NEW YORK—Security is tight as New York City prepares for its annual marathon, set to begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday, one year after record-breaking participation in the 2023 marathon and just two days before Election Day.
Officials expect at least 33,000 participants this year, or possibly more. In preparation, officials have actively ramped up security. On Friday morning, the discovery in Central Park of an object that initially looked suspicious briefly caused a closure of part of the park and raised security concerns over the coming race. But a bomb squad quickly found the device not to be dangerous.
Nonetheless, police will be out in force, and authorities will strictly enforce bag inspections and a prohibition against the deployment of drones, under threat of criminal penalties, in all areas in and around the marathon zone….