Car bomb found in Times Square

Local or international terrorism?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/02/...ex.html?hpt=T1

Quote:

A T-shirt vendor who noticed smoke coming out of a tinted, dark green sport utility vehicle alerted police to what turned out to be a potential bomb placed in Times Square. “We avoided what could have been a very deadly event,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg early Sunday morning. “It certainly could have exploded and had a pretty big fire and a decent amount of explosive impact.” President Obama, who was updated on the situation late Saturday night, said the federal government was prepared to provide support. The Department of Homeland Security also said it was monitoring developments. Two federal officials said Sunday it was too early to tell whether the incident involved al Qaeda or another international terror group. The national threat level remained at “yellow,” or elevated.

Like most things, if this was from overseas, the device would’ve worked.

So, local.

Propane tanks, fireworks, amateurish wiring … sounds like somebody from Arizona.

I only wish the t-shirt vendor who found it was an “illegal immigrant”.

Quote:

The national threat level remained at “yellow,”

I guess that’s appropriate, as the national mettle level is also currently at “yellow”.

All this monitoring for terrorists while Tony Soprano slinks away again.

Tony’s from Jersey.

Also, the CNN article says that a Vietnam Vet and a guy with a Middle Eastern-sounding name were the first two that spotted the smoke. I smell a wacky buddy comedy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post Tony’s from Jersey. Also, the CNN article says that a Vietnam Vet and a guy with a Middle Eastern-sounding name were the first two that spotted the smoke. I smell a wacky buddy comedy!

Meanwhile, the next day…

*PITTSBURGH — Police say they have found an explosive device near the course of the Pittsburgh Marathon, forcing them to detour the final part of the race.

Police say the device was found in a small microwave oven on the sidewalk after the leaders had finished the course Sunday morning. Several blocks were cordoned off near the original finish line for the marathon and half-marathon.

The bomb squad used a robot to disable the device. The all-clear was given for the area shortly before 11 a.m. About 5,000 people took part in the full marathon.

The disruption comes a day after a car-bomb scare in New York emptied Times Square.*

So, it’s a busy weekend for mad bombers. We should start a betting pool on the identity of the culprits. Jihadists? Texan secessionists? Anarchist unibombers? Aztlan movement radicals reacting to the Arizona legislation? Land shark pissed about the oil spill?

CNN claimed this morning that, due to the NYC bomb being placed next to the Viacom building, police were investigating a South Park link to all this ballyhoo.

Not sure what that has to do with someone overcooking a hot pocket in Pittsburgh, though.

Good on the vendors for being vigilant and getting help.

That bomb does sound local. Hate to say it, but foreign terrorists seem to be pretty efficient with their car bombs.

Associated Press update: SITE is a group of private contractors who monitor the World Wide Web for the Department of Defense. They’re saying that the Taliban in Pakistan have claimed credit for the New York attempt and that it was retaliation for the deaths of its leaders. Baitallah Mehsud was killed last August by a Predator drone somewhere near the Afghanistan border.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyQuinn22 View Post That bomb does sound local. Hate to say it, but foreign terrorists seem to be pretty efficient with their car bombs.

Because they stay in the cars till they blow up.

CNN had investigators going to Penn to see a guy who claimed to get the bomber on tape. He’s white and in his 40’s. I’m thinking Tea Party nut.

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Originally Posted by Anyawatchin Angel View Post He’s white and in his 40’s.

The suspected bomber or the guy with the camera? A stupid question, but no one has been absolutely clear about it.

And for what it’s worth the NYPD chief all but dismissed the Pakistani Taliban claim, saying they’ve made illegitimate claims before.

The bomber was white in his 40’s. With all the cameras in Times Square I find it impossible that they don’t have a pic of this guy.

Does NY have plice cameras all over like Chicago?

There are cameras, but they’re not nearly as widespread (yet) as someplace like London. It’s entirely possible they’ve got the guy on camera and aren’t releasing it because it’s impossible to tell who it is.

Or they want the guy to think he’s safe so he’s easier to nab.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anyawatchin Angel View Post The bomber was white in his 40’s. With all the cameras in Times Square I find it impossible that they don’t have a pic of this guy. Does NY have plice cameras all over like Chicago?

Is it wrong for me to be hopeful (since nobody got hurt) that this is one of the Teabaggers?

And God help us if it’s not. The Tea Baggers will never let us hear the end of it.

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Originally Posted by C.Swicegood View Post Is it wrong for me to be hopeful (since nobody got hurt) that this is one of the Teabaggers?

Why would you?

Oh, right…the whole sweeping generalizations thing.

I personally would be pretty pissed and feel a bit more uneasy if it was one of our fellow Americans. Neither of which are things I tend to be hopeful for.

Sounds like ‘white guys from next door’ again.

Let’s all party like it’s 1995.