Posted on 05/01/2010 7:00:18 PM PDT by Steelfish
Times Square Block Shut Down
By SEAN GARDINER and R.M. SCHNEIDERMAN
NYPD closed off streets from 42nd to 47th along Broadway in New York City. Police shut down a block in the heart of Times Square Saturday night after receiving a call about a suspicious car fire, delaying some Broadway shows by more than an hour.
The call came in just after 6:30 and as of 9 p.m., 45th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues had not been opened. When police initially responded, they saw smoke coming out of the car but no fire.
Dustin Drankoski for the Wall Street Journal NYPD closed off streets from 42nd to 47th along Broadway in New York City. Police said a bomb squad investigation was on the scene and that the car on fire was a sport utility vehicle had license plates that didn't match the make of the car, raising suspicions.
On one of the theater district's busiest nights, some shows, including "The Lion King," were delayed by an hour or more, according to the Broadway World website.
Oprah Winfrey was in attendance of the new hit "Fela," being shown at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on West 49th Street, and the production began on time and wasn't interrupted.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Yeah, that is the version on Yahoo News.
Yes - indeed
Probably just a drunk Amish farmer - took a wrong turn in “Blue Balls” PA - and ended up in Times Square ?
Yeah. Pay no attention to that fleeing muslim and all those gas cannisters. Had that muslim succeeded, I can’t imagine the damage—busy part of the city, and a busy night, thank Heaven he failed.
They'll spin that into a homeless man seen walking by.
Large improvised explosive device.
3 propane tanks
several gasoline tanks
black powder
Latest
toddstarnes (Fox Radio) All local NYC media now reporting an Improvised Explosive Device was found in Times Square.
|
Pasting here from your link before details of story change: New York's Times Sq. evacuated for suspicious vehicle 20 mins ago [10:40 EST] NEW YORK (Reuters) – Police evacuated New York's Times Square on Saturday night after a dark-colored sports utility vehicle was found to be smoking and a small “flash” was observed by firefighters on the scene. Officers at the scene said the evacuation order stemmed from an “emergency investigation” and dozens of officers blocked access to the busy central Manhattan square, which is popular with tourists and theater-goers. New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said a vehicle had been left in Times Square, with smoke seen coming from it. There was an unconfirmed report that someone was seen running from the car, Browne said. A bomb squad responded and a small fire was extinguished, he said. “We're just trying to determine if it was anything other than a car fire,” said Browne. “We don't know yet if it's anything more than that.” The SUV is parked very close to a production of “The Lion King” on 45th Street. Women in evening gowns were among the crowd on one of the warmest nights of the year and the busiest night of the week for Broadway theaters in the area. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic was very heavy on streets outside the evacuation zone, including Sixth and Eighth Avenues. All intersections in the area were blocked by police and fire department vehicles, lights flashing. A New York City firefighter who said he arrived early on the scene described the vehicle as a dark-colored SUV, and said it was parked at the corner of 45th Street and Seventh Avenue. He confirmed the vehicle was smoking and also said he saw “a flash” from the back of the SUV. The firefighter said a “mini-explosion” occurred between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. “The SUV was smoking. There was a flash and we put two and two together” and an evacuation was ordered, he said. Other emergency personnel on the scene called the incident a “car fire.” The firefighter said the bomb squad remained at the scene as of 9 p.m., including a firefighter in a bomb suit. A robot was being used to investigate the suspicious SUV. EXPLOSIONS WERE WATER CANNONS Reuters reporters on the scene said they heard an explosion from the area of the SUV around 9:15 p.m. An NYPD community affairs officer said that and another small explosion heard by bystanders were the sound of water cannons aimed at the vehicle in an attempt to break through the glass. Two fire trucks were also at the scene, prepared to douse the vehicle with water if needed, the firefighter said. Police allowed some people to enter theaters to view Broadway shows in the vicinity but later blocked other theatergoers from entering. At least some of the shows were allowed to go on. The square itself was mostly evacuated by 8 p.m., according to Reuters reporters on the scene. Police had evacuated an area stretching from about 42nd Street up to 47th Street and including Seventh Avenue and Broadway. A Reuters reporter on the scene said police began to broaden the area evacuated around 9:30 p.m., with crowds on 45th Street being pushed back from Times Square to Eighth Avenue to the west and Sixth Avenue to the east. Tourists in the area expressed annoyance and amusement. Nam Vu, 24, said he had arrived by bus in New York at 8 a.m. from Canada and was prevented from meeting a friend at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square. “I feel like I'm on a TV show,” he said. “Where is (actor) Denzel Washington?” People inside theaters and restaurants on Times Square were generally allowed to stay, or to depart the area, but only police and firefighters were being allowed in. People dining inside the Blue Fin restaurant in a hotel at 47th and Broadway were allowed to continue. Police officers earlier told Reuters the area was shut down due to “an emergency investigation.” |
toddstarnes: FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on scene in Times Square - per WNBC in New York City.
Yeah, but was Jack Bauer there??
(Sorry, nervous laughter her...no disrespect.)
Law enforcement at the scene believe this is a failed car bombing, according to Reuters sources.
This summer is going to be interesting, shall we say.
Large improvised explosive device.
3 propane tanks
several gasoline tanks
black powder
Tourists in the area expressed annoyance and amusement. Nam Vu, 24, said he had arrived by bus in New York at 8 a.m. from Canada and was prevented from meeting a friend at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square.
“I feel like I’m on a TV show,” he said. “Where is (actor) Denzel Washington?”
Lord have mercy
Report on twitter about 20 min ago that acetyline tanks were foung per FDNY. Would be hard to ID under conditions.
...and the Wash. Post is reporting 15 minutes ago only that racks of clothes and scarves were found in the car. NYC media didn’t get the smoking clothes memo?
RodrigoBNO NYPD says Homeland Security is not involved “at this time”, says news conference in 30 to 60 minutes.
“and the Wash. Post is reporting 15 minutes ago only that racks of clothes and scarves were found in the car. NYC media didn’t get the smoking clothes memo?”
More likely racks of burkhas!
ROP maybe?
Nothing to see here folks. Just someone headed to mom’s house tomorrow for a BBQ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.