Posted by MikeC/NY on 5/2/10 8:29pm
Msg #334621

OT - NYC car bomb

I'm not making a political statement here, so I don't think this belongs in "Just Politics"... But it is off-topic, so I've labeled it as such... If it bothers you, stop reading now...

As most of you already know, a car bomb was found in NYC last night. The area it was found in - Times Square - is probably THE most popular area for tourists in NYC. Thousands of people are in that area every night; since 9/11, every time I watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve, I hold my breath...

NYPD was alerted to the car bomb by a street vendor who was selling knock-off handbags (which has seriously changed my opinion of street vendors...). The bomb was apparently very crudely made, and NYPD was able to quickly defuse it. Latest reports I've heard is that the Taliban are now claiming credit, but so far it appears that they're just blowing smoke and this was the work of an amateur and might have nothing to do with terrorism...

The point to all of this is: be vigilant, always. It doesn't matter where you live. Be aware of what's going on around you, and don't assume that just because you live in the middle of nowhere this can't happen in your town.

It's what is called a zero-sum game - you can stop them 99 times out of 100, but that one time they get through, you lose....

The NYPD are awesome - those guys are underpaid and overworked, but they still get the job done. And that street vendor who alerted them - maybe they'll give him a medal...

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/2/10 8:32pm
Msg #334622

"The NYPD are awesome "

They really are. They are true heroes!

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 5/2/10 11:16pm
Msg #334627

I heard that the street vendor was a disabled vet.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 5/2/10 11:16pm
Msg #334628

I heard that the street vendor was a disabled vet.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 5/2/10 11:16pm
Msg #334629

I heard that the street vendor was a disabled vet.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 5/2/10 11:18pm
Msg #334630

Sorry. I guess I was a little impatient for this to post. n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 5/3/10 12:12am
Msg #334631

Re: OT - Nothing but love for NYPD, and everyone

from there on up.

I belive there was more than one reporting vendor - our viligent (not paranoid) vendors whose eyes and ears, and good common sense - one sought out an equestrian Policeman, who then called for back-up, another simultaneously found his local cop, and it was on - an amazingly coordinated effort, a sensible public response, the evidence in tact, and a best-case scenario unfolds.

I saw one of the initially reporting vendors, a 'Nam Vet selling T-Shirts who clearly didn't want to talk to the Press, but when asked for a 'message to New Yorkers' said simply: "See somethin', say somethin'."

Turns out, that's a message for all of us.

New Yorkers are heros, not victims. I bet we catch the sicko(s) who did this thing.

Hooray New York!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 5/3/10 12:35am
Msg #334633

Re: OT - Nothing but love for NYPD, and everyone

I think I heard something to the affect that the NYPD has actually provided training of some sort to vendors on what to look for, so this was truly a community effort.

They all did us proud!