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BREAKING NEWS! Explosion Rocks New York's Times Square 4am

by Swan | March 6, 2008 at 08:52 am | 302 views | 3 comments | 0 recommendations

Authorities in New York City say a small explosive device detonated near a U.S. military recruiting station in the Times Square district of the city. The blast happened in the very early hours Thursday morning.

I'm not going to do my usual lengthy write-up for this article - since I want to get the news out immediately.

The explosion caused no injuries and was only a minor device, however one witness did remember seeing a cycler in the area prior to the explosion but didn't know whether or not he was involved.

"He saw an individual riding on a bicycle right here on the island in what he described as a suspicious manner," said Commissioner Kelly. "This individual was wearing a hood and dark colored clothing. He was also carrying a backpack, or wearing a backpack.

Go to full story by Margaret Besheer.

Source: VOA News

Image: Associated Press

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Swan

at 09:41 on March 6th, 2008

Witness quotes from MSNBC:

“If it is something that’s directed toward American troops then it’s
something that’s taken very seriously and is pretty unfortunate,” said
Army Capt. Charlie Jaquillard, who is the commander of Army recruiting
in Manhattan.

“I was up on the 44th floor and I could feel it. It was a big bang,” said Darla Peck, 25, of Portland, Ore.

“It shook the building. I thought it could have been thunder, but I
looked down and there was a massive plume of smoke so I knew it was an
explosion,” said Terry Leighton, 48, of London, who was staying on the
21st floor of the Marriott.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the act “insults every one of our brave men and women in uniform stationed around the world.” [...] “Whoever the coward was that committed this disgraceful act on our city
will be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said
Bloomberg. “We will not tolerate such attacks.”

Swan

at 10:01 on March 6th, 2008

From the New York Times:

Reporting by: Al Baker, Graham Bowley, Michael Cooper, Sharon Otterman, William K. Rashbaum and Stacey Stowe contributed reporting

Latest Update, 11:35 a.m. | The police have attributed the blast to an improvised explosive device, and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said the device had been placed in an ammunition box like the kind that can be bought at a military supply store.

Full story here.

Additional photos uploaded: by AP

Swan

at 10:19 on March 6th, 2008

ABC News is providing the best report on this event so far:

New photo shows:

New York police officers with the bomb squad unit inspect the damage
done by an explosive device to the military recruitment center
Thursday, March 6, 2008 in New York's Times Square. New York City
police say some kind of explosive device was set off near a military
recruiting station in Times Square. Police also say there were no
injuries in the blast early Thursday morning. The recruiting center at
43rd Street near Broadway had a large hole in the front window. (David
Karp/AP Photo)

You can read the rest of the story here.
~ Swan