Boston Prepares Security for Upcoming Marathon
04/15/2016
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April 15 is the third anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, and the area is getting ready for this year’s run, which takes place on Monday (Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April). Given the terrible attacks of 2013, anti-jihad precautions are now a big part of the world’s oldest annual marathon.

One of the effects of unwise immigration (particularly admitting millions of historic enemies) is Security Strangled Sports on the occasion of major events like big-city marathons and the Super Bowl. The price tag for extra protection has exploded; for example San Francisco’s police overtime for this year’s Super Bowl was $3 million, and that’s just one item in a long list of more than 20 local, state and federal agencies taking part in security efforts.

The 2012 London Olympics cost $2 billion for security, and safety measures included surface-to-air rocket batteries installed on the roofs of nearby apartment buildings.

Diversity doesn’t come cheap, especially with open borders and Islam immigration.

One precaution being taken for this year’s Boston race has been low-flying helicopter sweeps to detect any unusual levels of radiation which could indicate a dirty bomb. Interestingly, the same sort of chopper checks were flown for the Super Bowl last winter also.

Helicopter tests for radiation along Boston Marathon route, CBS News, April 14, 2016

BOSTON — As the city prepares for its third Boston Marathon since two homemade bombs exploded at the 2013 race, security is being stepped up on the ground and in the air.

The federal government’s radiation-detecting helicopter flew over the Boston Marathon route on Wednesday, CBS Boston station WBZ reported.

“Just as a precautionary measure, it doesn’t mean that anybody expects that something will happen,” Mark Parsons of the National Nuclear Security Administration told WBZ.

The helicopter flies about 150-feet off the ground and picks up normal signs of radiation like over medical facilities and construction sites that use x-ray machines.

Two pods on the sides of the helicopter measure the radiation levels. That data will be used to make a map that tells scientists what are acceptable normal levels.

But what if the worst case scenario is found?

“If the bomb were radiological in nature, we would expect to see it,” said Dr. Michael Mazur of the NNSA.

The government’s radiation-detecting chopper was back above the route on Thursday, but will not be in the air on Marathon Monday.

The FAA will have other types of aircraft to help keep people safe, according to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans.

“The FAA has banned drones from coming into the area, obviously we are going to use some anti-drone technology out there,” Evans said. “The public is going to see some technology out there that we haven’t used before.”

Commissioner Evans added there will be a significant number of undercover police officers blending in with spectators and more cameras along the race route.

He also said that if the crowds get too large in Kenmore Square and along Boylston Street, police will kindly ask people to move to another area.

Like previous years, spectators are encouraged not to bring backpacks.

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