Posted on 01/31/2007 12:04:30 PM PST by Howlin
BOSTON -- Four "hoax devices" were found at several Boston locations Wednesday, hours after officials detonated a suspicious package on an elevated structure above the Sullivan Square Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station.
The additional packages were found at the Boston University Bridge, the Longfellow Bridge and near the intersection of Stuart and Columbus streets. A device described by officials as a pipe bomb was found in the basement of the Tufts New England Medical Center at 185 Harrison Ave.
A spokesman for the Boston Police Department said that all of the packages appeared to be similar.
"Our device was not an active device. We are still treating the area as a crime scene. There were no injuries. Everyone was evacuated properly, and everyone now back to their locations," Tufts New England Medical Center's Brooke Hynes said.
Mayor Tom Menino said that all of the packages found posed no danger, but the incidents remained under investigation. Storrow Drive eastbound was shut down for a brief time, and the MBTA suspended service on the Red Line and planned to bus afternoon commuters between Kendall and Park Street stations.
Earlier Wednesday, the state police bomb squad was called and detonated the package in Sullivan Square just before 10 a.m. Officials said it contained an electronic circuit board with some components that were "consistent with an improvised explosive device," but they said it had no explosives. They determined that the device was not dangerous, but destroyed it as a precaution.
"We determined that this device, in particular, was not explosive," said MBTA Lt. Sal Venturelli.
He said MBTA police were told about the package by a transit passenger who spotted it on a column that supports Interstate 93. The parcel was located on an elevated structure above the bus way and below I-93 in the Charlestown section of Boston at about 8 a.m.
"This is a perfect example of our passengers taking part in Homeland Security," Venturelli said.
An investigation will be conducted into how the package got there and when, he said.
Train service on the Orange Line between Sullivan Square and Wellington stations was suspended in both directions. No injuries were reported.
The northbound side of I-93 was closed, causing significant traffic backups. Motorists were not allowed to access the highway near Sullivan Square coming up from the south.
I think he deliberately said hooks, knowing that it was a guerilla advertising stunt.
"Several calls to 9-11 about suspicious packages"
If you are correct and the people who made the little light up devices did in fact report themselves, yes I agree, that is something that should be dealt with.
I sincerely hope Turner Broadcasting gets a big fat bill for the cost of today's "joke"
Whitley Strieber, call your office.
Ha!
Yep, and unfortunately, by creating a phoney threat, when the real thing comes along and is reported, the authorities may not respond so quickly. As well, John Q. Public may not even pay attention to it and fail to report it.
I was not agreeing with the mindset that this isn't serious. Reread my post.
I do apologize....that was a rather broad sweeping statement I made...
I do LOVE Massachusetts freepers!
Ol' Shep was getting excited, someone was giving the police the bird. I guess you see what you want to see.
I believe it's 5 years in prison for each device.
I know what you said, I was commenting more on the mindset of the posters you referenced.
I have no problem with your post.
LOL. No apology is necessary.
btt
I don't understand any of this.
I'm with you. Try as I might, the humor in the situation just escapes me. Maybe I'm hung up on the calls to LE reporting suspicios packages. The hilarity of that just goes right over my head.
Explain that to me, will you?
'Suspicious Packages' in Boston Part of Marketing Campaign. Turner Broadcasting Claims Devices Found in City Meant to Promote Show on Cartoon Network
As many as seven suspicious packages found throughout the Boston area in Massachusetts were part of a marketing campaign for the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim program, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," according to Turner Broadcasting.
A statement from the company indicates that they are in talks with law enforcement officials to diffuse the situation.
"The 'packages' in question are magnetic lights that pose no danger," said the statement from Shirley Powell, senior vice president of corporate communications for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. "They are part of an outdoor marketing campaign in 10 cities in support of Adult Swim's animated television show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger."
May I ask what cobalt 60 powder is?
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