BOSTON – Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, city officials, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and the Boston Athletic Association held a joint press conference Friday to discuss public safety and preparations for the 129th Boston Marathon.
The race is set for Monday, April 21, and security is a top priority for race officials and city leaders.
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Sue Terrey, the Deputy Secretary for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, said security is a team effort.
“For months our public safety teams have been working closely with the Boston Athletic Association and our many stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and adaptive security plan.”
This past Tuesday marked 12 years since the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured more than 200 others when two bombs detonated near the finish line on April 15, 2013.
Mayor Wu said more than 30,000 runners and thousands of spectators are expected to take part in in Monday’s marathon.
She also encouraged anyone who sees something out of the ordinary to speak up.
The FBI said it’s not aware of any specific or credible threat targeting the event.
“What concerns us most are homegrown violent extremists or lone actors. Those who self-radicalize with little to no warning. They look for soft targets and easily accessible weapons like the tragedy we witnessed on New Year’s Day in New Orleans. FBI Boston’s joint terrorism task force is actively assessing all available intelligence,” said Allen Davis, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Boston office.