[Sacajaweau]

Yeh....set the stage for copycats...That’s the idea...

[Timber Rattler]

So somebody’s car probably backfires, and all of DC panics?

[ScottinVA]

Yeh....set the stage for copycats...That’s the idea...

Or setting up for a future diversionary tactic. They likely orchestrated this to check how many LE personnel from the DC area would move from their normal areas of responsibility to the Navy Yard, thereby exposing other areas for criminal activity or terror attacks.