Other news reoprts claim that the bag contained fireworks. BS if you ask me. This was not a practice run, because the bomb was real. It was not AQ because AQ would not have wasted time on a crude pipe bomb. Could have been Hammas (or a Hammas wannabe) given the recent pronouncement that it intended to beome proactive in the USA. It could have been one of the leftist anarchists starting trouble in advance of the GOP convention. Or it could have been one of the thousands of wackos that live in NYC, who has an off-the-wall agenda like saving the mold or protecting the sewer rat.
Police Investigating Bizarre Times Square Explosion
By Lisa Colagrossi
(Times Square-WABC, July 20, 2004) — Police are investigating a bizarre explosion in the Times Square subway station on Tuesday night. The blast sent commuters running for cover and one officer to the hospital.
The injured officer is being treated at Bellevue Hospital. With the Republican National Convention just a few weeks away, the NYPD is on high alert. They pulled out all of the stops last night to check out the fireworks explosion in Times Square that injured one transit cop. Now, police are now investigating whether that injured officer was somehow involved.
Police officers flooded Midtown Manhattan last night. They were armed with automatic rifles and flanked by bomb-sniffing dogs. A device exploded in the heart of Times Square injuring an officer who was trying to clear the area.
Investigators say the unidentified transit cop was standing near a staircase at the 42nd Street subway entrance about 8:00 a.m. when he spotted a burning knapsack.
He quickly pushed two bystanders to safety. But as he was calling for back-up, the bag exploded.
The blast burned the officer's legs.
He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital as hundreds of nervous commuters and tourists stood by watching emergency crews scour the scene for other devices. No others were found. Investigators say the device contained gunpowder and b-b's. Police do not believe the incident was an act of terrorism but the secret service and the joint terrorism task force are both investigating the incident.
The officer is being treated for minor burns to his legs. He is in stable condition and so far, his name has not been released.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/WABC_072004_timessquareexplosion.html
I agree with your statement.