Boston Bomb Scare: Outraged Menino vows no mercy for stunt - Sham suspect jailed

Boston Herald ^ | February 1, 2007 | Laura Crimaldi & Michelle McPhee

[billorites]

A furious Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino vowed yesterday to throw the book at the masterminds behind a guerrilla marketing campaign gone amok that plunged the city into bomb-scare pandemonium and blew nearly $1 million in police overtime and other costs.

As city and state attorneys laid groundwork for criminal charges and lawsuits, cops seized 27-year-old Arlington multimedia artist Peter Berdovsky, who posted film on his Web site boasting that he and friends planted the battery-wired devices, and Sean Stevens, 28, of Charlestown. Both were jailed overnight on charges of placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct.

“This is outrageous activity to get publicity for a failing show,” said Menino, referring to the battery-operated light-up ads for the Cartoon Network’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” which sparked at least nine bomb scares in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.

Menino promised to sue Turner Broadcasting Co., the Cartoon Network’s parent company, and criminally prosecute Berdovsky and anyone else responsible for the devices, and to petition the FCC to pull the network’s license.

Attorney General Martha Coakley was put in charge of the case and said the companies behind the promotion would be investigated. She said the felony charge of planting a hoax device could be broad enough to allow prosecution even if the stunt’s sponsors did not intend a panic.

“To do this kind of placement of devices the way it was, an individual had to know or should have that it was going to create the kind of panic it did,” Coakley said last night during a press conference.

Panic was the order of the day in Boston as city, state and federal investigators, police and bomb units raced through the city seeking 38 of the devices, in some cases destroying them as a precaution.

Shutdowns affected Storrow and Memorial drives, the Longfellow and Boston University bridges and Interstate 93, while extra Coast Guard patrols were seen at Rowes Wharf and at commuter ferries.

“I cannot state strongly enough the seriousness of this offense,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley. “Commerce was disrupted, transportation routes were paralyzed, residents were stranded, relatives across the nation were in fear for their loved ones here in the city of Boston.”

In a statement, Turner Broadcasting said the light-emitting devices pose no danger and are part of a 10-city outdoor marketing campaign for the cartoon program. A Boston police spokesman said the company did not have permits to place the signs in the city.

“We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger,” the Turner statment said.

All told, the cost of extra police and activating the city’s anti-terror command center will cost Boston $800,000 to $1 million in damages, an angry Menino estimated.

Gov. Deval Patrick said he was not impressed by the apology from Turner Broadcasting.“I am deeply dismayed to learn that the devices are a part of a marketing campaign. This stunt has caused considerable disruption and anxiety in our community,” he said.

The bomb scare reports began about 8 a.m. when a MBTA worker reported a package with wires and tubes protruding from it that was stuck on a steel girder under Interstate 93 at Sullivan Square Station in Charlestown. The devices, featuring characters with raised middle fingers, had magnetic backs and were affixed to metal.

The reports spread throughout the day to the Boston University and Longfellow bridges, Downtown Crossing, the intersection of Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue, the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Memorial Drive in Cambridge, the McCarthy Overpass on the McGrath O’Brien Highway in Somerville and at a comic book store in Brighton.

The discovery of two more devices last night at the Massachusetts College of Art prompted another brief evacuation. By the end of the day, investigators had recovered 14 of the 38 devices believed to be placed in the Boston area and urged the public to report the whereabouts of others.

Just after three p.m., two bomb-sniffing dogs swept through City Hall, spending 16 minutes in Menino’s office. “It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this irresponsible marketing scheme,” Menino said.

[Caesar Soze]

OK, same question. Would you rather have it run for 2 weeks or 4 weeks? (or 4 weeks or 8 weeks, etc...) Putting off the day you have to throw away the sign by doubling the life by adding a 35 cent photo cell is a good investment.

I think we're arguing over nothing, since this guy says they did turn on and off based on the light.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

There are regulations here about all outdoor advertising. You need a permit under state law, and the city puts all kinds of size, shape, height, etc. restrictions on it, varying by neighborhood. They also placed one in a public transportation station, and for that you not only need approval, you have to pay their rates.

