BOSTON (AP) — Police have stepped up patrols near the Boston Marathon finish line, a day after a masked man walked in the street with a rice cooker in his backpack.
The man was arrested just hours after the city marked yesterday’s anniversary of last year’s deadly bombing.
Wednesday, Kayvon Edson was in court, arraigned on charges including possession of a hoax device. A judge ordered him to be evaluated at a state psychiatric hospital. According to a police report that was read in court, Edson said the cooker was “symbolism,” and added, “The performance got the best of me.” His mother says Edson has battled bipolar disorder for many years, and that his mental state has deteriorated.
Authorities don’t consider the episode to be a security breach. And they’re expressing confidence in the heightened security measures for Monday’s marathon — while acknowledging the challenge of protecting an estimated one million spectators and 36,000 runners across the 26.2-mile course in eight communities.
Security plans include thousands of uniformed police, hundreds of plainclothes officers and about 100 strategically-positioned video cameras that will monitor the crowds.
Police are strongly discouraging spectators from bringing backpacks.
