BOSTON — After the deadly terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans knew what he had to do. He cancelled his plans to run the Boston Marathon, three years since the attacks on the race, to tend to security duties for the Patriots’ Day event.
“I can’t in my right mind go out and lace up the sneakers and run that day,” says Evans, who has run in 18 Boston Marathons before. “We’re only 3 1/2 weeks away. My priority is here, doing my job and making sure the race goes off without any problems.
Three people were killed and more than 260 were injured on April 15, 2013, when two bombs exploded near the finish line of the marathon. The terrorist attacks on Belgium’s capital prompted Boston authorities to contact the FBI and state and international law enforcement to review threats against the marathon, Evans told The Associated Press.
Evans said he has no information of a specific threat against the marathon, but that he’s worried about copycat attacks.
“You worry about these homegrown terrorists who are in their basement plotting something,” he said. “It’s a constant worry for me.”
While Evans did not get into specifics of the security measures to be used this year, he did say that the same tactics used since the 2013 bombings will be in place. That includes greater use of video surveillance, uniformed and undercover officers on the scene and numerous checkpoints for spectators.
Evans has not run in the marathon since the 2003 attack and knew this year’s decision to run would be a game-time decision. But Tuesday’s attacks troubled him so much that he will keep the sneakers on the shelf for one more year.
