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Rhode Island K-9 Teams To Help At Boston Marathon

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island state police dogs trained to detect explosives will be helping to secure the route for this year's Boston Marathon.

Lt. Col. Michael Winquist says five K-9 teams of one trooper and one dog will travel to Massachusetts for the April 21 race at the request of the Massachusetts State Police.

There, he says, they will be sweeping different areas along the marathon route. They will be working with dog teams and bomb disposal units from other state and federal agencies.

Three people were killed and more than 260 injured during last year's marathon when two bombs exploded near the finish line. The number of police officers patrolling this year's marathon will be doubled to more than 3,500.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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