Toms River Police Increase Patrols In Wake Of Bombings

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River police have extra patrols on the streets Monday as towns throughout New Jersey are on high alert after bombs were found at an Elizabeth train station early Monday morning.

The Elizabeth bombs followed the bombings Saturday morning in Seaside Park and Saturday evening in New York City. An Elizabeth man, Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, a U.S. citizen of Afghan descent, was taken into custody after a shootout in Linden Monday morning, according to authorities. The FBI was seeking him in connection with the two Saturday bombings; but the agency has not yet said whether he is connected to the Elizabeth bombing.

Read more: Seaside Park, Chelsea Bombings Suspect In Custody

Police Chief Mitchell Little said there is an increased police presence around the township as a precautionary measure, saying there have not been any reports of specific threats to the township, nor any reports of suspicious activity or sightings.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Department issued a Nixle alert Monday morning saying that Rahami was being sought by the FBI in connection with the Chelsea bombing. About an hour, New Jersey State Police announced on the department's Facebook page that the FBI had linked Rahami to the Seaside Park bombing as well.

The Seaside Park bombing occurred along the route for the Semper Five 5K, a race that raises funds for a charity that assists injured Marines. The event was expected to draw 3,000 people.

Toms River residents are urged to call authorities immediately if they see anything suspicious. The Semper Five race was delayed because a citizen reported a suspicious backpack, and the delay prevented runners and spectators from being in the area of D Street and Ocean Avenue when the pipe bomb detonated in a garbage can there, authorities said.

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