SUV Triggers Bomb Scare Near AMNH

A black SUV "with a white circle on it" and New Jersey plates triggered closed roads from 77th to 81st Streets and response from bomb technicians earlier this afternoon. The SUV was parked on 77th Street and Central Park West, dangerously close to the American Museum of Natural History. As of 1 p.m. the police had located the owner and was conducting an interview, and at 1:50 p.m. the roads were reopened. Bomb technicians have yet to determine whether the car contained anything dangerous. UPDATE: Westside Independent is reporting the SUV was a prototype BMW with no registration and special markings on it. It was also allegedly parked with its engine running in front of a fire hydrant, and was covered with a tarp.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on May 9, 2010 2:34 PM

Comments [rss]

Darrell

Meh. You know how it is, the terrorists show up, then we have to sit though weeks of security theater where a bunch of crap is deemed suspicious and blown up/searched, then the mayor, governor, congressman, or whoever gets on their little podium and talk about how we're winning the war on terror because we're so proactive. Then people don't care anymore, and then a terrorist shows up and we repeat this process all over again. Never mind the fact that the terrorists is never actually caught in the act of setting up their bomb.

inoyourider

Should be a big old parking ticket.

used_up_shoe

It's a good thing the upper west side is covered in 24 hour cameras, or we would never have spotted this suspicious vehicle.

Jen Chung

I love it—car idling with tarp over it in front of a fire hydrant. GOOD ONE.

John L

I hope this idiot and BMW are fined for wasting the time and resources of the NYPD and Fire Department. Its ridiculous to think that, with this city on high alert, someone can leave their car like that in front of such a prominent location and it not cause a stir. What an idiot!

used_up_shoe

I got stopped by cops last year while I was jogging because they had reports of someone matching my description being involved in an assault. Should I be required to pay for the 4 minutes of those cops salary? I guess I should have know better than to look like some dude and go jogging at 9pm.

jaycjay

He should have received a parking ticket, and one for leaving the vehicle idling. Beyond that, what would you fine him for? And fine BMW? Where's the logic behind that?

The single plate and no registration likely means it was a dealers' or manufacturers' plate, a fleet plate issued to a company but not tied to a specific vehicle.