Blasts Rock British Consulate in NYC

[DrMaddVibe]

Thursday, May 05, 2005
NEW YORK — Two small makeshift grenades exploded outside the British Consulate early Thursday, Election Day in England, causing slight damage to the building but injuring no one, officials said.

The blasts happened at 3:50 a.m.

The grenades had been placed inside a cement flower box outside the front door of the midtown Manhattan building that houses the consulate, police spokesman Noel Waters said.

After piecing together the shrapnel, police determined the devices were toy grenades that had been filled with gunpowder. Officers estimated that one was the size of a pineapple; the other the size of a lemon.

The blasts shattered a panel of glass in the building's front door and ripped a one-foot chunk from the planter. The department's bomb squad was at the scene and streets were closed in the area.

In London, Britain's Foreign Office (search) said there were no provisions for Britons to vote at overseas consulates. No further information was immediately available, the spokesman said. Calls to the British Embassy in Washington went unanswered early Thursday morning.

Britain's national elections have been dominated by anger with Prime Minister Tony Blair's (search) support for the Iraq war.

The 14-story glass and metal building, on 3rd Avenue at 51st Street less than a mile from the United Nations headquarters, has retail shops on the lower level.

Authorities closed streets around the site, causing some rush hour disruptions. Trains on one subway line skipped the stop close to the site.

[Ally_Kat]

Blasts Rock British Consulate in NYC
Thursday, May 05, 2005

NEW YORK — New York City police were questioning people and studying video surveillance tapes Thursday to determine who may be responsible for detonating two makeshift grenades outside the building that houses the British Consulate (search) earlier in the morning.

The explosions, which occurred on Britain's Election Day, caused the glass panels at the building's entrance in midtown Manhattan to shatter but no one was injured, officials said. A one-foot chunk from the planter was also torn off.

The department's bomb squad was at the scene and streets were closed in the area. The blasts happened at 3:50 a.m. EDT.

"Nobody's reported seeing anybody, people heard several explosions … but we're questioning everybody," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (search) told reporters at a morning press conference.

The FBI and police investigators were questioning a United Nations employee from the Netherlands who was found loitering near the building shortly after the explosion, law enforcement sources told The Associated Press. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not say whether or not the man was a suspect.Police said, however, that the man was not considered a suspect.

Bloomberg said traffic was soon flowing as usual, the subways were back up and running on their regular schedule and the building involved likely will be reopened later Thursday.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
The FBI and police investigators were questioning a United Nations employee from the Netherlands who was found loitering near the building shortly after the explosion

Dennis?

[Guitar Shark]

Was he wearing a panda suit?

[LadyTudor2711]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
Blasts Rock British Consulate in NYC
Thursday, May 05, 2005

NEW YORK — New York City police were questioning people and studying video surveillance tapes Thursday to determine who may be responsible for detonating two makeshift grenades outside the building that houses the British Consulate (search) earlier in the morning.

The explosions, which occurred on Britain's Election Day, caused the glass panels at the building's entrance in midtown Manhattan to shatter but no one was injured, officials said. A one-foot chunk from the planter was also torn off.

The department's bomb squad was at the scene and streets were closed in the area. The blasts happened at 3:50 a.m. EDT.

"Nobody's reported seeing anybody, people heard several explosions … but we're questioning everybody," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (search) told reporters at a morning press conference.

The FBI and police investigators were questioning a United Nations employee from the Netherlands who was found loitering near the building shortly after the explosion, law enforcement sources told The Associated Press. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not say whether or not the man was a suspect.Police said, however, that the man was not considered a suspect.

Bloomberg said traffic was soon flowing as usual, the subways were back up and running on their regular schedule and the building involved likely will be reopened later Thursday.


Hey there,

I am across the street from the UN, it was pamdemonium that morning, I was still up and gossiping on the phone. The sirens and helicopters were in full force. I am on Third Ave every day and know exactly where this occurred.

Who does this shit, what the fuck is wrong with people? Please help me understand, because I don't get it.

Sit at home, buy gun powder and make a bomb, hide it in a planter and detonate it when no one is around?

Coincidentally, that was the same time in the morning that the polls opened in England. Maybe I am reaching here, but what a moronic thing to do and then take no credit.

If there is no purpose then there is no meaning behind the action. Crime Stopper vans are driving through the neighborhood making the general announcement about anyone having info.

During the day this area is crawling with cops , bomb k9 unit, and plain clothes detectives. This is Consulate parking and restricted office area.

Diplomats here can run you over and leave tread marks and you couldn't do anything about it. night time, just cops in boxes at the corner. There need to me more officers on foot patrol, plus there are camera everywhere. Still not enough. No one can expect some idiot security guard who earns $6.00 and hour to pay attention and give a shit.

Everyone is fired... Who is in charge around here???

Best,
LT