Boston bomb hoax suspect questioned by police

Controlled explosions carried out on suspicious devices found near marathon finish line

A bag sits on the road near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The bag was later detonated by the bomb squad after inspection. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
A bag sits on the road near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The bag was later detonated by the bomb squad after inspection. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

A man has been arrested by police in Boston after a backpack was left close to the finish line of the Boston Marathon route, a year after three people died in a double bomb attack.

Two bags were left near the finish line and two controlled explosions were carried out. One of the bags contained a rice cooker stuffed with confetti and the second bag contained photo equipment, sources said.

Witnesses reported seeing a barefoot man wearing a black hat and black veil and carrying a backpack.

A member of the police bomb squad  walks away from a bag left on the road near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
A member of the police bomb squad walks away from a bag left on the road near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

The scare happened during the one year anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

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Boston police reported last night that two backpacks were found near the race’s finish line and were being inspected by the bomb squad. A 25-year-old man was taken into custody.

Agencies