ianstone
05-01-2010, 11:23 PM
last update 1110 GMT May 5th 2010
Cops evacuate Times Square after smoking SUV sparks bomb investigation
Reuters (http://www.nydailynews.com/authors/Reuters)
Saturday, May 1st 2010, 11:17 PM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/05/02/alg_times_square_car.jpg Taggart for News
Police are investigating this dark-colored SUV at the corner of 45th and 7th Ave. in Times Square. The SUV appeared to be smoking, triggering an evacuation of the popular tourist destination.
Taggart for News
Pedestrian traffic was heavy outside the evacuation zone, including 6th and 8th Aves.
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/05/02/amd_times_square_gas.jpg WCBS
These gas cans were allegedly found inside the suspicious vehicle in Times Square.
<LI class="inform-logo-related last">
Police evacuated New York (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York)'s Times Square (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Times+Square) 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 (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Manhattan) square, which is popular with tourists and theater-goers.
New York Police Department (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York+City+Police+Department) spokesman Paul Browne (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/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 LionKing" 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 (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/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.
Reuters (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Reuters+Group+plc) 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 vicinty 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 (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Nam+Vu), 24, said he had arrived by bus in New York at 8 a.m. from Canada (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Canada) and was prevented from meeting a friend at the Marriott (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Marriott+International+Inc.) Marquis on Times Square.
"I feel like I'm on a TV show," he said. "Where is (actor) Denzel Washington (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/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."
The Pakistani born US citizen — named as Faisal Shahzad — was nabbed at John F. Kennedy airport trying to board a flight to Dubai early this morning.
Reports say 30-year-old Shahzad's plane had left the gate and was taxiing down the runway before it was raided by the authorities.
His flight details said his final destination was Pakistan. Shahzad was one of three people taken off the plane.
US law enforcement sources claim Shahzad has said he was working alone.
Reports say the two other passengers were later released.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01036/SNN0421D-180_1036548a.jpg Timer ... alarm clock failed to detonate fumes
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01036/SNN0421CVD-180_1036550a.jpg Joke ... South Park
US Attorney General Eric Holder said this morning the intent of the Times Square attack was "to kill Americans".
Shahzad will appear in court today to face charges "for allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square on the evening of May 1".
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01036/SNN0421C-682_1036546a.jpg Bomb ... CCTV of crowd by rigged-up Nissan
Authorities were searching his home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, today, New York police said.
Shahzad is believed to have bought the 1993 Nissan sport utility vehicle used to carry the crude bomb made of fuel and fireworks into a busy Times Square on Saturday evening.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/times682_1037154a.jpg Investigation ... FBI carry out search
Reports suggest the van was purchased from American auction website Craigslist.com for cash.
The car was left with its engine running and hazard lights flashing but the two alarm clock timers failed to detonate the explosive fumes.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/times380_1037153a.jpg Forensics ... search for clues
The area was cleared after T-shirt seller Lance Orten, a Vietnam veteran, smelled gunpowder and raised the alarm.
Police are quizzing the car's registered owner, who had not reported it stolen. And a tourist's video of a person spotted near it is being examined.
Detectives are probing similarities with an al-Qaeda device left outside London nightclub Tiger Tiger in 2007.
A Pakistani Taliban group claimed responsibility for the New York bomb.
The office of Viacom - whose cartoon South Park mocked Muslim prophet Mohammed by putting him in a bear suit - was feared to be the target.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/SNN0511AA-280_1037378a.jpg
http://www.thesun.co.uk/img/lightbox/loading.gif
Quiz ... Faisal Shahzad
Times Sq ‘bomber’ charged on WMD
By NICK PARKER, Chief Foreign Correspondent
Published: Today
TIMES Square car bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad faced five terror charges last night, including trying to explode a weapon of mass destruction.
The 30-year-old was dramatically arrested on a plane departing New York's JFK airport - before he confessed to FBI agents. He was a passenger on a jet which was turned back as it taxied for take-off.
FBI agents dashed to the airport early yesterday on discovering Pakistan-born American Shahzad had checked in for an Emirates flight to Dubai.
An FBI source revealed the Emirates jet was stopped "at the last second".
Shahzad allegedly told US authorities he attended a terror training camp in Pakistan's lawless Waziristan region, a Taliban stronghold.
Agents found a 9mm handgun and ammunition clips in the car he drove to the airport.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/newPic_9782_jpg_1037630a.jpg Lethal ... diagram of car bomb Shahzad confessed to planting
Authorities also discovered 15 bags of "standard green fertiliser" and firework powder in rubbish outside Shahzad's flat in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
He was traced after it was discovered he recently bought a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder, used in Saturday's foiled attack.
FBI agents continued "aggressive" investigations as Americans were told to stay vigilant.
Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for the bomb but US law chiefs said there is no evidence yet of a direct link.
Shahzad claimed he acted alone and had no connections to terror. But a law enforcement source said: "It seems hard to pull off alone. There's a lot we don't know yet."
Had Shahzad's crude device - detailed to newsmen in a diagram - gone off, hundreds could have been killed or hurt by shrapnel from the bomb.
Emirates confirmed three men were taken off flight EK202 and the jet and all baggage were screened.
The fate of the other two remained unclear.
Ex-financial analyst Shahzad recently made a five-month trip to Pakistan, leaving his wife behind.
He will face the five charges at New York's US District Court.
His Nissan was parked near TV network Viacom's office.
Its Comedy Central station aired an episode of cartoon South Park that upset extremist Muslims.
