Suspicious Packange in Times Square

[teko]

Details still coming in. Evacuation in progress...

[specialmom]

I have always wondered why we didn't have more suicide bombers and such here.  You hear of it in other countries at places like markets and main pedestrian locations.  When something like the SUV incident happens I always worry that others will begin trying similar types of things.  Inducing fear?  Well--------------  they were successful as far as I'm concerned.  

[mikesimon]

What?
That wasn't at all clear.
I didn't understand what you are trying to say.

[ILADVOCATE]

Sometimes the point of this is to instill fear in people that very real attacks might occur. Creating a climate of fear and paranoia in what is supposed to a free country absent of this is often their exact aim.

[adgal]

Wasn't there also a 911 call made to that effect?  Again, I only caught a bit of it, but someone called 911 saying there was more to come or something along those lines.  It's just so scary.  Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.  I wish this would somehow just end.

[Barb135]

No, a "dry run" is designed to see what would happen in the event of a real attack.  This was designed to see how much damage would be done and/or how many people killed.  Supposedly there was a threat that something similar would happen elsewhere soon, that would be the "real thing".......

[adgal]

I heard that as well.  It was some guy involved in anti terrorism under the Bush administration I believe.  Or maybe its the current admin.  He said that that is not uncommon as it helps the terrorists learn about response times, etc.  I sure hope that's not the case here.

[teko]

I too heard about the dry run with the suv. I think I read it in the New York Times. It will hopefully not be true.

[ILADVOCATE]

I believe that would mean that nothing suspicious was found. There is a specific trained bomb squad to investigate these matters. Since 9-11 the NYPD have been very diligent. I do know when I was in Grand Central Station once there were police officers with police dogs asking everyone to show their bags. It was quite unnerving. However, I am sure they were investigating a specific concern. Quite often someone left their backpack on the train by accident but its better they err on the side of caution then let an incident occur without people noticing.

[Barb135]

I heard on the radio and read an internet article that said the SUV was a "dry run". Sorry, I don't know exactly where I saw it.  Maybe the cooler was another one to see how diligent people really are.

Could it be that New York is being targeted because of the huge number of people concentrated there? Isn't the idea of a terrorist attack to take out the largest number of people in the smallest area possible?  

Scary!!

[adgal]

It seems like New York is always the prime target.  I wonder why that is.  As an outsider I would think it would be more apt to be Washington D.C.  It would be awful to have to live in fear.  I guess that's why they call it terrorism.

[teko]

I think New Yorkers are jittery! I dont blame them either!

[adgal]

They have given the all clear now.  Wasn't there also an incident on a bridge a few days ago as well?  A U-haul I think abandoned and a gas smell?  I am glad both of these incidents proved to be nothing and think it's great that people are being so diligent.  It's just unfortunate that they have to be.

[teko]

Evidently there is a suspicious package in a cooler which sits in front of a hotel. Cleared 44-47th streets from what I understand. This comes one week after the suv planted in the same area. Probably nothing but it is still playing out.