Did somebody call in a "bomb threat"? If so, they need to be prosecuted big time. If not, then it is simply a prank gone wrong. They could get them for littering or advertising without a permit or some other relatively silly ordinance violation but the "bomb scare" was solely in the minds of passers by and the city itself.
If your trying to lug a few suitcases through the airport and a bag drops unnoticed as you continue on and a police officer sees an unattended "package" and calls the bomb squad and they evacuate the terminal, and they take 27 8x10 color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explainin' what each one was to be used against you in a court of law.... should you be held responsible for the officer's overreaction?
Of course, he was acting on the side of caution but that doesn't mean we (as bag droppers) can't goof up from time to time anymore because of the events of 9/11.
We have to agree to disagree on this one.
This was a stupid stunt.
At the least someone should pay for the problems it caused.
It wasnt funny taken in context with the way the world is today.
You really should try to keep track of your bags in an airport. There are signs all over the place telling people to report suspicious unattended packages and suitcases. What do you suppose is going to happen if your suitcase is unattended? Your carelessness is going to inconvenience a lot of people.
But you should not be liable, because you had no intent to cause a problem. The difference is the intent. You were just going about your legitimate business and wound up causing a problem unintentionally. Unless you conduct was outrageous or negligent, there is not problem.
But this was not accidental. These things were put all over the place intentionally. They were designed purposefully. There is intent in spades. That is the difference.