The Pittsburgh Marathon is a foot race (marathon) covering 26.2 miles (42.16 km) held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. The race was held annually from 1985–2003 (most recently as the UPMC/City of Pittsburgh Marathon), and was revived in 2009 as the "Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon." The 2010 race is set for May 2, 2010.
But unfortunately a microwave oven containing a suspected explosive device and pasta was detonated Sunday morning near the finish line of the 2010 Pittsburgh Marathon. Police Lt. Kevin Kraus says the surrounding area was evacuated and authorities tried to reroute the race but eventually ended up delaying it in the area for 10 to 12 minutes.

The all-clear was given shortly before 11 a.m. The disruption comes a day after a car-bomb scare in New York emptied Times Square.

"I won't discuss what was inside the microwave oven, but the robot was deployed and they observed what appeared to be (something) suspicious enough to take the precautionary actions to render that package safe," Harper said.

At about 12:30 p.m., Harper, Public Safety Director Michael Huss and police Lt. Kevin Kraus held a brief press conference at the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center as an investigation continues.

"We will be reviewing all cameras that were in that area to see who possibly left that package, that microwave there, as well as trying to see what the microwave contained inside," Harper said.

Police said a citizen alerted a police officer in the area to the microwave.

"A citizen reported (the microwave) to an officer working in that area and we notified our bomb division. They arrived within minutes. They took an X-ray of the device and there were contents inside that were definitely questionable and highly suspicious," said Kraus, the duty commander on Sunday.

The discovery of the suspected explosive in Pittsburgh comes on the heels of a car bomb found in New York's Times Square Saturday night.

"We have many events going on today, and after we witnessed what happened in New York City last night, we took (it) very seriously," Harper said. "We rather err on the side of safety than err on the side of not taking anything serious ... and have something terrible go on."

In addition to the Pittsburgh Marathon, traffic in and around Pittsburgh is expected to be heavy for the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff game, University of Pittsburgh graduation and the International Eucharistic Rosary March, all of which are scheduled to take place during the early afternoon.






Tags: pittsburgh marathon, pittsburgh