Car Bomb found in Times Square

[Guest American Woman]

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." link

Good thing the vendor had the presence of mind to alert the police. No one has claimed responsibility, so it's not known if it was al Qaeda, but it sounds as there wasn't anything amateurish about it. I hate to think what would have happened has the bomb gone off. Hopefully cameras at the scene will give the police something to go on.

[Smallc]

but it sounds as there wasn't anything amateurish about it.

That's exactly what it sounds like now that the news cycle has updated:

While Bloomberg described the bomb as "amateurish," Kelly said it could have caused considerable damage despite being made of consumer-grade fireworks.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100502/bomb-times-square-100502/20100502?hub=TopStoriesV2

[Guest American Woman]

I imagine we'll be getting all kinds of 'updates' on this before the facts are known. The original report said there was nothing amateurish about the wiring.

This is the latest I've seen:

Police in New York are investigating whether a car bomb in Times Square was targeted on the makers of South Park over a controversial depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

The device, which failed to detonate, was left near the offices of Viacom, which owns the irreverent cartoon series.

link

Interesting possibility.

Also: Detectives are also understood to be investigating striking similarities between the New York bomb and two car bombs planted by Islamic terrorists outside the Tiger Tiger nightclub in London in 2007.

[Smallc]

Well, I wass hoping it was amateur.....I'm still hoping that.

[JerrySeinfeld]

Gee. Yet another example of anti Islamic activity.

[sharkman]

I'm really glad it didn't detonate. It was observed by a T shirt vendor, eh? Man, does everyone have to keep their eyes peeled for these idiots?

[Guest American Woman]

I'm really glad it didn't detonate. It was observed by a T shirt vendor, eh? Man, does everyone have to keep their eyes peeled for these idiots?

Considering past history, it is scary to think of what may have happened had it detonated.

[sharkman]

This is the 3 unsuccessful attempt at detonating a terrorist bomb. Who is protecting you? They're doing a pretty good job.

[Sir Bandelot]

Gee. Yet another example of anti Islamic activity.

It might be, but we don't yet know who was behind this.

[Sir Bandelot]

Well, I wass hoping it was amateur.....I'm still hoping that.

Yet it appears that it would still have killed people if it went off.

Seems peculiar that someone went and set up such a car bomb, using firecrackers and gasoline cans. That doesn't sound like the work of a "professional". Generally one would expect that if someone was going to go this far, attempt to kill innocent people and end up going to prison for a long time, maybe for life, they would devise a more lethal bomb. Sounds like the work of a kook to me.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Sir Bandelot

[bush_cheney2004]

Car Bomb? No problem....the NYPD Bomb Squad does these routinely...the unit is over 100 years old!

http://www.policeone.com/SWAT/articles/72782-NYPD-Celebrates-Bomb-Squads-100th-Anniversary/

[Guest American Woman]

The Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility for the car bomb for revenge for the death of its leader and top al Qaeda in Iraq. I suppose it could be true, but then again, they could just be jumping on this incident as a chance to make it look as if they are more of a threat here in the States than they actually are. From what I've read, though, the bomb, amateur though it was, was very similar to other terrorist bomb attempts. A video of the claim was found online.

link

At any rate, it is very fortunate that it failed to detonate.

[JerrySeinfeld]

As per usual - just like the Fort Hood Massacre, the media and law enforcement are assuring us it's not terrorism.

Yea. I think there is already a thread on this topic:

Hint - Viacom and Southpark are located in the area.

[Guest American Woman]

As per usual - just like the Fort Hood Massacre, the media and law enforcement are assuring us it's not terrorism.

That's not what I'm reading.

Officials agree the incident is a form of terrorism.

link

[sharkman]

Anybody hear what the Obama administration is calling it? Does anybody deny this is an attempt to get back at south park?

[punked]

Anybody hear what the Obama administration is calling it? Does anybody deny this is an attempt to get back at south park?

Or that someone wanted it to look that way. I think we will get the full story in the next few days for sure.

[bush_cheney2004]

Or that someone wanted it to look that way. I think we will get the full story in the next few days for sure.

Ya think? That will give plenty of time to figure out how to blame it on George Bush!

[punked]

Ya think? That will give plenty of time to figure out how to blame it on George Bush!

I was going to go with old throw back of Jimmy Carter this time but figured you would see right through that one.

[bush_cheney2004]

I was going to go with old throw back of Jimmy Carter this time but figured you would see right through that one.

OK....we are just waiting for the big one to blame Obama for lax security! Maybe some Tea Party types just want to swing the election in November. Half-ass attempts or decoys like this are more nerve wracking than one of the real thing.

[CANADIEN]

Anybody hear what the Obama administration is calling it? Does anybody deny this is an attempt to get back at south park?

Last time I checked, the police was still looking for suspects, and was saying they did not have any proof pointing to any individual or group of individuals.

There is indeed is a possibility that the responsibles are Muslim extremists wanting to pay the makers of South Park back. But saying there is no proof is not the same as denying that's what happen.

Unless some have actual proof, in which case they should contact the authorities and divulge their proof to them.

[Michael Hardner]

Could be anything. It doesn't hurt to wait a few days to find out.

[BubberMiley]

Half-ass attempts or decoys like this are more nerve wracking than one of the real thing.

That's something that could only be said by someone who has never come remotely close to experiencing the real thing.

[bush_cheney2004]

That's something that could only be said by someone who has never come remotely close to experiencing the real thing.

I have personally developed and placed decoy devices for nuclear weapons security training. It is a tactic that we trained for in the US Navy. We used flashbulbs and flashbars to indicate that the device's tamper trigger had been tripped, meaning that the team had failed the test.

I welcome the knowledge from your in depth experience, son.

Edited May 3, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[BubberMiley]

I have personally developed and placed decoy devices for nuclear weapons security training.

Your anonymous credentials impress me, but they're nothing compared to me mums'. Besides, that doesn't mean you have a clue what a carbomb aftermath looks like. In fact, it would kind of prove you don't.

Edited May 3, 2010 by BubberMiley

[August1991]

Years ago, in Beirut, I asked a woman how she lived with a civil war and all these rumours.

She answered, "You Canadians know about snowstorms. You listen to the radio and you live with them. In Lebanon, the civil war is the same. On some days, we simply didn't go out. On other days, we chose a different route."

---

I fear that we in the West are about to live in a world that Israelis and Beirutis know only too well.

Edited May 3, 2010 by August1991