SOUTH PLAINFIELD — "Security concerns" that cancelled the borough's traditional Labor Day parade, 5K race and fireworks were rooted in several, small homemade explosive devices found on a local resident's property, according to multiple reports.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.: Early Monday afternoon, police announced the arrest and charges against borough resident, 55-year-old Thomas Kaiser.

NJ.com cited a senior law enforcement official with the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in a report that a man was detained Monday morning, after police found “over half a dozen” devices on his large property near the community's Labor Day Parade route.

"NJOHSP cannot comment on an active or ongoing investigation. We continue to work with our local, county, State, and federal law enforcement partners," a spokesman for the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness said to NJ 101.5 News in a written response.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Another report, by ABC Eyewitness News, cited police as describing the devices as "firework like devices"

 

 

Gov. Phil Murphy and wife Tammy were scheduled to march in the parade. They canceled their appearance on Monday morning.

TAP into South Plainfield reported a large police presence around the planned start of the 62nd annual parade at the PAL building.

The parade route, which was to run along Maple Avenue from the PAL building to South Plainfield Middle School, was blocked off and there was a police presence in Spring Lake Park, according to TAP.

South Plainfield Mayor Matthew P. Anesh and police chief James Parker did not immediately return messages.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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