{"id":19272,"date":"2013-04-17T05:20:56","date_gmt":"2013-04-17T03:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/london-marathon-reviews-security-after-boston-bombings\/"},"modified":"2013-04-17T05:20:56","modified_gmt":"2013-04-17T03:20:56","slug":"london-marathon-reviews-security-after-boston-bombings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/london-marathon-reviews-security-after-boston-bombings\/","title":{"rendered":"London Marathon reviews security after Boston bombings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Security for this Sunday\u2019s London Marathon will be reviewed after two fatal explosions hit the Boston Marathon in the United States, British police have said.<\/p>\n

At least three people were killed and more than 100 injured by the blasts near the finish of Monday\u2019s US event.<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Police said a security plan was in place for London\u2019s race but \u201cwe will be reviewing this\u201d.<\/p>\n

London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said organisers would \u201cdefinitely not be cancelling\u201d the event.<\/p>\n

Organisers of the London Marathon moved quickly to announce a full review of security following the tragic events in Boston.<\/p>\n

But chief executive Bitel insisted there was \u201cabsolutely no chance\u201d that this year\u2019s marathon would be cancelled.<\/p>\n

While that comment, delivered on BBC Radio 5 Live just a couple of hours after news broke of the two simultaneous explosions, may have felt a bit knee jerk the defiant sentiment was right.<\/p>\n

A total of 36 000 runners including the double Olympic champion Mo Farah are due to take part in the race from Greenwich Park to the Mall.<\/p>\n

But, as with so many big city marathons, London\u2019s is a joyous celebration of all talents, not just the elite. This is what makes it one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar.<\/p>\n

The peaceful triumph of last summer\u2019s Olympic Games in London had reduced security concerns around this year\u2019s event. But protecting a 26-mile course which is completely open to hundreds of thousands of spectators is always a major challenge for the Metropolitan Police and organisers.<\/p>\n

The dreadful and terrifying images emerging from America overnight have ensured that the question of terrorism will now hang heavy over Sunday\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

What happened in Boston provides another chilling reminder of how vulnerable sport can be. \u2013 BBC<\/a><\/p>\n

Related posts across the web<\/h3>\n