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.

[Aliska]

Then, it becomes a nationwide search. Law Enforcement should just profile large trucks driven by middle eastern men and yank them over.

The Globe article says the windows were darkened. How can you tell who is in the cab? You can't. "a Ryder rental truck with darkened windows".

[SarahW]

This is funny (ha ha funny) - cop at apt says "There's some kind 'a' howlin' (in the background there is some idiot whooping like an indian)

[SarahW]

just collared a couple of people (from pulled-over vehicle) with fake ID - one a "Sheila Wiedemeir" charged a couple years back with obtaining a false license"

[demnomo]

What do they mean by cleared? Does that mean that the van is OK? Free to move one? Nothing incriminating was found? Was it the wrong van? I'm so confused. And, no, I don't expect you to answer my questions! Just keep us as informed as you can via the police scanner.

[TERMINATTOR]

I noticed on Fox News yesterday that the National Guard shown at the Golden Gate bridge had a magazine in his M-16. Whether there were any rounds in it, is another question. The mag was well worn (old).

[Henk]

14:32 APB back out for Ryder truck. Previous info about it being cleared was erroneous.

This just off scanner.

[SarahW]

Holy cow, I wish I knew.

Announcement on Scanner just this second - RYder van, florida, Cleared earlier - now saying "ERRONEOUS SOURCE - NOT CLEARED"

[cajungirl]

I think cleared means we are supposed to go to the mall or buy a new car or fly somewhere. Or drive over a bridge. Move right along.

[Stentor]

Just came across W4789H7 not cleared. Clearance received from an erroneous source.

[SarahW]

Man, scanner tracking is a frustrating experience!

[Stentor]

(:>)

[demnomo]

Yowsa! This is too weird. Why aren't the major news outlets reporting this story? That way there would be more eyes on the lookout. Where are the police helicopters? I hope that they have at least one patrolling the area.

[Mitchell]

I've got the Boston PD scanner on again. They just re-issued the all-points bulletin. The "all clear" was erroneous.

[demnomo]

LOL! I positively despise malls to begin with. I'm a catalog shopper because of it. Any excuse to avoid cookie-cutter stores and crowds is OK by me. (Of course, with my luck, I may get a case of anthrax via the mail...) This is so frustrating. I doubt if this is a hoax. It sure has the makings of a Keystone Kop goosechase!

[Mitchell]

What are the chances that their target would be the "Big Dig" project?

I have no idea -- I haven't lived in the Boston area since 1978.

[Mitchell]

According to Boston scanner, they were still looking at/for Ryder trucks as of 8:00 a.m. CDT this morning, so that one apparently was not the one they were looking for.

Thanks. I've got the scanner on again, and you're right, they're still looking for the truck.

[cajungirl]

Just had a brief report on Fox about this,,said the van had suspicious cargo and the driver was angry and sped off. First national news I have heard of it.

[SarahW]

Yay! The Ryder truck has been located , parties being questioned. Dispatcer says "disreguard previous bolo" whatever a "bolo" is.

[SarahW]

Dispatcher said FBI is source

[SarahW]

Bolo means "be on the lookout" (thans, Google)

SO the dispatcher told everyone that the BOLO is canceled, the truck has been located; FBI is source, and there are subjects being questioned.