Posted on 01/31/2007 12:04:30 PM PST by Howlin
BOSTON -- Four "hoax devices" were found at several Boston locations Wednesday, hours after officials detonated a suspicious package on an elevated structure above the Sullivan Square Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station.
The additional packages were found at the Boston University Bridge, the Longfellow Bridge and near the intersection of Stuart and Columbus streets. A device described by officials as a pipe bomb was found in the basement of the Tufts New England Medical Center at 185 Harrison Ave.
A spokesman for the Boston Police Department said that all of the packages appeared to be similar.
"Our device was not an active device. We are still treating the area as a crime scene. There were no injuries. Everyone was evacuated properly, and everyone now back to their locations," Tufts New England Medical Center's Brooke Hynes said.
Mayor Tom Menino said that all of the packages found posed no danger, but the incidents remained under investigation. Storrow Drive eastbound was shut down for a brief time, and the MBTA suspended service on the Red Line and planned to bus afternoon commuters between Kendall and Park Street stations.
Earlier Wednesday, the state police bomb squad was called and detonated the package in Sullivan Square just before 10 a.m. Officials said it contained an electronic circuit board with some components that were "consistent with an improvised explosive device," but they said it had no explosives. They determined that the device was not dangerous, but destroyed it as a precaution.
"We determined that this device, in particular, was not explosive," said MBTA Lt. Sal Venturelli.
He said MBTA police were told about the package by a transit passenger who spotted it on a column that supports Interstate 93. The parcel was located on an elevated structure above the bus way and below I-93 in the Charlestown section of Boston at about 8 a.m.
"This is a perfect example of our passengers taking part in Homeland Security," Venturelli said.
An investigation will be conducted into how the package got there and when, he said.
Train service on the Orange Line between Sullivan Square and Wellington stations was suspended in both directions. No injuries were reported.
The northbound side of I-93 was closed, causing significant traffic backups. Motorists were not allowed to access the highway near Sullivan Square coming up from the south.
If that box is attached beneath a bridge, has flashing lights and looks "home made" I hope you have the sense not to point at it and giggle and blow it off as a prank.
Its not even a prank, its called a Lite-Brite. Pre-schoolers often play with a very similar device. I hope if you see some lightbulbs attached to a plastic sheet that you have the common sense to remain calm and not shut down half a city.
"Lights and wires" describes almost everything in the modern world. Sorry. We can't shut down and have panic attack every time an electrical device is discovered, unmanned. The absurdity of standardizing/justifying this reaction is beyond comprehension, but I doubt you thought of that.
You and your "third dimension"
It's a big flat pannel with large LEDs on it that light up, and it's powered by 43 D-cells.
There's no sizable component that could be holding explosives.
It's just a big, simple, flat display.
It's pretty much a big flat sign with some LEDs and 4 batteries.
They put these up all over the place across the country and ONLY in Boston did people freak out about it, and it sounds like these things we put up weeks ago.
Someone thought it looks suspicious and reported it to the police, so the police had to investigate. However, once they saw the things it should have been pretty obvious it wasn't a bomb. Even if the police that responded were to unsure to make that call, when experts got on the scene it should have been abundantly obvious.
One of these days something like this will be real. Perhaps you might want to consider that possibility.
The possibility should be taken seriously, and reports of suspicious items should be taken seriously. However, when the item doesn't even resemble a bomb and is obviously a sign that lights up and doesn't have any enclosed volume large enough to contain a bomb, you can't hold those who put up the signs liable for a bomb scare. There's no reason they should have expected these things would have been thought to be bombs.
People are stupid. These do not look like explosives. America has become a bunch of whiney, insecure, scared, and afraid of their own shadow sheep.
My god.
I do, especially when it's justified. Just as you apparently enjoy your sanctimonious self.
I would rather the police be cautious about something like this rather than ignoring it.
No doubt you think I am silly. Fine with me. I don't watch cartoons for entertainment, either. I'm not very cool..
I saw the press conference. I would like to have them serve 30 days simply for being obnoxious.
They were mocking the media...I thought it was hillarious. Those stupid reporters were aghast that they would not answer their "serious" questions.
bttt
If there were an unknown package in my car there would be a very good reason to be suspicious of that package.
But I'm not going to use a little common sense in evaluating the item to see it it's out of place and potentially dangerous before I call the police and report it as a possible bomb.
http://www.siri-us.com/IEDBrief.ppt#1
here is a reasonable brief on what IEDs look like, plus I have another at #602
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776926/posts?page=602#602
Did you happen to notice the photo of an IED which showed a "link to hidden explosive device?"
bttt = back to the top. So the thread gets more attention.
Yup, so?
Have you seen the pix of the standalone light signs, and the bomb squad guys handling them?
Hmm. How will this affect Adult Swim?
I love their lineup -- it'd be a shame if they had to shut down or something. ATHF is half-decent too.
'I thought it was hilarious'
Agreed.
I'm so sorry Government/media but when your attempts to fear monger backfire and leave you with egg on your face--don't pull out the 'shock and indignation' card.
If it cost law enforcement 'several hundred' grand to determine these were not bombs...they are bigger clowns than that fella with the funky dreadlocks.
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