Bomb scare disrupts Pittsburgh Marathon; suspicious device in microwave oven disabled by robot

Pittsburgh Marathon disrupted by bomb scare

PITTSBURGH — Police say a suspected device near the finish line of the Pittsburgh Marathon prompted them to halt the race briefly.

Police add that a bomb squad used a robot to disable the device, and investigators believe it was not an actual explosive.

The device was found in a small microwave oven on the sidewalk after the leaders had finished the course Sunday morning. Police Lt. Kevin Kraus says the surrounding area was evacuated and authorities tried to reroute the race but eventually ended up delaying it in the area for 10 to 12 minutes.

The all-clear was given shortly before 11 a.m. The disruption comes a day after a car-bomb scare in New York emptied Times Square.