And you know for a fact there are no exceptions, or that they did not get the permits and approval, or that the fine is so small to be worth the effort. You know all of this right?

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

This is all entirely forseeable. For all we know, the other nine cities reacted to these signs as a threat, but managed to remove them quietly. But somebody was going to hit the Big Red Button over these things. It was just a matter of time.

Only idiots think a package the size of two wallets and less than one inch thick is a serious threat! What kind of bomb could this hold? What idiot terrorist would put bright lights on it. And why did a dozen other cities not see it as a treat. Why did Bosten not read their mail? Even if they didn't why did they not send just one bomb squad to the first one and make a determination, instead of making an intergalatic case of this? Only an idiot would think that the Boston police would act as the idiot did.

[bondjamesbond]

Okee dokee!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

The gov't looks like they are just doing their job.

You mean they are supposed to be stupid, then act like Nazi brown shirts?

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

OK, same question. Would you rather have it run for 2 weeks or 4 weeks? (or 4 weeks or 8 weeks, etc...) Putting off the day you have to throw away the sign by doubling the life by adding a 35 cent photo cell is a good investment.

There are no photo cell's in that photo.

[bondjamesbond]

The numbers are being crunched in the basement of every start-up guerrilla marketing firm in the country. This is going to be a nightmare...

That's why the government has to add a couple of new numbers to the equation. Like "3-5 years in jail for the CEO", and other numbers like that.

Deterrence works, especially in the Boardroom.

[jjm2111]

Oh please. They were NOT doing their job. By overreacting they did the opposite of their job. Overreacting is one thing, but then to furiously stamp his feet and demand felony charges, the mayor looks even MORE stupid. If Boston wants to pass a law that says no advertising on bridge abutments, etc.

I concur w/ the other poster who said that they look nothing like bombs. Bombs look like this:

or this:

but not like this:

The-sky-is-falling-we're-all-going-to-die panic followed by a temper tantrum on part of Boston's government is not leadership. No judgement was used on the part of the mayor, the Boston PD, or the media. Now, they're just trying to do damage control instead of admitting they screwed up. People, including Boston's mayor and Finest shouldn't believe everything they see on "24".

[macamadamia]

Only idiots think a package the size of two wallets and less than one inch thick is a serious threat!


Had I been there, I would rather have been an idiot and not assume. I wouldn't want multiple deaths on my conscience and I suspect this was the primary motive at each step of the event. Person #1 didn't want to take a chance, so he informed person #2...person #2 didn't want to take a chance, so he informed person #3, etc. etc. etc.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Worse, it's not just this cartoon show getting free ad airtime. Interference Inc itself is now getting tens of millions in free advertising.

IMO they did a good job and earn their pay. Worth it just to show how Boston is a bunch of idiotic goosesteppers.

[dfwgator]

In a related story, Boston Police were called to the Boston Garden after Celtics players discovered something unfamiliar to them. The emergency was called off after police discovered what it was, a basket.

[RightWhale]

Fact is most of what others do is incomprehensible but violates some law.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Had I been there, I would rather have been an idiot and not assume.

Yeah I suppose you would be an idiot that would take a ananomous call, call the media, call a dozen fire trucks, police, etc. All on a divice that doesn't even have a box to store the explosives in? However a smart person would have simply called the bomb squad to check out one device without causing a commotion and they would have reported back there was no bomb. There no media, no million dollars spent, no panic, no clogged streets, and I wouldn't be calling you the idiot you are.

[bondjamesbond]

Only idiots think a package the size of two wallets and less than one inch thick is a serious threat!

The point is not to fool the cops into thinking it is a bomb. The point it to cause a massive police response and get your little viral marketing campaign some front page position. Mission Accomplished.

What kind of bomb could this hold?

Not that it matters, but it could hold a big enough charge to blow your hands off when you try to remove it.

What idiot terrorist would put bright lights on it.

