lessons learned' from major events around the country and urged the public to remain vigilant and alert authorities if they see something unusual.
'All of you are an extension of our eyes and ears, and we can't stress enough the importance of speaking up when you come across someone or something that doesn't seem quite right,' Davis said. 'It could be a neighbor, a classmate, someone you met in person, someone you met virtually online. When people come forward, history has shown that we increase our chances of preventing tragedies.'
Multiple state and local agencies have worked together over several months to develop a unified plan for responding to any incidents at this year's marathon, officials said.
'We have worked to prepare for every possible scenario,' Davis said. 'Everyone here today is fully devoted to making race day fun and enjoyable while balancing the needs of public safety in today's dynamic threat environment.'
FBI Boston special agents, analysts, task force officers, bomb techs and the hazardous response, SWAT, and crisis negotiation teams will all be supporting law enforcement on Monday, Davis added. There will also be enhanced security checkpoints at various locations throughout the day, Cox said.
MBTA Transit Chief Kenneth Green urged people to take public transportation on Monday due to road closures. The subway, the RIDE, and the commuter rail will operate on a
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'In the interest of public safety, the MBTA may adjust or temporarily close additional stations near the finish line,' he said.
While there is no intelligence suggesting the MBTA or the Boston Marathon are targets, Green said special operation teams, including explosive detection canines, will be stationed throughout the system for an added layer of security.
Noble urged spectators to review the list of
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said a the conference that the city welcomes 'everyone' for the events and that the marathon is a 'very, very important global tradition that should transcend politics and transcend the issues of the day.'
'This is the oldest annual marathon in the world, and hosting that event is no easy task. But neither is finishing a marathon --- as all our runners know --- or founding a nation, and no one does it better than Boston,' she said.
Emily Spatz can be reached at
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