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Rio Olympics 2016: Bag blown up at finish line of cycling race

Samantha Lane

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's bomb squad executed a controlled explosion of a suspicious package near the finish line of the men's cycling road race on day one of competition in Rio, but the action, while alarming for observers, was described as precautionary.

A loud explosion occurred around 1.30pm on Saturday, local time, and could not be missed from the press centre atop Forte de Copacabana, where the 237.5-kilometre cycling event finished later in the afternoon.

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Suspicious bag blown up at Rio Olympics

Brazil's bomb squad blew up an unattended bag found behind the grandstands along Copacabana Beach in a controlled explosion on Saturday.

Television viewers instantly commented online about a blast that was clearly audible in the broadcast of the picturesque event. BBC commentators paused when the sound rang out during their live coverage of the race, unsure about what was happening. 

The riders were still more than 70 kilometres away at the time, and the race that commenced with 144 starters including Tour de France champion Chris Froome, continued to schedule.

Road race
Members of the Brazillian bomb squad carry out a controlled explosion of a bag near the finish line of the Men's Road Race. Photo: Getty Images

Australian cyclists Simon Clarke and Scott Bowden were unaware of the explosion until being informed of it by reporters after their race at the Flamengo Park on the boardwalk of iconic Copacabana beach, which is also hosting the beach volleyball.

Members of Australia's cycling support team on the ground at the race were instantly across the explosion as news of gunfire at the equestrian circulated between Australian Olympic Committee officials.

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An Olympics spokesman assigned to the road cycling event said the blast was a controlled explosion of an unattended backpack. 

"The security services found a suspicious package close to the cycle road race finish line in Copacabana and as a precaution decided to perform a controlled explosion," he said.

Members of Brazilian bomb squad pack their gear after detonating a suspicious package near the men's cycling road race ...
Members of Brazilian bomb squad pack their gear after detonating a suspicious package near the men's cycling road race final in Copacabana. Photo: AP

The bag was found behind the grandstands at the end of the cycling road race along Copacabana Beach, where spectators were gathered behind traditional race barricades.

There were no signs of panic or injuries when the blast occurred, witnesses said.

Minutes after the explosion, a number of journalists in Rio de Janeiro took to Twitter to confirm that the bang was caused by a controlled explosion carried out by the Brazilian anti-bomb squad.

In recent days, bomb squad members have detonated a number of unattended bags in controlled explosions in Rio.

Earlier in an eventful day,  a bullet was fired into a press conference room at the equestrian centre for the Olympics, landing inside the building.

No one was hurt but a single bullet landed on the floor of the media centre in Deodoro.

NZOC communications manager Ashley Abbott said members of the New Zealand team at the venue were being contacted to inform them of the incident.

Abbott said media had been advised by a police officer assigned to the team to gather in a workroom to await further advice.

Equestrian magazine Horse & Hound posted a picture online of the bullet it reported seeing fly into the press centre. The bullet landed near a British photographer, who ran to the far end of the room to report the incident, the magazine reported.

The equestrian venue is adjacent to a military base, with some speculating that the bullet could have been accidentally fired in the wrong direction.

A small hole could be seen in the roof of the tent where the bullet came through.

Anja Krabbe, the equestrian venue manager, said security officials had launched an investigation.

"Security is investigating that incident and will make a statement later," Ms Krabbe said, adding she was not in the tent where journalists reported hearing an object tear through the plastic.

Eventers Shane Rose, Chris Burton, Sam Griffiths and Stuart Tinney were competing at the venue on Saturday.

With Megan Levy and Reuters 

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