[wideminded]

I have a hard time understanding how such a large bag could be just laying there unnoticed. ... but I have also observed how poor humans can be at situational awareness in crowded conditions

Let us pause to appreciate Richard Jewell, who saved lives by noticing a bag in the Atlanta bombing and then was wrongly hounded as the #1 suspect.

[cricket]

Of course; Jewell was 'Security' and so trained to look - and be suspicious of such. For the rest of us; and moreso; in a crowd; where group think dominates; 'suspicions' are not aroused so easily. We 'rest' in the 'Good'; so to speak.

Example; when someone witnesses a crime; usually their first thought - just before second - is anything; but the fact that they are 'witnessing' a crime in action. Those present per this disastrous unfolding; upon hearing first blast; reacted initially; with a 'logical'/reasonable conclusion for what they heard; until 'second blast' moved them to 'threat level'.

While best case scenario was to have questioned this 'matter' in strange place; it did not beg critical attention; nor suspicion. At least not enough; for anyone to act on it.

What was lacking here; totally; appears to be 'authentic Security' on the job. Incredible; by 'oversight')