Doubled security at Boston Marathon included soldiers and checkpoints

policestateusa.com

BOSTON, MA –This year’s Boston Marathon was the subject of unprecedented levels of policing. The 26.2 mile track from Hopkinton to Boston was enclosed in a “ring of steel” — where public streets were littered with checkpoints, cameras, and police dogs. Military helicopters whirred overhead as soldiers, federal agents, and local cops scrutinized anyone carrying a purse or a bag.

It has been reported that between 3,500 and 4,000 government agents saturated the area — double what was used at the race last year. This figure includes approximately 500 plainclothes agents dispersed throughout the crowd and 750 uniformed military personnel which are now being used to police the public.

Besides the military, the event has drawn in agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the New York Police Department, the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Massachusetts State Police, as well as more agencies from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and others, according to NBC. Numerous SWAT teams were positioned on site.

An elaborate surveillance grid was constructed and coordinated from a sophisticated underground fusion center. ABC News reported that the command “bunker” contained 260 agents from 60 different state, local, and federal agencies. More than 100 surveillance cameras were set up to monitor the race as well as 50 observation points perched above the track.

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