Update: Oreo, Dog Thrown Off Building, Was Euthanized
People Wait For Tomorrow's UWS Apple Store Opening
Cheap Chicken Wing Deal Ruined by Gunslinging Teens
FIT Students Busted For Drug Dealing Get Probation
Views From Your Windows
Thinking that a Thursday 5:30PM press conference would help explain why commuters might see more bag checks and police on the subways, the Mayor, Police Commissioner, and head of the FBI's NY office announced that the feds had let them know about a terrorist threat that targetted the NYC subway system. Two suspects were taken into custody in Iraq, with some reports saying that about a dozen operatives would meet in New York, and "use strollers, briefcases and packages to hide a number of bombs that they planned to detonate on the subways." The Daily News warns of a "Buggy Bomber." The intelligence also suggested an attack could have come yesterday or in the middle of October, but officials in the capitol are saying the threat is of "doubtful credibility." Either way, the Mayor and Police Commissioner explained that the police presence would be stepped up and implored New Yorkers to say something if they see something.
On Gothamist's subway ride home, we saw a few cops, plus an MTA truck with its lights blazing outisde the station, but most of the hysteria was limited to the dry cleaners where people were more worried that the subways would be totally shut down. Did you think passengers were more jittery during your subway rides? Newsday's article noted that the timing did coincide with the Mayor's declining-debate debacle. Newsday and the NY Times look at how the city dealt with the information about a possible attack, and the Times also has subway rider reaction story (as expected, most people are just carrying on).
And our readers are skeptical, snarky and scornful - just the way we like 'em.
Update:
It looks like part of Penn Station was closed this morning due to a suspicous soda bottle.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
No! Don't pay attention to the members of the White House about to be indicted on treason charges! Don't pay attention to the Speaker of House under money laundering charges! Don't pay attention to the Senate Majority leader under investigation for inside trading. Pay attention to these "not so credible" terrorist threats! Be scared, very scared!
To all the snarky, skeptical and scornful readers,
Is there any reason why they shouldn't say something? Would you prefer they not say something? If they didn't say something and something were to happen, would you then blame the government for not telling us?
If you live in NYC, you would have to be brain damaged to not think that we are a target. I don't mind being informed that we may have a possible attack. It doesn't distract me from the fact that we have a moron for a president, corrupt political officials, and a mayoral race between a political opportunist and someone with the personality of unflavored gelatin.
Better safe than sorry, I say.
Better Safe than sorry is a good practice *but* the Timing is interesting.
Why Thursday? Apparently, the Mayor's big plan is to simply increase Vigilance in the Subway.
When the Expected target dates pass, will he declare Victory? Will he pull the Police? Does he think Terrorists won't think of hitting while we're not looking?
Remember when they "Guarded" the Citicorp building ?
Are they still there or only when the THINK it might be a target?
i hope everyone is refusing bag searches when they're asked. i'm very disappointed in many of the liberal types i know in new york who are very big on the "bushitler lied" type stuff but refuse to refuse because they're late for dinner or something along those lines. it's very depressing.
I would think that the timing of the announcement with both the Mayor's problems around the debate and the President's speech was just a coincidence except for the fact it was originally reported on NPR that an unnamed news outlet was thanked in the press conference for not publicizing the news when they discovered it two days prior to the official announcement. While asking them to sit on the news for two days could have genuine tactical interest (not jeopardizing operatives in the field...) it could have also just been a political ploy. If it's neither of those, the coincidence factor of this just increased.
Atlantic Station is locked down at the moment. Looks like they were off by a day.
"When the Expected target dates pass, will he declare Victory? Will he pull the Police? Does he think Terrorists won't think of hitting while we're not looking?"
Well, genius, the smart thing to do would be a slow fade with no public announcement. That seems to have been the plan with the financial sector scare and the summer bag searches.
"genius", eh? So nice to be recognized...
Back on Topic: The Citicorp building is just as much a target as ever. A week and a half ago, there weren't any Cops visible when I was there. Maybe the Terrorists think it's "Out of Season"?
With all the press and hype, anyone planing such an attack would think twice. (Not that one expects Rational thought from a Suicide bomber...)
Hopefully, this is just an exercise in CYA by the Mayor.
Reordering quotes:
"With all the press and hype, anyone planing such an attack would think twice."
Which is, of course, a huge part of the whole point - deterrence. The NYPD and mayor have explained this when they introduced the whole "atlas team" concept - that is why they pop up randomly around the city.
Another factor is public perception (I can hear the flamethrowers revving up already.) Making people feel like it is OK to "go about their business" is actually valuable. Would it be better if Kelley threw up his hands and said "what can you do, really?"
"The Citicorp building is just as much a target as ever. A week and a half ago, there weren't any Cops visible when I was there. Maybe the Terrorists think it's "Out of Season"?"
Well, what would you do? Leave a permanent cordon there and a) everybody feels like a prisoner in their own office and b) the terrorists just go elsewhere. I'm sure the Slow Fade With No Public Announcement included a review of Citicorp's security procedure and further investigation of the whole scare. You can't leave the whole city under martial law forever.
But hey, keep second-guessing 'em, S.D. Maybe you'll get better at it.
NYC NEWSBREAK: S.W.A.T. team removes only canister of cleaning solution allocated for all of Penn Station.
Ignoring the Flame baiting but I loved the "But hey, keep second-guessing 'em, S.D. Maybe you'll get better at it." nonsense.
"Well, what would you do?"
Well, I'd consider putting cement Highway barriers to prevent cars from going onto the sidewalk. I didn't see any on the side of the building I was on. Don't you think a Car Bomb at the base would be a problem? They could use those gigantic Flower pots that have become fashionable at private buildings.
The point is: The Mayor said they were tipped off days ago. Why wait till Thursday the day of the debate?
What page of the Daily News was the "Debate" on? I'll bet it was behind all the "news" about yesterday's announcement.
As for 2nd guessing: Sure, Why not? It's allowed.