Belmar Ramps Up Police Presence, Inspects Garbage Cans After Seaside Park Bombing Incident : Mayor

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty has ordered more police presence in the borough after suspected pipe bombs were found in a garbage can in Seaside Park.

"Belmar DPW has inspected and cleared all garbage cans and will bring them in overnight in response to seaside heights explosion," the mayor tweeted.

The borough's annual San Gennaro Festival is slated to run through Saturday and Sunday. The event usually draws large crowds.

Point Pleasant's 39th annual "Festival of the Sea," otherwise known at the "Seafood Fest," was cancelled Saturday morning after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, just before a 5k race was about to start, authorities said.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office confirmed the Seafood Fest cancellation just after the event was supposed to start.

Runners in a charity race in Seaside Park had been scheduled to move by the explosion site at the time of the explosion, which happened at 9:35 a.m. The race had been delayed because of a suspicious backpack, according to authorities.

The FBI, ATF and the State Police Bomb Squad responded to the area, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. The Ocean County Prosecutors Office Arson Unit also was on the scene.

Patch will file updates today if more information is available.