Boston bombings lead to boosted security at sporting events

Boston's scheduled NHL and NBA games were called off after the bombings, while beefed-up security ? including bomb-sniffing dogs ? patrolled hockey, basketball, and baseball games around the country.

By Howard Fendrich,?Associated Press / April 15, 2013

Amtrak Explosive Detection K-9 officer Kenneth Wolf and his dog Teddy patrol the station tunnels at Union Station in Los Angeles, Monday, April 15, 2013.

Damian Dovarganes / AP

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A few hours after the Boston Marathon bombings, and more than 1,000 miles away, a police officer with a German shepherd patrolled near an entrance to the baseball stadium where Miami hosted Washington on Monday evening ? an unusual sight at Marlins Park.

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Inside, on the field, two Marlins officials gave a security supervisor a briefing about the ballpark's layout.

"We are taking additional precautions and have intensified our security efforts in and around the ballpark to ensure everyone's safety," Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello said.

The postponement of Monday night's NHL game between the Bruins and Ottawa Senators, and the cancellation of Tuesday's NBA game between the Celtics and Indiana Pacers ? both events to be held in Boston ? were the most tangible reactions by sports officials to the explosions at the marathon finish line that killed at least three people and injured more than 140 others.

A makeup date for Bruins-Senators was not announced; no other events from top professional leagues around the country were immediately called off.

Still, other effects of the explosions could be seen quickly, such as bomb-sniffing dogs sweeping the arena before the doors opened for an NHL game in Nashville between the Predators and Canucks, and armed police officers posted in front of each dugout at the Padres-Dodgers baseball game in Los Angeles.

Fans heading into the NBA game between the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets in New York waited in long lines as arena security used wands to check people and thoroughly searched bags. A short video clip about what happened in Boston aired on the arena's video screen and a moment of silence was held.

"I got a memo ... from one of our security guys. ... 'Hey you know we're a major event in a big building in a big city. So keep your eyes and your ears open. If you see something let us know,'" Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Sh8ssI0hM6c/Boston-bombings-lead-to-boosted-security-at-sporting-events

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