Police discover 'pipe bomb-like' devices near New Jersey Labor Day parade route

Police canceled the parade out of caution.

(Image credit: iStock)

published 2 September 2019

Police in South Plainfield, New Jersey, discovered "pipe bomb-like" explosives on Monday near a Labor Day parade route that was due to be attended by Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) and his wife. More than half a dozen of the devices were found on a wooded property near the route, NJ.com reports.

While the parade and governor were not under direct threat, police canceled the celebration "out of an abundance of caution." A suspect was arrested in connection to the construction of the devices, and was described as a "'rogue individual' in his 50s who liked explosives" by NJ.com and police. The devices were reportedly not powerful enough to have killed anyone had they been detonated.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.