Crime & Safety

Running Club: LI Marathon Participants OK

A.M. UPDATE: Local participants at Boston Marathon appear to be safe; 3rd person reported dead, at least 130 injured.

Some 50-60 runners from Long Island were participating in the 117th Boston Marathon Monday when two powerful blasts rocked the race near the finish line, leaving at least three people dead and more than 130 hurt.

All of the Long Island runners appear to be safe, top officials of the Greater Long Island Running Club said Monday.

"It appears everyone is OK," said Plainview's Mike Polansky, president of the GLIRC, which hosts numerous events around Long Island year round. "We've been hearing from lots of them and they seem OK."

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The blasts took place just in front of the finish line about 3 p.m., about fours into the race while it was still being run. At 3 a.m. Tuesday, the Boston Globe reported that three people, including a child, were confirmed dead and at least 130 people were injured, dozens seriously.

A massive manhunt is underway but as of early Tuesday morning, no arrests were reported, numerous news outlets said.

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Runners from various Long Island communities were taking part in the iconic annual 26-mile race, including club members from Farmingdale, New Hyde Park, Port Washington, Cold Spring Harbor, Dix Hills, North Babylon, Mineola and Baldwin, among others, said Sue Fitzpatrick, marketing manager for the GLIRC. There were two participants listed from Plainview, as well.

Fitzpatrick and Polansky were contacting club members by phone and through social media networks just moments after word spread of the explosions. Both said they had learned of no local people hurt in Monday's blasts.

"It's a shame because many of this people were training for this for months," said Polansky. "It's a shame all around."

Meanwhile, security efforts were immediately stepped up in New York and across parts of the nation.

Just before 5 p.m., Nassau County Police issued a statement saying they were on "heightened alert" in the wake of the Boston bombings. A police spokesman said residents are warned to be vigilant, but stressed there was "no specific threat" to Nassau County or its residents.

CBS News reported that military aircraft were headed toward the area to guard the skies over Boston. The White House increased security, as well, numerous news outlets reported.

All units of The New York City Fire Department have been advised to use "elevated caution" due to the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, fire officials confirmed. New York City Police were also placed on high alert, various news sources said.


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