Security Officials Prepare for Boston Marathon

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.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.