March 6, 2008 Times Square bombing
Encyclopedia
On the morning of March 6, 2008, an unknown individual placed a small bomb in front of a United States armed forces
recruiting station in Times Square
, located in Midtown Manhattan
in New York City
. There were no injuries. A security camera shows the bomber riding a bicycle as he approaches the station, dismounting the bike and planting the bomb, and then speeding off shortly before the blast.
New York City police has yet to identify the bomber. Because of their similarities, investigators have suggested the bombing may be linked to two prior and one subsequent New York City bombings done in front of the Mexican Consulate in 2007, the British Consulate in 2005 and an Upper East Side
Starbucks
in 2009; however, upon the arrest of a suspect police now believe the Starbucks blast to be unrelated.
A letter sent to Congress with the words "we did it" was originally thought to be connected to the bombing, but ended up being completely unrelated to the incident. Investigators have also suspected the bombing may be related to an incident on the Canadian/US border in February 2008. Pictures of Times Square and anarchist-type material were found in a car that was randomly stopped by the police.
The bombing took place at around 3:43 a.m in front of a United States armed forces recruiting station in Times Square. A security camera mounted at 1501 Broadway
shows an individual riding a bicycle eastbound on 38th Street and Madison Avenue. He headed toward the recruiting center, putting himself out of camera view. He then placed an improvised explosive device
in front of the building, and left the area on a bicycle, reappearing on camera.
The bomber was seen riding a bicycle wearing a grey hooded jacket and a backpack, and was described as a "large" man. Retired New York City detective Ray Pierce suggested he may be a bicycle messenger
, noting the "comfortable" way he is seen riding his bicycle.
He also described the bomber as being a young, "frustrated" individual, who is trying to send a "confusing" message. Because of the low-powered explosive and the attack coming in the early morning hours, Pierce has suggested that the bomber is more likely trying to send a message, rather than hurting anyone.
Kelly described the bomb as "low-order explosive" and "not a particularly sophisticated device" contained in a military-style ammunition box.
Ross
bicycle
was found by construction workers in a dumpster located on East 38th Street, a few blocks from the bombing. Unaware of the bombing, several of the workers rode around on the bicycle, which made it harder for investigators to obtain fingerprint
s. After they heard about the bombing, they turned the bicycle over to the police. Investigators believed that the bicycle was the one used by the bomber. Fingerprint
s lifted from the bicycle ended up having "no value" in figuring out the identity of the bomber. New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly stated "I don't think anyone was seen leaving the bike". Investigators hoped that the public would be able to focus on the bike for up to a month after the bombing occurred. The bicycle was manufactured and sold in the 1980s at a store called "Yonkers Cycle Center" located in Westchester County, New York
. The store has since been closed down and the owner has died. Investigators believed the bicycle may have recently changed owners, as one investigator stated "someone may have sold it at a yard sale". Investigators believe the bicycle was stored indoors for most of the time.
members of Capitol Hill received letters that contained the words "Happy New Year, We did it" and a picture of a man standing in front of the Times Square
recruiting center. The letters also included a 32 page anti-Iraq War statement. The letters were sent in 5 inch-by-8 inch manila envelopes with two $1 stamps and a white label. Because each letter was numbered, investigators believed over 100 letters were mailed out. Recipients of the letters were warned not to open them and to notify police. Investigators originally believed the letters were connected with the bombing, but were proved to be completely unrelated to the incident and a coincidence.
The letters were mailed by David Karnes, a Los Angeles
area lawyer and anti-war
protester. After Karnes was questioned and his house was searched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), his claim of not being connected with the bombing was proved to be valid. He was actually trying to send an anti-Iraq War statement and advice for the Democrats on how to win the 2008 presidential election
. In an interview with the New York Times, David Karne's mother stated "I know when he said, ‘We did it,’ he was talking about the Democratic Party". She also stated that the picture of the man standing in front of the Times Square recruiting center was David Karnes. Investigators have said that the letters must have been sent weeks before the bombing occurred, since they went through the standard screening process, which can take up to a week or more. A law enforcement officer referred to the letters as an "ugly coincidence".
from New York
. While they were being questioned, one of the men fled from the car, getting away. He left behind a backpack
, inside of which pictures of New York City
locations were found, including pictures of the Times Square
recruiting center. At the time of the incident U.S. authorities did not find any evidence of criminal activity. Investigators have not linked the bombing to the border incident. The men have been described as "anarchist types". A U.S. government official has stated he strongly doubts a link between the border incident and bombing will be found, noting that the recruiting center is in a prominent location in Times Square and would most likely appear in pictures taken at Times Square.
, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Federal Bureau of Investigation
officials appeared later in the morning in a joint news conference
. Mayor Bloomberg denounced the attack and said that it "insults every one of our brave men and women in uniform stationed around the world.”
John McCain
’s presidential campaign released a statement after the bombing:
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also commented on the bombing:
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
recruiting station in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, located in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. There were no injuries. A security camera shows the bomber riding a bicycle as he approaches the station, dismounting the bike and planting the bomb, and then speeding off shortly before the blast.
New York City police has yet to identify the bomber. Because of their similarities, investigators have suggested the bombing may be linked to two prior and one subsequent New York City bombings done in front of the Mexican Consulate in 2007, the British Consulate in 2005 and an Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
in 2009; however, upon the arrest of a suspect police now believe the Starbucks blast to be unrelated.
