Suspected vehicle with bomb closes down parts of Times Square NYC

[Lara]

I thought that they ended up discounting that and saying that it was just the planes? I might be misremembering, though.

I was a few blocks away from Times Square on Saturday evening...scary. I went farther uptown before anything happened, but the place was packed with people because it was a really nice night out. Small bomb or not, I bet it would have caused some damage. I love my city, but sometimes it's a scary place to live.

I'd gotten on the D train uptown by mistake and ended up at the subway stop right after Times Square. It is scary to think about and the weather was indeed perfect so I can imagine how many people were out.

[GarrAarghHrumph]

Airlines were formerly required to check the no-fly-list within 24 hours of its being updated. Now they will be required to check it within 2 hours of its being updated.

The suspect in this case was added to the no-fly-list a few hours before his flight boarded, but the airline didn't check the updated list before they boarded that flight.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100505/...o_fly_airlines

[MOIJTO]

Airlines were formerly required to check the no-fly-list within 24 hours of its being updated. Now they will be required to check it within 2 hours of its being updated.

The suspect in this case was added to the no-fly-list a few hours before his flight boarded, but the airline didn't check the updated list before they boarded that flight.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100505/...o_fly_airlines

I heard this on the news this morning that he got on the plane and that when it was realized the plane was diverted back.

Some kind of security we have? Maybe the 2 vendors that were "observant" could run the TSA!

[Holley Calmes]

Why is this not in Politically Incorrect????????

[skatingfan5]

Why is this not in Politically Incorrect????????

Probably because it was started as reporting news of an emerging situation -- and not necessarily the subject of any political debate. I suppose that some could try to turn it into such and then the mods might move it to PI.

[Civic]

Here's info on the guy's background:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100505/...square_suspect

From a wealthy family in Pakistan, came to the US on a student visa, got a degree from a reputable, if low tier uni in Connecticut. Got his MBA there as well. Working a good job, owned a home. Then everything changed. Quit his job, abandoned the house, moved back to Pakistan with his family. Then returned here alone, leaving his family back in Pakistan.

I'm not surprised he majored in computer application systems at the University of Bridgeport. The Muslim terrorist suspects who study at Western universities and make it into the news all seem to have studied utilitarian subjects like engineering, medicine, computer science or business administration. I can't recall even one who earned his degree in the fine arts, humanities or social sciences. What's up with that? Is this merely coincidence? Do Islamic terrorist organizations prefer to recruit technocrats?

[GarrAarghHrumph]

I'm not surprised he majored in computer application systems at the University of Bridgeport. The Muslim terrorist suspects who study at Western universities and make it into the news all seem to have studied utilitarian subjects like engineering, medicine, computer science or business administration. I can't recall even one who earned his degree in the fine arts, humanities or social sciences. What's up with that? Is this merely coincidence? Do Islamic terrorist organizations prefer to recruit technocrats?

I'm sure that such organizations do perhaps prefer tech students. But a big part of it, IMO, is that so many foreign students in the US are here specifically to study such subjects.

In my experience, the vast majority of foreign students who study in the US study for technical degrees, and for business/MBAs. This is even more true for foreign students from countries in the middle east and Asia, where in general and specific, US science and engineering degrees carry EXTREMELY high prestige in the home country.

In addition, in some foreign countries, the gov't is willing to sponsor the US studies of promising tech/science students, because those tech and science skills are so needed in the home country - not for evil, but for good.

ETA: and for those students who are funding their US studies themselves, if not well-off, their families have often "mortgaged" everything they own in order to send their child here. Financially, the investment is huge, and parents will put their entire savings, pull in favors from other family members, take on second and third jobs, in order to pay for their child's US tuition. Even if the family is well-off, financially, this type of investment is often only made if the degree has immediate and high impact earnings potential - so that's usually only done for tech and science related degrees.

In the end, while yes, it probably is the case that terrorist orgs want to recruit people with tech skills, another significant part of this is that the vast majority, if not nearly all, of the students from those countries who are studying in the US are studying tech subjects.

[soxxy]

Times Square is being evacuated now, Friday at 1 pm. A suspicious package has been found at 45th & Broadway.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/07...package-found/

[nypanda]

All clear just called. I heart the NYPD. Keep being vigilant guys!!