Police seek van with suspicious cargo

The Boston Globe ^ | 11/3/2001 | By Jenny Jiang and Fran Riley, Globe Correspondents

[be-baw]

After days of preparing for vague threats, police departments across the state last night had a tangible menace to chase: A rented van with a cargo of possible bomb-making materials was stopped at a Cambridge mall and sped away before police arrived.

[shezza]

There's a new CNN in town: Citizen News Network
And it's right here on FR

Hoo-yah! Things are here hours, days, before they make it to the networks. On the instances where FR has been down I go stir-crazy! Thanks everyone for a job well done. Three cheers for the real CNN!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Here's the direct link. You need RealPlayer.

Boston P.D. scanner live

[Congressman Billybob]

Phil,

Due to the draconian Massachusetts gun laws, passed to "make us all safer," there was no possibility that the Security Guards at the targeted mall could have guns. So a van carrying, perhaps, a home-made bomb the likes of which brought down the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, is now lose in New England (or elsewhere).

If this device is used to kill 3,000 Americans somewhere else, will their death certificates read, "DEATH BY POLITICIAN"?

And what was wrong with the Boston police? Why wasn't there an immediate all-points-bulletin issued, and all units respond to the area, to get the van and its occupants? Were the police all in the nearest donut shop with their radios turned off?

The Security Guards handled it as well as they could, considering they were -- like the National Guard in California at L.A. Airport and the Golden Gate Bridge, UNARMED. The Guards had no guns. The National Guard in California has no bullets in their guns.

Which part of the word "War" do some politicians not understand?

Congressman Billybob

[evolved_rage]

Don't knock the Boston Cops. Its the "People's Republic of Cambridge" that stinks; its Berkeley's sister city, down to the smell...

[SarahW]

Scanner is talking about a swarthy type now, who is wandering the halls of some public buildings in a gas mask.

" Ilegal"Ryder truck at "the Corner! (no flashers)" RIght now on scanner.

Not sure id these two are related

[SarahW]

listening hard to scanner...

[SarahW]

80 people on the sidewalk for some reason -

TRUCK TOOK OFF!

[SarahW]

White ryder truck - look like something is pouring out of the back of the vehicle~

[demnomo]

Thanks for keeping us informed!

[SarahW]

SOunds like there is a plane out looking for the truck - has a some problems with restricted space

[SarahW]

International truck, no color given,.... They are using secure lines to communicate - one guy on scanner says "don't want people eavesdropping on the conversation...

[SarahW]

Lots of dead air

[cajungirl]

Is this for real? It sounds like some kind of chem attack. Nothing on tv. Keep it up Sarah, you are like Paul Revere girl.

[SarahW]

SOmething about a truck hauling fish, no specific reference to which truck

[SarahW]

scanner link is above if you want to hear what I am hearing (not much right now...)

[WRhine]

Don't knock the Boston Cops. Its the "People's Republic of Cambridge" that stinks; its Berkeley's sister city, down to the smell...

And the terrorists' ability to commit their acts of murder is dependent on finding the softest spots.

[SarahW]

snippet about vehicle with "Florida registration - has been found and *cleared*"

[Henk]

Just heard bits of convo on scanner:

"...vehicle has been located and cleared. No need to locate vehicle..."

Also something about Florida plates.

[meridia]

Hi there.

Last night on the radio, perhaps ABC, not sure -- I heard a news story that the National Guardsmen patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge have DISTINCT orders to shoot anyone who goes in an off-limits area of the bridge.

There were not any more details, just the briefest of announcements.

[SarahW]

nothing but lifecode call, ordinary stuff.