For those of you that read the running Sunday commentary and the whole microwave/pipe bomb thing that was going on during the Pittsburgh Marathon, we can now state as accepted fact that after detonating the microwave by the police what was found was called by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as "remnants of ravioli". No word on whether Chef Boyardee was seen fleeing the scene.
A white microwave oven that momentarily detoured the Pittsburgh Marathon and drew the full-scale response of a police bomb squad caused a spectacle but wasn't likely an actual explosive, police said Sunday night.
Police were investigating the suspicious contents of the microwave -- which to some officers looked like a pipe bomb -- after a passer-by discovered it around 7:30 a.m.
But by Sunday afternoon, their investigation had turned toward how it wound up on the on the sidewalk on 11th Street between Liberty and Penn avenues -- just a couple blocks from the race's finish line.
"Based on what was seen inside [the microwave] and the preliminary findings of the bomb techs, we don't believe there were any explosive materials," acting police Cmdr. Kevin Kraus said. "We're trying to determine who put it there, when, and if it was a hoax with intent to disrupt the marathon."
Police shut down access to areas bounded by Ninth and 13th streets, the Allegheny River and Liberty Avenue. The last portion of the marathon route was switched to Smallman Street after the leaders crossed the finish line. These steps were taken to "err on the side of caution," police Sgt. James Kohnen said.
The bomb squad X-rayed the microwave and found contents "that were definitely questionable and highly suspicious," Cmdr. Kraus said, though he wouldn't elaborate. The bomb squad used a robot to dismantle the device and render it harmless. A small boom was heard around 10:45 a.m., and remnants of ravioli could be seen near the detonation site.
Cmdr. Kraus would not disclose what was inside of the microwave but said police are still examining it.
Many passers-by seemed more curious than concerned. Others were frustrated that their bus had been re-routed or that officers, volunteers and military personnel temporarily halted them from crossing the street.
As more caution tape was unrolled to barricade pedestrians, rumors began to circulate: the marathon had been canceled, or the microwave contained a pipe bomb.
Foot and vehicle traffic were allowed back in the area around 11 a.m., once the bomb squad determined there was no threat and removed the microwave.
Some runners were in the dark about the threat. "Didn't even know anything about it," said marathon participant Matt Russell, 31, of Dover, Ohio.
The Downtown bomb scare came less than 24 hours after a vehicle containing several explosive devices, including three propane tanks and fireworks, was reported in New York City's Times Square, prompting police to close parts of the area for about 10 hours while authorities investigated.
Pittsburgh police Chief Nathan Harper said at the Sunday briefing that city police took particular care handling the bomb threat in Pittsburgh given the crowds of people gathering for the marathon and what took place Saturday evening in New York City.
Chief Harper said police will review surveillance camera tapes from the area to try to find out who placed the microwave on the sidewalk and when.
An FBI official said the bureau was aware of the incident but the city is handling the investigation.
Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/10123/1055136-53.stm#ixzz0n1hwNRgA
chef boyardee *snicker*
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