Security Officials Prepare for Boston Marathon

Officials have been working on their security plan for the last six months, and have made adjustments in the wake of the Mandalay Bay shooting and vehicular attacks by terrorists in France.

• By Jessica Davis
• Apr 05, 2018

Five years after two bombs detonated at the Boston Marathon finish line, police, FBI and security officials are ramping up security measures for the race next weekend on April 16. The 2013 attack killed three people and wounded more than 260. There have been no credible threats to the Boston Marathon this year, according to officials.

Officials have been working on their security plan for the last six months, and have made adjustments in the wake of the Mandalay Bay shooting and vehicular attacks by terrorists in France.

“As always, some parts of that plan will be obvious to runners and spectators: uniformed state troopers, police officers, and guardsmen along the route,” Gilpin said. “Also as in previous years, certain parts of our security operation will not be seen by the public, including a significant presence of undercover troopers and intelligence assets analyzing and disseminating information about any possible threats.”

As many as 8,000 state and local uniformed police officers and uniformed National Guardsman will be highly visible along the 26.2 miles of the marathon route, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Kurt Schwartz said.  Blocker trucks to prevent vehicular attacks will be deployed along intersections.

Police will be on building rooftops, and law enforcement will also be monitoring security via three tethered drones and a large number of traffic and security cameras. The public is not allowed to bring or fly drones along the race course or spectator areas, and drone-sensing equipment will be attached to light poles.

More than 250 security staff will be working at the Multi-Agency Coordination center, a communication hub set up to manage the security infrastructure consisting of more than 70 local, regional and federal forces across eight different municipalities.

As for the public, security checkpoint will be set up and bags will be searched individually. Those who do not have bags should get through quickly.

Guidelines for attendees include:

• No backpacks.
• No coolers, and no coolers on wheels.
• Clear bottles are allowed up to a maximum of 1 liter in size.
• Personal items should be brought in a clear plastic bag.
• No glass bottles of any size.

Schwartz said anyone who sees something unusual should notify the nearest public official.