NYC’s Times Square evacuated over vehicle fire

[liberal N proud]

Source: Reuters via MSNBC

NEW YORK - Police evacuated New York's Times Square Saturday night after a dark-colored sports utility vehicle was found to be smoking and a small "flash" was observed by firefighters.

Officers at the scene said the evacuation order stemmed from an "emergency investigation" and dozens of officers blocked access to the busy central Manhattan square, which is popular with tourists and theater-goers.

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said a vehicle had been left in Times Square, with smoke seen coming from it.

There was an unconfirmed report that someone was seen running from the car, Browne said. A bomb squad responded and a small fire was extinguished, he said.

"We're just trying to determine if it was anything other than a car fire," said Browne. "We don't know yet if it's anything more than that."



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36892505/ns/us_news-security/

[jefferson_dem]

1. Suspected Bomb Prompts Clearing of Times Square (NYT)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/nyregion/02timessquare.html

[UndertheOcean]

2. Fuck , it might be an actual bomb (according to various sources) , this might not be a false alarm.

:( :( :(

[aquart]

6. So? We handled it, whatever it was.

Here's the thing about terrorism: if you live through it, you keep on living. The world doesn't become new and strange.

[UndertheOcean]

9. Yes , but think of how easily another outcome could have happened. That is the scary part.

and the device failed on its own it seems (although details are still scant ). This could have been a real catastrophe.

The world does not need another Terrorist attack on American soil right now , that will fuel the country into a more reactionary and more conservative direction.

[Rex]

3. Wow, what is THIS all about!? Listening to msnbc and it is obvious

they have nothing but speculation to go on. The newhead said maybe a large bomb is in the SUV.

[Shanti Mama]

4. This is a front page story on the Al Jazeera English website.

But NOTHING on cnn.com.

NYC's Times Square evacuated
Police cleared streets around Times Square following reports of a "suspicious" vehicle

Streets around New York's Times Square have been cordoned off by police following what officials said was a "suspicious" vehicle abandoned outside a busy theatre.

Reuters news agency has quoted city fire department officials as saying explosives were found in the car, as well as propane gas tanks, and evidence of charred wires.

The busy square in the heart of Manhattan was evacuated on Saturday evening after a dark coloured sports utility vehicles was found to be smoking and a small "flash" was observed by firefighters.

Unconfirmed reports said someone had been seen running from the car.

"We're just trying to determine if it was anything other than a car fire," said Pual Browne, a New York Police Department spokesman.

"We don't know yet if it's anything more than that."

The vehicle SUV was parked close to a theatre on 45th Street showing a production of The Lion King.

More soon…

[UndertheOcean]

5. yup , CNN is totally silent (the site , no TV here) , weird. n/t

[aquart]

8. Local NBC covered it. Caught the tail end before SNL.

"Explosive device found" I think it said.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

7. 3 propane tanks, gasoline, black powder & a "timing device" inside an SUV

Plates don't match. Heard on M$NBC just now.

[Robb]

10. Talk about putting the "I" in IED. nt

[UndertheOcean]

11. Hmm, very .... low tech . good news , probably some teabag goon (or solitary religious wackoo ) n/t

[Robb]

12. NY police confirm car bomb

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0214043420100502?type=marketsNews

[The Magistrate]

13. NYC Mayor: Vehicle Contained Explosive Device

Source: A.P. via Yahoo News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100502/ap_on_re_us/us_times_square_car_smoke

NEW YORK – New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says a suspicious vehicle in Times Square "did indeed contain an explosive device."
Police found the device in the smoking Nissan Pathfinder on Saturday evening. They then cleared the streets of tourists and dismantled it.

The mayor spoke at a news conference early Sunday along with Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Kelly says the car contained three propane tanks, consumer-grade fireworks, two filled 5-gallon gasoline containers, and two clocks with batteries, electrical wire and other components. He says a black metal box resembling a gun locker was also recovered.

Authorities say a Connecticut license plate on the vehicle did not match up. Police are looking for additional surveillance video.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100502/ap_on_re_us/us_times_square_car_smoke