Blasts don’t deter NJ residents, sports fans – USA TODAY
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Alexa Fiumarelli, 21 of Woodland Park, said she was nervous about going to MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
On Saturday night she was in Hoboken with her brother when she heard a loud boom coming from across the Hudson River.
“It sounded like thunder, honestly,” Fiumarelli said. “We felt it and heard it. We didn’t know what it was at first.”
The siblings’ first instinct was to check the skyline, she said, but they soon found out an improvised explosive device had gone off in the Chelsea area of Manhattan injuring 29 people.
After finding out the details of the attack in Manhattan — and another in Seaside Park — Fiumarelli said she wasn’t sure she would attend the New York Giants’ home opener at the East Rutherford stadium. But a friend called her early Sunday morning and explained that security was tight at MetLife Stadium, and that persuaded her to attend.
“The first thing I said was ‘I’m afraid to go to the game,’” she said, tailgating outside of the stadium on Sunday afternoon. “And I wouldn’t say I feel totally safe, you never really do anymore, but you can’t live your life in hiding.”
The shock of two explosions going off within hours of each other in Seaside Park and Manhattan on Saturday didn’t stop Fiumarelli and thousands of other North Jersey residents from going about their lives on Sunday.
At a popular marathon in Jersey City, a walk to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer and in the parking lots outside of MetLife Stadium, North Jersey residents said the fear of terrorism wasn’t enough to keep them from doing things they enjoy.
“It’s easy to stay at home and be afraid,” said Adriana Glickman, 45 of North Plainfield, as she prepared to head into the stadium. “Scary things have happened in this part of the country over the past 25 years or so, but you can’t change the way you live. Why should we change our life?”
All the frenzy wasn’t enough to keep a record number of runners from attending the Newport Half Marathon in downtown Jersey City on Sunday morning.
Despite a bomb detonating at a race only an hour-and-a-half away, approximately 3,500 people — a record for the annual race, organizers said — packed the streets around the Newport section of the city as they prepared for the race.
Many of the runners said that the recent bombings had crossed their mind, but that had not kept them from lacing up their sneakers and competing in the popular race.
“Running conquers all,” said Iris Saar, 40, of Glen Rock. “I believe we can beat this — especially through community events like this.”
While racers chatted with one another, drank water or stretched – an overwhelming police presence was woven throughout the Newport neighborhood.
Members of the Jersey City Police Department strolled up and down Washington Boulevard and walked between groups of runners before the event.
Several large bomb squad trucks were stationed near the race’s starting point and the department had set up a small surveillance tower near the race’s registration tents.
Deputy Chief Daniel Sollitti said that the department had added extra precautions in the wake of the explosions in Seaside Park and Manhattan and that there were both uniformed and plainclothes officers working at the race.
“Security is always a factor in planning this event,” Sollitti said.
Melike Ayan, 45, of Clifton, said she was nervous about attending the race on Sunday morning, but was determined to run with her group: the Clifton Road Runners.
“You look at the people who showed up,” Ayan said, referencing the thousands of people getting ready for the beginning of the race. “It’s nice to see. We had to do this.”
At MetLife Stadium many Giants fans said they felt similarly to the runners in Jersey City.
As they tailgated in the parking lots that surround the stadium, many fans said the hypothetical threat of violence was not going to stop them from barbecuing, drinking various beverages, laughing with friends or spending a few hours tossing a football back and forth.
“Because of where we live we will always be a target,” said Jennifer O’Hara-Lees, 39, of Hoboken. “Not coming to the game today? It never crossed my mind.”
In the midst of grill smoke and footballs flinging across the parking lots the New Jersey State Police was making its presence known.
Helicopters circled the stadium and police cars were parked at various points around the stadium and parking lot. Officers stood near the entrances of the stadium, watching over the metal detectors and some officers on bikes snaked their way through the parking lots.
In a statement, the State Police said it was working with various law enforcement agencies in the region and the stadium’s security was “robust, comprehensive, and flexible” in light of the recent bombings.
In Paramus, the 10th annual Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk at Bergen Community College drew “close to 1,000 people,” said Jeanne Weber, a borough councilwoman who organizes the event each year.
Weber said the group had raised about $155,000 on Sunday.
“There was no talk of possible terrorist activity — thank God,” Weber said. “It was a beautiful day and everyone was in high spirits.”
Follow Andrew Wyrich on Twitter: @AndrewWyrich
Cell phone video shows a man helping several women who were injured in Saturday night’s bombing in New York. (Sept. 18)
AP
Surveillance video provided to the Associated Press by Orangetheory Fitness Chelsea, showed people running and debris flying moments after an explosion was set off. (Sept. 18)
AP
New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio says an explosion that rocked a Manhattan neighborhood Saturday night was caused by a bomb. But de Blasio said Sunday that authorities don’t yet know who made it, who set it off or the motivation behind it. (Sept. 18)
AP
A powerful blast from an explosive device injured at least 29 people in New York City’s popular Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday night.
USA TODAY NETWORK
Surveillance cameras captured the NYC Chelsea explosion.
USA TODAY
A deliberate explosion rocked one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of New York on Saturday night, injuring 29 people, one seriously, a week after America’s financial capital marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Video provided by AFP
Newslook
Donald Trump appeared to pre-empt New York City officials when he declared Saturday evening that a “bomb went off” in New York City before officials had released details. (Sept. 18)
AP
RAW: Witness assists the injured at scene of a powerful explosion from a explosive device the injured at least 29 people in New York’s popular Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday. Video courtesy of Ramón Lopez.
Ramón Lopez / NorthJersey.com
New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio says a blast in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, which left 29 people injured, was ‘intentional’ but that there was no evidence of a terror connection.
Video provided by AFP
Newslook
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo arrived at the scene of an explosion that rocked a crowded Manhattan neighborhood and injured 29 people the night before. (Sept. 18)
AP
Police and firefighters are at the scene of a possible explosion in New York City, and authorities say at least 25 people suffered minor injuries. (Sept. 17)
AP
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