Car bomb found in Times Square: Update - Suspect arrested!!!

[Jennasis]

Not true- I know of 2 instances:

1. A house with a propane tank blew up and killed the occupants. The tank did blow up. These were relatives of my housekeeper.

I am going on the assumption that the propane tank in the car was the kind used in BBQ grills, not the large ones used to heat homes.

2. Last year, my friend, Jane, went into her shed. As she turned on the light, a spark-just the spark from turning on the light cause a propane tank to blow. She received 3rd degree burns on her legs and 2nd degree burns over much of the rest of her body. She pulled through after months of tortuous physical therapy and debridement.

Sounds like the tank was leaking and she ignited the propane in the air.

An FBI expert was on CNN and said, yes, the gas plus the propane would start an explosion. Not enough to take out a building, like on 9/11, but enough to knock out the glass on the first 2 floors of many storefronts.

Plus, most of the signs in Times Square are all neon. Sorry, I don't hold much faith in Mythbusters and their few experiments trying to prove or disprove something. Tell them to try standing on the curb, next to an exploding car on.

I said the tanks could blow if the safety valves were disabled. Maybe they were. Gasoline is highly combustible and if their were a blasting cap or other explosive device attached to the propane tanks, that would be very bad. But just starting a gasoline fire and tossing in some fireworks and a propane tank will not result in a big explosion. A big fireball, absolutely.

See bolded.

All that can be done now is to remain on heightened alert. How great is it that even when our "guard was down", they couldn't get the draw on us. A street vendor saved the day. What chance will they have now that everyone is paying attention?

 

[momof1princess]

how terrifying! our best friends are on their way home from NYC-they've been there for the past 3 days with the high school band for a performance and sight-seeing. i'm so glad no one was hurt and thank goodness for that quick-thinking vendor!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

This is so horrible. I am surprised though, that someone can park there care in Time's square. Isn't it nearly impossible to find a parking spot in New York? How did they find a spot, during a busy time frame?

 

[Geoff_M]

Plus, most of the signs in Times Square are all neon. Sorry, I don't hold much faith in Mythbusters and their few experiments trying to prove or disprove something. Tell them to try standing on the curb, next to an exploding car on.

I saw most of the episode in question, and I think the Mythbusters were addressing another issue. They were looking at if a propane tank can explode if heated by exposure to a flame. What they found was that with modern tanks a mandated pressure pop-off valve would open and vent gas before the internal pressure would reach the rupture point. You'd get a fireball, but not a "BOOM!!!". They found that the only way for something like a tank being set in a campfire to explode would require the disabling of the pressure release valve. However, that's a totally different scenario than what would happen if an external explosive would be set off that would in turn rupture the tank... that indeed would create a "bomb". However, that's not what the Mythbusters were looking at.

As for the Taliban taking credit for this "car bomb", from the description of the amateurish nature of it, I'm not sure that'd be a good thing. That's kind of like taking credit for the "underwear" bomber even though by all descriptions the dude was a poorly trained idiot.

 

[Jennasis]

I saw most of the episode in question, and I think the Mythbusters were addressing another issue. They were looking at if a propane tank can explode if heated by exposure to a flame. What they found was that with modern tanks a mandated pressure pop-off valve would open and vent gas before the internal pressure would reach the rupture point. You'd get a fireball, but not a "BOOM!!!". They found that the only way for something like a tank being set in a campfire to explode would require the disabling of the pressure release valve. However, that's a totally different scenario than what would happen if an external explosive would be set off that would in turn rupture the tank... that indeed would create a "bomb". However, that's not what the Mythbusters were looking at.

As for the Taliban taking credit for this "car bomb", from the description of the amateurish nature of it, I'm not sure that'd be a good thing. That's kind of like taking credit for the "underwear" bomber even though by all descriptions the dude was a poorly trained idiot.

See...now why couldn't I just say that? Thanks Geoff! That's what I was saying.

 

[Imzadi]

This is so horrible. I am surprised though, that someone can park there care in Time's square. Isn't it nearly impossible to find a parking spot in New York? How did they find a spot, during a busy time frame?

He didn't find a spot. He just parked along the curb, left the engine running with his hazard lights on and abandoned the car.

There is limited parking at certain times, but usually for commercial vehicles needing to drop off items to stores nearby. I don't think 6:30 is a normal time for vehicles to be allowed to park there, as it was Saturday night, and right before the theatres open.

This SUV didn't fit either of the criteria which is what made it suspicious, (along with the smoke coming out.)

The vendor must have worked that corner for a very long time and gotten used to what is "normal" activity for what goes on there.

