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Bronx Man Arrested For Penn Station Bomb Threat

2010_09_pennsta.jpg
Photograph by laverrue on Flickr

Yesterday, police arrested a 19-year-old Bronx man for allegedly threatening to blow up Penn Station and other transit hubs. And it turns out Jonathan Avalos is no stranger to the NYPD or making threats: He was arrested last year for threatening to kill President Obama and Police Commissioner Kelly.

Between Sunday and Tuesday, Avalos allegedly made four calls to the Port Authority tip line: NY1 reports, "During the calls, sources say Avalos said he was going to set off a grenade in Manhattan's Penn Station. He also allegedly threaten to blow up Newark Penn Station and the 175th Street station of the A Train." According to the Daily News, "An investigator called him Tuesday night, and police paid a visit to his Bronx home, but he wasn't home. Avalos called back Wednesday, and said he was planning to detonate the explosives by the end of the day."

The Port Authority's investigators convinced him to meet them near Yankee Stadium, where he was arrested. Avalos was charged with four counts of aggravated harassment.

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Comments [rss]

  • John L

    He's obviously mentally unstable.

    I hope they get him the help he needs.

  • Guest

    Aggravated harassment? If this kid had been Muslim or had a bit more melanin in his skin, I think those charges would have been elevated to terrorism.

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