tourists suck but come on
New York police have defused a bomb in Times Square, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US.Officers found an "amateurish" but potentially powerful bomb in a smoking vehicle at around 6.30pm (11.30pm GMT) last night.
Thousands of tourists were evacuated from the square and the surrounding streets as officers moved in to dismantle the device.
"We avoided what could have been a very deadly event," New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said. "It certainly could have exploded and had a pretty big fire and a decent amount of explosive impact."
Police removed three propane tanks, consumer-grade fireworks, two full 19-litre petrol containers, and two clocks with batteries, electrical wire and other components, police commissioner Raymond Kelly said this morning.
Bloomberg called the explosive device "amateurish", while Kelly said the consumer-grade fireworks could have caused huge damage on a block of Broadway theatres and restaurants packed with tourists. "I think the intent was to cause a significant ball of fire," Kelly said.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage. There are no immediate suspects or motive.
A white robotic police arm broke windows of the dark green Nissan Pathfinder to remove any explosive materials after a T-shirt vendor alerted police to billowing smoke coming from the back of the vehicle.
Heavily armed police and emergency vehicles shut down the streets, teeming with taxis and theatergoers on one of the first warm days of the year.
Bloomberg said the vehicle's Connecticut license plate was not registered to the Nissan, and its owner had sent the plate to be scrapped.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/02/times-square-bomb-scare
5/3/2010 5:50 AM