This happened to a large organized ride I was on, too.
Yup, it's an attack. Screws, push-pins, and carpet tacks don't get into the bike lane by themselves.
Thank you for reporting it, hopefully it will get cleaned up soon. (they can also be a hazard for pedestrians and cars and drivers who park or make turns across the scattered sharps; but folks who put out sharps don't think about that...)
Don't let them succeed in making you stop riding!
"If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson