Marathon organizers, public safety officials discuss changes

BOSTON – Boston Marathon organizers and public safety officials addressed a desire to learn lessons from last year?s marathon bombings while allowing runners and spectators to have a safe experience this year at an introductory press conference at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel on Wednesday.?We are looking for those million people to show up,” said Kurt Schwartz, the Undersecretary for Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). “We are eager to show the world what our communities are about. We?re ready to go from a public safety standpoint.”Last year, two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and wounding 264.On Tuesday, which marked exactly one year since the Marathon bombings, the community received a scare when 25-year-old Kevin Edson was arrested for allegedly carrying a rice cooker in a backpack near the finish line. A Boston Police Department release described him as “a white male wearing all black, no shoes, and a veil and hat covering his face,” who was “yelling and screaming and causing many people in attendance at the event to notice his actions.” He was reportedly wearing blue and yellow face paint, according to the release.Edson?s backpack was detonated by the Boston Police Bomb Squad, as well as another backpack, which was reportedly left unattended by a member of a local media outlet, the BPD said in its release, adding that neither backpack contained explosive material.Yesterday, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans addressed the arrest.?Unfortunately, (Tuesday) night we had an incident,” he said. “You can see the anxiety level goes up when an unattended backpack is left on the street.”He added, “Obviously, I had some concerns about what happened … That individual had a right (to walk on Boylston Street). He went on the street with a backpack. Within a minute, our officers were on him.”He praised members of his department, saying, “Our officers did a great job last night. They secured the area. We detonated those two devices. What troubles me most is that it took the great tribute from (Tuesday) off the front pages of the paper today. It was a beautiful day (but we had) one incident. It breaks my heart.”There will be a moment of silence at the starting line at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, for the bombing victims as well as the two Boston firefighters who died battling a 9-alarm blaze last month.Changes for 2014, outlined by Schwartz, will include increased numbers of law-enforcement personnel, such as over 3,000 uniformed police officers and National Guard soldiers along the Marathon route, as well as plainclothes officers, dogs and over video-camera feeds. There is also a multi-agency center in Framingham with 250 people representing 65 agencies.This year, Marathon organizers are using a no-bag policy, although runners may bring fanny packs and fuel belts, race director Dave McGillivray said. He also said that “this is not the year to run as an unofficial, unregistered runner.”However, the Marathon official field has increased from its general number, from 27,000 to 36,000.Boston Athletic Association executive director Tom Grilk of Lynnfield said that of the 9,000 additional runners, 5,000 are people “unable to finish last year,” with the remainder including first responders, hospital employees, One Fund and One Fund community members and public safety officials.Events normally scheduled for the Sunday before the marathon, including the BAA 5K, have been moved to Saturday in recognition of Easter Sunday.?We?re ready to go on Monday,” Schwartz said.