Several of Shahzad's relatives and a friend were being held in the Pakistan city of Karachi over the plot.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2959637/Times-Sq-bomber-Faisal-Shahzad-charged-on-WMD.html#ixzz0n2ztGSZJ
And they have only just started digging the rats out of the nest
Cops evacuate Times Square after smoking SUV sparks bomb investigation
Reuters (http://www.nydailynews.com/authors/Reuters)
Saturday, May 1st 2010, 11:17 PM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/05/02/alg_times_square_car.jpg Taggart for News
Police are investigating this dark-colored SUV at the corner of 45th and 7th Ave. in Times Square. The SUV appeared to be smoking, triggering an evacuation of the popular tourist destination.
Taggart for News
Pedestrian traffic was heavy outside the evacuation zone, including 6th and 8th Aves.
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/05/02/amd_times_square_gas.jpg WCBS
These gas cans were allegedly found inside the suspicious vehicle in Times Square.
<LI class="inform-logo-related last">
Police evacuated New York (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York)'s Times Square (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Times+Square) 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 (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Manhattan) square, which is popular with tourists and theater-goers.
New York Police Department (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York+City+Police+Department) spokesman Paul Browne (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/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 LionKing" 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 (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/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.
Reuters (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Reuters+Group+plc) 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 vicinty 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 (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Nam+Vu), 24, said he had arrived by bus in New York at 8 a.m. from Canada (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Canada) and was prevented from meeting a friend at the Marriott (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Marriott+International+Inc.) Marquis on Times Square.
"I feel like I'm on a TV show," he said. "Where is (actor) Denzel Washington (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/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."
The Pakistani born US citizen — named as Faisal Shahzad — was nabbed at John F. Kennedy airport trying to board a flight to Dubai early this morning.
Reports say 30-year-old Shahzad's plane had left the gate and was taxiing down the runway before it was raided by the authorities.
His flight details said his final destination was Pakistan. Shahzad was one of three people taken off the plane.
US law enforcement sources claim Shahzad has said he was working alone.
Reports say the two other passengers were later released.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01036/SNN0421D-180_1036548a.jpg Timer ... alarm clock failed to detonate fumes
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01036/SNN0421CVD-180_1036550a.jpg Joke ... South Park
US Attorney General Eric Holder said this morning the intent of the Times Square attack was "to kill Americans".
Shahzad will appear in court today to face charges "for allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square on the evening of May 1".
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01036/SNN0421C-682_1036546a.jpg Bomb ... CCTV of crowd by rigged-up Nissan
Authorities were searching his home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, today, New York police said.
Shahzad is believed to have bought the 1993 Nissan sport utility vehicle used to carry the crude bomb made of fuel and fireworks into a busy Times Square on Saturday evening.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/times682_1037154a.jpg Investigation ... FBI carry out search
Reports suggest the van was purchased from American auction website Craigslist.com for cash.
The car was left with its engine running and hazard lights flashing but the two alarm clock timers failed to detonate the explosive fumes.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/times380_1037153a.jpg Forensics ... search for clues
The area was cleared after T-shirt seller Lance Orten, a Vietnam veteran, smelled gunpowder and raised the alarm.
Police are quizzing the car's registered owner, who had not reported it stolen. And a tourist's video of a person spotted near it is being examined.
Detectives are probing similarities with an al-Qaeda device left outside London nightclub Tiger Tiger in 2007.
A Pakistani Taliban group claimed responsibility for the New York bomb.
The office of Viacom - whose cartoon South Park mocked Muslim prophet Mohammed by putting him in a bear suit - was feared to be the target.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/SNN0511AA-280_1037378a.jpg
http://www.thesun.co.uk/img/lightbox/loading.gif
Quiz ... Faisal Shahzad
Times Sq ‘bomber’ charged on WMD
By NICK PARKER, Chief Foreign Correspondent
Published: Today
TIMES Square car bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad faced five terror charges last night, including trying to explode a weapon of mass destruction.
The 30-year-old was dramatically arrested on a plane departing New York's JFK airport - before he confessed to FBI agents. He was a passenger on a jet which was turned back as it taxied for take-off.
FBI agents dashed to the airport early yesterday on discovering Pakistan-born American Shahzad had checked in for an Emirates flight to Dubai.
An FBI source revealed the Emirates jet was stopped "at the last second".
Shahzad allegedly told US authorities he attended a terror training camp in Pakistan's lawless Waziristan region, a Taliban stronghold.
Agents found a 9mm handgun and ammunition clips in the car he drove to the airport.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01037/newPic_9782_jpg_1037630a.jpg Lethal ... diagram of car bomb Shahzad confessed to planting
Authorities also discovered 15 bags of "standard green fertiliser" and firework powder in rubbish outside Shahzad's flat in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
He was traced after it was discovered he recently bought a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder, used in Saturday's foiled attack.
FBI agents continued "aggressive" investigations as Americans were told to stay vigilant.
Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for the bomb but US law chiefs said there is no evidence yet of a direct link.
Shahzad claimed he acted alone and had no connections to terror. But a law enforcement source said: "It seems hard to pull off alone. There's a lot we don't know yet."
Had Shahzad's crude device - detailed to newsmen in a diagram - gone off, hundreds could have been killed or hurt by shrapnel from the bomb.
Emirates confirmed three men were taken off flight EK202 and the jet and all baggage were screened.
The fate of the other two remained unclear.
Ex-financial analyst Shahzad recently made a five-month trip to Pakistan, leaving his wife behind.
He will face the five charges at New York's US District Court.
His Nissan was parked near TV network Viacom's office.
Its Comedy Central station aired an episode of cartoon South Park that upset extremist Muslims.
Several of Shahzad's relatives and a friend were being held in the Pakistan city of Karachi over the plot.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2959637/Times-Sq-bomber-Faisal-Shahzad-charged-on-WMD.html#ixzz0n2ztGSZJ
And they have only just started digging the rats out of the nest