There have been times I've been walking and I will spot a suspicious backpack or package. I don't go looking for them, but my subconscious will recognize it as suspicious and I do a double take. Like, it's not normal garbage at the curb. I will stop, and have always been able to track it to a street vendor or person handing out flyers nearby, who doesn't want to be encumbered by carrying his bag, but puts it off to the side, out of the way, so no one trips over it.


Also, as for the SUV at the curb. One time, a friend & I were in an unmarked, commercial van. We had to pick up friends at a famous landmark here. We hopped out of the van, in a "No Standing" zone, and waited at the curb so our friends could spot us. Our friends finally showed up. We got to chatting off on the side, instead of getting right in the van. In the incredibly short time we were there , two police officers showed up with a bomb sniffing dog, to check out the van at the curb. We had to prove it was our van & why we were there. When something unusual happens, it does get noticed.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

This is very scary. My son was in New York at the end of March, staying at the Comfort Inn in Times Square. I am so glad that no one was hurt, especially the bomb squad.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I read a blurb somewhere that the authorities are investigating a possible retaliation to the recent South Park episode that was in the news (offensive) and the car bomb. There was a website that claims that the two producers will end up like Theo Van Gogh, murdered for a film he made about Muslim women. The office for South Park was not very far from the car bomb.

It's an interesting development.

I found the link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-bomb-police-investigate-South-Park-link.html

 

[Jennasis]

I read a blurb somewhere that the authorities are investigating a possible retaliation to the recent South Park episode that was in the news (offensive) and the car bomb. There was a website that claims that the two producers will end up like Theo Van Gogh, murdered for a film he made about Muslim women. The office for South Park was not very far from the car bomb.

It's an interesting development.

I found the link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-bomb-police-investigate-South-Park-link.html

Interestingly...the cartoon version of Muhammed has appeared in South PArks opening credits for a VERY long time. Well before the much publicized episode a few weeks ago.

 

[MizTink]

Blame South Park????

 

[Jennasis]

Blame South Park????

Blame CANADA!



Also, the South Park studios are in Culver City, California.

Comedy Central, however is in NY.





Most importantly...SUSPECT NOW IN CUSTODY! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100504/ap_on_re_us/us_times_square_car_bomb

 

[Missy1961]

Great police work--and FBI work.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Blame South Park????

You are amused that the news outlets have been reporting the possible link for days? Okay.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

You are amused that the news outlets have been reporting the possible link for days? Okay.

I think she's amused at how utterly stupid the whole idea was. Terrorists are not going to waste their time planting a bomb because they're mad at a stupid TV show. It's much too hard to pull something like this off for such a ridiculous reason.

 

[LuvOrlando]

South Park had nothing at all to do with this, these plans were probably set in motion long before Southpark. Osama warned of plans for a flurry of trouble headed our way a while back when he released threats against the World Cup and the guy they arrested was in Pakistan for training months ago.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I think she's amused at how utterly stupid the whole idea was. Terrorists are not going to waste their time planting a bomb because they're mad at a stupid TV show. It's much too hard to pull something like this off for such a ridiculous reason.

The news outlets didn't come up with the theory. The police are/were investigating it. I don't know if it had anything to do with it. But the police are/were interested. You think they're stupid?

 

[OceanAnnie]

South Park had nothing at all to do with this, these plans were probably set in motion long before Southpark. Osama warned of plans for a flurry of trouble headed our way a while back when he released threats against the World Cup and the guy they arrested was in Pakistan for training months ago.

If he was in training for months and he came up with that plan, well.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

The news outlets didn't come up with the theory. The police are/were investigating it. I don't know if it had anything to do with it. But the police are/were interested. You think they're stupid?

They have to follow every lead, but I highly doubt there was much credence given to this theory. And seriously, it might have been mentioned in passing, but yes I feel the news outlets grasp on to any straw in order to have a report ready for the next news cast.

 

[OceanAnnie]

They have to follow every lead, but I highly doubt there was much credence given to this theory. And seriously, it might have been mentioned in passing, but yes I feel the news outlets grasp on to any straw in order to have a report ready for the next news cast.

You may highly doubt it. I don't pretend to know or discount anything a terrorist will do. They earn the title "extremists". These particular terrorists they are investigating take their religion very, very seriously. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility at all.

 

[MizTink]

I think she's amused at how utterly stupid the whole idea was. Terrorists are not going to waste their time planting a bomb because they're mad at a stupid TV show. It's much too hard to pull something like this off for such a ridiculous reason.

They have to follow every lead, but I highly doubt there was much credence given to this theory. And seriously, it might have been mentioned in passing, but yes I feel the news outlets grasp on to any straw in order to have a report ready for the next news cast.

Thank you.....!

and yes, i do think it's funny. wether it's the police that thought they would do this because of a tv show like south park, or if any person would be so offended by a show like south park to bomb times square. either way, i find humor in the south park link, sorry!