Security increased at Marlins game after marathon explosions

Counter-terrorism expert weighs in on response to bombings

MIAMI – In the wake of Monday afternoon's bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the Miami Marlins and other sports teams stepped up security for games and events Monday night. 

Miami-Dade Police issued a statement Monday in response to the bombings. Deputy director Juan Perez told Local 10 the department had increased security measures "in those areas and sites deemed as critical infrastructures and will continue to monitor the situation."

The county is in charge of maintaining security inside of Marlins Park. Anything outside of the ballpark is considered to be the City of Miami's jurisdiction.

On Monday, thousands of people who turned out to the park had to go through a full security sweep, complete with canine officers, before entering the ballpark. Police officers ushered fans into the park, but it's nearly impossible to ensure complete safety with such large-scale events. 

"It's very hard to sanitize any place when the target of selection by the terrorist can be almost anything," counter-terrorism expert Dr. Stephen Sloan told Local 10's Terrell Forney.

Dr. Sloan was just blocks away from the 1993 bombing of the federal center in Oklahoma City. Police departments around the world have used his expertise and writings to curb terrorist acts at places where thousands of people converge at once.

According to his studies, terrorists act in order to make a statement, even if their message is not clear at first. He says while seeing more uniformed officers is a good way to deter their actions, that only does so much. 

"I think its a very good deterrent, the danger on that of course is not to militarize the situation, to have the presence of the police so massive that you think you're going into a war like situation."

According to Dr. Sloan, the answer to staying safe isn't by staying at home. 

"If one gives up and doesn't go to the game... or doesn't go here or go there, they're playing right into what the terrorists want because in essence they're changing their behavior because they're intimidated by the terrorists."