Fiery Package Shuts Down Times Square

Last night, Times Square was shut down due to an explosion in the 8th Avenue Times Square subway station. The explosion was from a paper bag, approximately the size of a gym bag, that contained firecrackers. Interestingly, the Post described the contents as a pipe bomb with gunpowder and BBs in a knapsack. That's certainly a nice way to instill some fear into the public as the Republican Convention nears.

After the explosion at 8:04 p.m., scores of police and firefighters swarmed the area, shutting down 8th Avenue between 42nd and 45th Street for more than two hours. An off-duty police officer was injured as he cleared the area around the bag. He sustained minor burns to his legs and was taken to Bellevue. The Daily News reports that the incident annoyed restaurants, theaters and moviegoers. Additionally, tourists were confused, which any New Yorker knows is no different from the norm.

The News also offers up a choice quote from Joe Barbone, the manager of Stiletto, a strip club, "I heard the boom and I figured I should call home to say goodbye." Convention goers, be sure to patronize Stiletto, a strip club which features a manager with the family values to call home and say goodbye.

In the meantime, various studies are examining the safety of Madison Square Garden for next month's convention. Gothamist gets scared when we hear the words "blast studies" in the context of Midtown, versus a construction site.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By tien mao in News on July 20, 2004 9:53 AM

Comments [rss]

tien

yes, the daily news updated their story.

but isn't the real story about the strip club owner. that's a great human interest piece.

Jo

"The retired officer said he had spotted the blue and white backpack, burning on a mezzanine staircase, and was going to call for backup when it exploded."

Not a paper bag.

The black powder/ball bearing info is coming from One Police Plaza - they believe it may have been a pipe bomb, not fireworks.

It's still usually a safe bet the Post will get it wrong.

Wuzzup

The Post is the worst. There are more and more lies coming from that rag every day. I'm sure tomorrow they'll print a story about how the "bomb" killed a 12-yr. old tourist from the Heartland here for a prayer rally while he was clutching an American flag.

Dirk

In regard to it being a "pipe bomb"... only the Post is saying that. And we all know what a trust-worthy, investigative paper the Post is.

thirdparty

If it was a pipe bomb packed with BBs, the cop standing next to the flaming bag would have suffered more injuries than just minor burns to his legs, dont you think?

namedropper

i don't think i DID make eye contact. . .i wasn't even really awake. . .

pjh

re: namedropper: as a rule...one should never make eye contact with a parking garage for this very reason...especially when having dropped copius amounts of acid..

namedropper

i work at 43rd and 8th (not at stillettos) and the stairwell where explosion went off is typically my stairwell of choice. last night i saw the report of the explosion on the news and decided to stay on the F to 42nd street rather than tranferring to the A to avoid the stairwell, which i figured may still have been closed.

apparently, walking across times square before i'm fully awake may be as disturbing as getting off the train where an explosion has recently

occurred.

on my walk from 6th avenue a parking garage said to me, what sounded like, "you'd look pretty good with your clothes on" which didn't make sense, because, thankfully i DID have clothes on, so he must have said "you'd look pretty good with your clothes OFF," and while i didn't say "you have no idea!" i should have. i was just too confused and not very awake. maybe i should start moonlighting at stilettos. i appreciate some family values with my sex trade. it's better than vulgar parking garage attendants.