A man seen with a backpack screaming “Boston strong” before everyone was cleared from the area near the Boston Marathon finish line. Courtesy: Sarah French

A STUDENT at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 25-year-old Kevin Edson, is facing charges after police detonated two suspicious bags left near the Boston Marathon finish line.

Boston Police Superintendent Randall Halstead Edson told reporters during a press conference this afternoon that Edson would be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court tomorrow morning (Wednesday in the US) on charges of threatening battery, possession of a hoax device, threat to commit a crime, disturbing the peace, disturbing a public assembly, and disorderly conduct.

On his Facebook page Edson describes himself as a performance artist/activist using the name Kayvon Edson and posted a meme featuring one of the Boston bombers, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev just before his alleged stunt.

His timeline has since been inundated with furious comments, including several from fellow Massachusetts College of Art and Design (known locally as MassArt) students calling for his expulsion.

We are prepared to cooperate fully with authorities. — MassArt (@MassArt) April 16, 2014

We are aware of the circumstances that occurred on Boylston St. this evening and are gathering information at this time. — MassArt (@MassArt) April 16, 2014

Police reportedly detonated the bags discovered near the Boston Marathon finish line, shouting “fire in the hole”, with two explosions heard from the scene, local media has reported.

It is presumed the bags were detonated as a precautionary measure, boston.com reported. So far, there is no evidence to indicate it contained explosives and Boston Police revealed a rice cooker was found inside.

Breaking: Bomb Squad Detonates Bag Near Boston Marathon Finish Line http://t.co/rK0bncWwMn pic.twitter.com/J23WDSvha8 — WBZ Boston News (@cbsboston) April 16, 2014

It has since emerged that a second “suspicious” backpack found at the scene belonged to a member of the media.

Witnesses were evacuated from the area after the man dropped a backpack at the finish line and marched up the street screaming “Boston Strong!”.

#BPDPublicSafetyAlert: #BPD confirming a male suspect in custody in connection to the unattended backpacks found at the Finish Line. — Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) April 16, 2014

Local TV reporter Sarah French posted this mobile phone video of the suspect scampering up the street.

RT @RyanSchulteis: They've brought in a robot now to take a closer look pic.twitter.com/ZUJczb3OKE — Sarah French (@SarahSFrench) April 16, 2014

News_Module: Black veil

The incident comes one year after three people were killed and 264 injured after bombs in backpacks exploded near the finish line — the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

RT @RyanSchulteis: Bomb squad now on scene pic.twitter.com/m61zj3SIJX — Sarah French (@SarahSFrench) April 15, 2014

Police have bagged the suspicious shoes left in Copley Sq. as evidence. #wcvb pic.twitter.com/eNiR3hXug0 — Mary Saladna (@MaryWCVB) April 15, 2014

Breaking: Area near Boston Marathon Finish Line evacuated after backpack left unattended http://t.co/eAsZImNeIf pic.twitter.com/M6sfh62FYK — WBZ Boston News (@cbsboston) April 15, 2014

Police: shoes left in Copley Sq. may belong to the shoeless man who just dropped off a backpack @ Finish Line #wcvb pic.twitter.com/wsrMZPnVhs — Mary Saladna (@MaryWCVB) April 15, 2014

This year, no bags or backpacks were allowed near the start or finish line and “bandits” — unregistered runners — were also banned as part of increased security measures, The Washington Post reported earlier this year.

THEN AND NOW: The Boston Marathon bombing one year on

News_Image_File: A crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon commemorating the one-year anniversary at the weekend. Picture: APBags and backpacks were prohibited along the course, the Boston Athletic Association announced.

The Association provided clear plastic bags in which runners could check their belongings. Runners could wear bumbags or fuel belts, but there were restrictions on costumes that some like to wear.

Faces were not allowed to be covered and no bulky clothes were permitted. Strollers were also banned from the starting or finish lines.

More than 3500 police officers were to patrol this year’s Boston Marathon, more than double the number deployed last year. Increased security measures included the presence of undercover officers.

News_Image_File: Scenes of devastation at last year’s Boston Marathon, after two backpacks blew up near the finish line. Picture: AP