May 2nd, 2010
03:48 AM ET

Official: 'Too early' to call Times Square a terror incident

It is too early to tell whether the incident in New York's Times Square was a terror incident involving al Qaeda or another terror network, a federal official briefed on the situation told CNN early Sunday.

The investigation by the New York police "just started," the official said.

The official cautioned that connecting any dots this soon will get "way ahead" of the investigation.

But based on the preliminary investigation, the official downplayed the impact of the car bomb, saying, "if it was real, it didn't work."

A second federal official also said there are no clear indicators that this is international terrorism.
Filed under: Terrorism • Times Square Car Bomb • U.S.
soundoff (59 Responses)
  1. Mike

    Is it something to take attention out from recent oil spil in GOM?????????
    Who knows??????

    May 2, 2010 at 8:27 am | Report abuse |
  2. frank

    OH my God people..have we all lost it in the U.S. blomberg touts NYC as always being a target because it is the the greatest city in the world, CNN pundits expounding on something they know nothing about but have the string of "experts" to tell us why we should all be concerned. Yet, so far...all we have is an old SUV with the same stuff thousands of people everyday leave Home Depot and Lowe's with in the back of their SUV's. START using your own grey matter and think for yourselves. Get away from the 24 hour news cycle and the need to sell advertising! NO ONE has yet said any of the material was linked together to form an explosive device and please, please stop using the word "terrorist" for every criminal act that occurs. Call a looney just what they are, looney. Wanting to hurt others is not always an act of terrorism. I am terrified at the thought of driving in NYC. I would say drivers in NYC are terrorists since they terrify me! Please, please start to think and live in the way we were meant to in the U.S. Don't let the news shows, and doomsday experts tell us what we should be afraid of and how to live. We already see the result at the airports with that idiotic security exercise.
    By the way, I am in Iraq helping to hunt down the "terrorists" that so many speak of.

    May 2, 2010 at 8:34 am | Report abuse |
  3. es

    Of course it's to early to determine if it was a terror act!! It could also be that during the manufacturing process, someone dropped a bomb on the back seat... It was by mistake though. Can't rule out the "sizzling fajita theory" either...

    May 2, 2010 at 8:36 am | Report abuse |
  4. Will

    It's just FOX News creating a new "lead".

    May 2, 2010 at 8:46 am | Report abuse |
  5. tibbs2404

    Do any of you people watch the news, or know a soldier who has been to war. Because I first hand have been to Iraq and fought in the war. All the soldiers that die over there die from unconventional threats such as the oone in times square. This is what the terrorist want. they want you to just blow it off like it was just some homegrown incident when infact it is not. This type of incident will continue to happen and we must not get complacent. The threats and actions are real and they are meant to kill, deter and undermine the united states government and its people. Please head the warning signs and be vigilant. Report any suspisious signs to your state or local government. Im telling you these are the cheapest and easiest ways for terrorist to cause major havick. it happens everyday in afghanistan and Iraq.

    May 2, 2010 at 9:04 am | Report abuse |
  6. az12345

    terrorism is terrorism .... however if it is international it is small price to support israel

    May 2, 2010 at 9:10 am | Report abuse |
  7. Sean

    Mark, simple, this administration doesn't want to label anything as terrorism or anyone as terrorists. It's important to have a clear mind to make good decision. A fearful mind makes bad decision.

    May 2, 2010 at 9:27 am | Report abuse |
  8. JohnnyCarson

    Just another false flag event of many to come i would suppose ! Ya'll know 9/11 was a inside job right ? What will it be tomorrow ? Gotta love the mainstream media ! Just glad no one was hurt ! The part that cracks me up is the little headline " Witness seen the explosion " ? Ummmmmmmmmm, what explosion ?

    May 2, 2010 at 9:31 am | Report abuse |
  9. shyam

    Too early to say if it is a terrorist attack? you must be kidding. who would load propage, gas and crackers with timer clocks at a place people are likely to die? prank???

    This is second tier low tech terrorism as the first-tier is being curbed. Next, they will use swords, knives maybe stones.

    May 2, 2010 at 9:33 am | Report abuse |
  10. Steve

    First comment, "4:09 am". Kinda early for you cry-baby whiners to start this morning isn't it? Your tears can't be dried yet from complaining done YESTERDAY!

    May 2, 2010 at 9:43 am | Report abuse |
  11. Mauro

    Funny I live in midtown Manhattan- went out to dinner last night and came home and hadn't a clue that there was a "terrorist attack" in the neighborhood. But it's nice to know so many others are so concerned about us, I guess it keeps people occupied.

    May 2, 2010 at 9:45 am | Report abuse |
  12. Conservatype

    For those who say that this looks too "home made" to be the act of radical Islamic terrorists: what do you expect, official Al Quaida logos on the bomb materials?

    May 2, 2010 at 9:49 am | Report abuse |
  13. Jonas Nielsen

    Maybe if the US would stop the one-sided support of Israel, and allow the Palestinians to import food, water and medicine, the whole "anti USA" movement would slowly loose it's base.

    May 2, 2010 at 9:51 am | Report abuse |
  14. Mauro

    Every local new media are calling it "amateurish" , while the 24 hour national news machinery continue to hype "terrorism" Hmm, I wonder why?

    May 2, 2010 at 10:09 am | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4
« Back to main