A letter sent to Congress with the words "we did it" was originally thought to be connected to the bombing, but ended up being completely unrelated to the incident. Investigators have also suspected the bombing may be related to an incident on the Canadian/US border in February 2008. Pictures of Times Square and anarchist-type material were found in a car that was randomly stopped by the police.
Incident
1501 Broadway
1501 Broadway, also known as the Paramount Building, is a 33-story, 131.5 m office building located between West 43rd and 44th Streets in the Times Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It once housed the Paramount Theatre....
shows an individual riding a bicycle eastbound on 38th Street and Madison Avenue. He headed toward the recruiting center, putting himself out of camera view. He then placed an improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
in front of the building, and left the area on a bicycle, reappearing on camera.
The bomber was seen riding a bicycle wearing a grey hooded jacket and a backpack, and was described as a "large" man. Retired New York City detective Ray Pierce suggested he may be a bicycle messenger
Bicycle messenger
Bicycle messengers are people who work for courier companies carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business districts of metropolitan areas...
, noting the "comfortable" way he is seen riding his bicycle.
He also described the bomber as being a young, "frustrated" individual, who is trying to send a "confusing" message. Because of the low-powered explosive and the attack coming in the early morning hours, Pierce has suggested that the bomber is more likely trying to send a message, rather than hurting anyone.
Kelly described the bomb as "low-order explosive" and "not a particularly sophisticated device" contained in a military-style ammunition box.
Bicycle
A 1980s blue 10-speedRoad bicycle
The term road bicycle is used to describe bicycles built for traveling at speed on paved roads. Some sources use the term to mean racing bicycle...
Ross
Ross (bicycles)
Ross was a U.S. built line of bikes between 1950 and 1989, somewhat rivaling Schwinn, up until the mid 1980s. They were manufactured in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and had corporate headquarters in Rockaway Beach, New York....
bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
was found by construction workers in a dumpster located on East 38th Street, a few blocks from the bombing. Unaware of the bombing, several of the workers rode around on the bicycle, which made it harder for investigators to obtain fingerprint
Fingerprint
A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...
s. After they heard about the bombing, they turned the bicycle over to the police. Investigators believed that the bicycle was the one used by the bomber. Fingerprint
Fingerprint
A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...
s lifted from the bicycle ended up having "no value" in figuring out the identity of the bomber. New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly stated "I don't think anyone was seen leaving the bike". Investigators hoped that the public would be able to focus on the bike for up to a month after the bombing occurred. The bicycle was manufactured and sold in the 1980s at a store called "Yonkers Cycle Center" located in Westchester County, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The store has since been closed down and the owner has died. Investigators believed the bicycle may have recently changed owners, as one investigator stated "someone may have sold it at a yard sale". Investigators believe the bicycle was stored indoors for most of the time.
Letters
Hours after the bombing, Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
members of Capitol Hill received letters that contained the words "Happy New Year, We did it" and a picture of a man standing in front of the Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
recruiting center. The letters also included a 32 page anti-Iraq War statement. The letters were sent in 5 inch-by-8 inch manila envelopes with two $1 stamps and a white label. Because each letter was numbered, investigators believed over 100 letters were mailed out. Recipients of the letters were warned not to open them and to notify police. Investigators originally believed the letters were connected with the bombing, but were proved to be completely unrelated to the incident and a coincidence.
The letters were mailed by David Karnes, a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area lawyer and anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
protester. After Karnes was questioned and his house was searched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI), his claim of not being connected with the bombing was proved to be valid. He was actually trying to send an anti-Iraq War statement and advice for the Democrats on how to win the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. In an interview with the New York Times, David Karne's mother stated "I know when he said, ‘We did it,’ he was talking about the Democratic Party". She also stated that the picture of the man standing in front of the Times Square recruiting center was David Karnes. Investigators have said that the letters must have been sent weeks before the bombing occurred, since they went through the standard screening process, which can take up to a week or more. A law enforcement officer referred to the letters as an "ugly coincidence".
Similarities to past bombings
Investigators have noted the similarities between the Times Square bombings and past bombings in New York. In 2005 an individual riding a bike threw a grenade in front of the British consulate. A similar incident occurred in front of the Mexican consulate, which also involved an individual throwing a grenade in front of the window. Like the Times Square bombing, both incidents took place in the early morning hours and involved a man riding a bicycle. Investigators have not linked the incidents.Canadian border incident
After the bombing, investigators revisited an incident that occurred on the Canada – United States border. In February 2008, four men attempted to cross the border into CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. While they were being questioned, one of the men fled from the car, getting away. He left behind a backpack
Backpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
, inside of which pictures of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
locations were found, including pictures of the Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
recruiting center. At the time of the incident U.S. authorities did not find any evidence of criminal activity. Investigators have not linked the bombing to the border incident. The men have been described as "anarchist types". A U.S. government official has stated he strongly doubts a link between the border incident and bombing will be found, noting that the recruiting center is in a prominent location in Times Square and would most likely appear in pictures taken at Times Square.
Response
Mayor Michael BloombergMichael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
officials appeared later in the morning in a joint news conference
News conference
A news conference or press conference is a media event in which newsmakers invite journalists to hear them speak and, most often, ask questions. A joint press conference instead is held between two or more talking sides.-Practice:...
. Mayor Bloomberg denounced the attack and said that it "insults every one of our brave men and women in uniform stationed around the world.”
John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
’s presidential campaign released a statement after the bombing:
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also commented on the bombing: