Rio 2016 Olympics: Bomb scare at cycling road race finish line
A bomb squad has blown up an unattended bag at the finish line of the men’s Olympic cycling road race in a controlled explosion. The suspicious package was found near the Copacabana beach – not far from the finish line at Flamengo Park in Rio de Janeiro.
Fans watching the race were startled when they heard a loud noise close to the waterfront. A bomb disposal unit was seen near the finish line, as were half a dozen military police officers. The area has been cordoned off.
One cycling fan said: ‘I thought it was a gun shot at first. Everyone stood up and looked a bit concerned but then sat back down so I presumed it was a firework.’
The loud blast could be heard on the BBC’s coverage of the race, with the shocked commentators stopping as the explosion rang out.