None. That's not the point. The point is to attract attention to your silly little viral marketing campaign. That's what the bright flashing lights are for.

And why did a dozen other cities not see it as a treat.

You don't know whether they did or not. I would wager that a fair number of these things were removed in other cities, as well. The only difference being that nobody hit the Big Red Button in those cities.

Why did Bosten not read their mail?

You know how much mail the City of Boston gets every day? And how much of that gets immediately round-filed? If you want to notify the city you are going to put up signs, the appropriate way to do that is to apply for and receive a permit, before putting up your signs.

Even if they didn't why did they not send just one bomb squad to the first one and make a determination, instead of making an intergalatic case of this?

It is my understanding that the first device was found in an area that required shutting down I-92 as a precaution. Once that happens, it's off to the races. You can unpress the Big Red Button.

Only an idiot would think that the Boston police would act as the idiot did.

I think you are wrong in this. This was entirely forseeable. Furthermore, I would contend that the police response was the whole point. What is the purpose of a viral marketing campaign that nobody sees? Now the whole wide world knows about this stupid cartoon.

[jjm2111]

One thing I'll grant, is that it's not unreasonable for someone to call the thing in, esp. if it's stuck under a bridge. But, let me give you a real life example:

I was deployed to Kuwait and my navy unit guarded the two harbors that we use to ship supplies up to Iraq from USS Cole type attacks. One day we found a 55 gallon drum floating in the water. Of course we were going to investigate it. It could be a bomb. But it would be the height of stupidity to lock down the base send forces screaming all over hither and yon and then when it was all over and found to be nothing, charge some poor Haji who may have pushed the drum over the side of his fishing boat.

Yes, there is a threat to terrorist attacks and yes it's smart for citizens to call in suspicious objects, but the government has to react rationally. I can even accept the overreaction, but not charging the marketers after the fact (with a felony no less).

If some forgetful person left his suitcase in a subway terminal, would it makes sense to charge him if the bomb squad was called out?

[macamadamia]

You seem to be incapable of accepting the fact that not everyone agrees with you. And yet you call others "goosesteppers." Ironic. Get a grip on your emotions...it's embarrassing.

[Caesar Soze]

I think you are wrong in this. This was entirely forseeable.

I certainly wouldn't have seen it, but my opinion on this whole affair is well-established by now.

What is the purpose of a viral marketing campaign that nobody sees? Now the whole wide world knows about this stupid cartoon.

But people did see it. There have been reports of finding these things weeks ago, and pictures posted to blogs and photo sharing sites like flickr. The site I linked to in my last post has been there for two weeks. They invested only pocket change in this project, and I think the returns they had been getting were about what they expected -- especially since the movie isn't even due out until March. You don't roll out your big advertising for a movie until closer to the release date, you just put out teasers for the fans. Now Boston and the 24-hour news cycle have boosted them into the stratosphere.

[bondjamesbond]

The thing looks a little less like a sign and more like something else during the day, when it is turned off and you can see the wiring. Still not too much like a bomb, of course. But suspicious enough to trigger a police response, which is the whole point of putting them up.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

I hope he puts the execs at Turner Broadcasting Co in jail. They should not be going after the people who were hired to place the stupid things aroung Boston.

[bondjamesbond]

One day we found a 55 gallon drum floating in the water. Of course we were going to investigate it. It could be a bomb.

So, while you were investigating that drum, did you keep other craft away? Or could any Tom, Dick or Haji have driven his boat right up to take a look?

This thing was attached to the support of a bridge. Step one is to cordon off the area to protect the public. That means closing the bridge. That means everyone knows. That means it is s big story, especially when similar things are found all over town.

I can even accept the overreaction, but not charging the marketers after the fact (with a felony no less)... If some forgetful person left his suitcase in a subway terminal, would it makes sense to charge him if the bomb squad was called out?

The difference is intent. This viral marketing outfit had a tremendous success by making their silly little cartoon front page news across the civilized world. Was that their intent?

That will be for a jury to decide. If they are shown to have intended to provoke this response, they are in big, big trouble. As well they should be.