NEW YORK, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Boston Marathon bombings is leading to tighter security at the sport events to be held this weekend in New York City, according to organizers on Friday.
The Five Boro Bike Tour and the Long Island Marathon will both take place on Sunday. In an effort to keep participants and spectators safe, organizers of each event have stepped up their security measures.
Backpacks, panniers and hydration packs will not be permitted at the Five Boro Bike Tour and restricted items will be confiscated and not returned, according to Bike New York, organizer of the event.
In addition to the increased security, officials said Sunday's bike tour will be dedicated to Boston and will raise money to those affected by the bombings.
At the Long Island Marathon in Uniondale, there will also be multiple checkpoints, bomb-sniffing dogs and radiation detectors, and only clear bags that are distributed by the Long Island Marathon will be permitted in the runner baggage check, according to the race's website.
Like the Five Boro Bike Tour, marathon runners and Long Island officials will pay tribute to the victims of the Boston bombings at the start of the race.
The New Jersey Marathon, to be held on Sunday, will also tighten its security measures, as runners will only be allowed to have one clear plastic bag issued by the marathon and will be able to bring a fanny pack, a hydration belt or a water bottle to be used during the race.
Twin explosions occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, killing three people and wounding over 200 others.
The FBI had identified two brothers, 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev and 19-year-old Dzhokar Tsarnaev, as suspects behind the bombing, disclosing that they had intended to come to New York to detonate bombs at Times Square afterwards.
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