2008 Times Square bombing

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = March 6, 2008, Times Square bombing

| image = Times Square Bombing.jpg

| caption = The bomb shattered the window and door of the recruiting center

| location = Times Square, New York City

| coordinates= {{coord|40|45|24.73|N|73|59|10.28|W|region:US|display=inline,title}}

| date = {{start date|2008|3|6}}

| time = 3:43 a.m

| timezone = UTC-5

| type = Bombing

| fatalities = 0

| injuries = 0

| perps =

| perp = Unidentified

| susperps =

| susperp =

| weapons =

}}

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.

Despite 15 years of investigation, authorities have not identified a suspect in the case. Investigators have suggested the bombing may be linked to two previous unsolved bombings in New York City: one at the British consulate in 2005 and Mexican consulate in 2007.

Incident

File:Times Square Bombing media.jpg gathers after the bombing.]]

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/local/manhattan/ny-nysquare0307,0,7774882.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310173816/http://www.newsday.com/news/local/manhattan/ny-nysquare0307%2C0%2C7774882.story |archive-date=March 10, 2008 |title=Police investigating Times Square explosion |newspaper=Newsday |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=2008-05-31 |url-status=dead }} Retired New York City detective Ray Pierce suggested he may be a bicycle messenger, noting the "comfortable" way he is seen riding his bicycle.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07bicycle.html |title=In Times Square Blast, Echoes of Earlier Bombings |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=May 31, 2008 |first=Al |last=Baker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101030942/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07bicycle.html |archive-date=November 1, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

Investigation

=Bicycle=

A 1980s blue 10-speed Ross bicycle was found by construction workers in a dumpster located on East 38th Street near Madison Avenue. Unaware of the bombing, several of the workers rode around on the bicycle, which made it harder for investigators to obtain fingerprints. After they heard about the bombing, they turned the bicycle over to the police. Investigators identified the bicycle found in the dumpster, a short distance from the recruiting station, to be the one used by the bomber.

Fingerprints lifted from the bicycle ended up having "no value" in figuring out the identity of the bomber. The bicycle was manufactured and sold in the 1980s at a store called "Yonkers Cycle Center" located in Westchester County, New York.{{cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/new-york/bike-may-be-key-to-times-square-bomb-case/74114/ |title=Bike May Be Key to Times Square Bomb Case |newspaper=New York Sun |date=April 3, 2008 |access-date=June 10, 2008}} 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.

=Bomb=

New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly described the bomb as "low-order explosive" and "not a particularly sophisticated device" contained in a green ammunition box.Bichard Esposito, Pierre Thomas & Stephen Splane, [https://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Blotter/story?id=4398877&page=1 Letters Seem to Claim Responsibility for Times Square Blast], ABC News (March 6, 2008). The ammunition can was "filled halfway with black powder" and a time fuse was used for detonation.Aaron Katersky, [https://abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-offering-250k-reward-unsolved-2008-times-square/story?id=97685897 FBI offering $250K reward for unsolved 2008 Times Square bombing], ABC News (March 7, 2023).

===FBI investigation===

The FBI-led New York Joint Terrorism Task Force continues to investigate the case. Over 15 years of investigation, several persons of interest were investigated, but no suspect has been identified. According to the FBI, the bomber may have been aided by up to five other people in Times Square during the attack, comprising a lookout or surveillance team.

In 2013, the FBI released new video footage of the purported bomber, and announced that a $65,000 reward would be given to anyone who could provide information leading to the bomber's identification, arrest and conviction.{{cite news | title = FBI, NYC offer $65K reward for 2008 Times Square bombing info | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-nyc-offer-65k-reward-for-2008-times-square-bombing-info/#app | newspaper = CBS News | date = June 18, 2013 | access-date = July 20, 2016 }} The reward was increased to $115,000 in April 2015,{{cite news | title = FBI, NYPD offer $115K reward in unsolved 2008 Times Square bombing | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-nypd-offer-115000-reward-in-unsolved-2008-times-square-bombing/ | work = CBS News | agency = Associated Press | date = April 15, 2015 | access-date = July 18, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160819232140/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-nypd-offer-115000-reward-in-unsolved-2008-times-square-bombing/ | archive-date = August 19, 2016 | url-status = live | df = mdy-all }} and was increased to $250,000 in March 2023.

Possible connection to 2005 British consulate bombing and 2007 Mexican consulate bombing

The FBI has said that the bombing may be linked to two previous unsolved bombings in New York City: one at the British consulate in 2005 and Mexican consulate in 2007.[https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/newyork/news/press-releases/more-than-100-000-being-offered-for-information-in-unsolved-2008-times-square-bombing More Than $100,000 Being Offered for Information in Unsolved 2008 Times Square Bombing], FBI New York Press Office (April 15, 2015). The components of the bombs in all three attacks were similar, and the consulate bombings, like the 2008 attack on the Times Square recruitment station, involved a bicyclist who threw an explosive between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Leads that were ruled out

An early morning explosion at an Upper East Side Starbucks in May 2009{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE54O3A220090525 | work=Reuters | title=Early morning blast damages Starbucks | first=Ellen | last=Wulfhorst | date=May 25, 2009 | access-date=June 30, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805234138/http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE54O3A220090525 | archive-date=August 5, 2009 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} was determined to be unrelated to the Times Square bombing of the recruitment station.{{Cite news |last=DeMarche |first=Edmund |date=July 15, 2009 |title=Boast leads to arrest in N.Y. Starbucks bombing |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/15/new.york.starbucks.explosion/index.html|url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719092428/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/15/new.york.starbucks.explosion/index.html |archive-date=July 19, 2009}} The perpetrator of the Starbucks blast, age 17 at the time of the explosion, was arrested, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced in 2010.[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/east-side-starbucks-explosion-teen-sentenced-today/1872012/ East Side Starbucks-Bomb Teen Is Going to Prison], NBC New York (November 16, 2010).

After the bombing, investigators also revisited a separate incident that occurred on the Canada–United States border.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=4407063&page=1 |title=Times Square Bomber's Bike Found |work=ABC News |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=June 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313053311/https://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=4407063&page=1 |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

In February 2008, four men attempted to cross the border into Canada from New York. While they were being questioned by Canadian border agents, one of the men fled from the car, getting away.{{cite web |url = http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=61e72df1-f6ed-4004-b64c-59212d245c6a |title = Canada-U.S. border incident linked to Times Square bombing |publisher = Canada.com |date = March 7, 2008 |access-date = June 11, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080610062515/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=61e72df1-f6ed-4004-b64c-59212d245c6a |archive-date = 2008-06-10 |url-status = dead}} He left behind a backpack, inside of which pictures of New York City locations were found, including at least one picture of the Times Square recruiting center.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/police-probe-canadian-border-link-to-times-square-bombing-reports-say-1.746665 |title=Police probe Canadian border link to Times Square bombing, reports say |publisher=CBC |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=June 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611102224/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/police-probe-canadian-border-link-to-times-square-bombing-reports-say-1.746665 |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|title=Photo of Times Square bombing suspect released|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/03/08/times.square.bomb/|publisher=CNN|date=March 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311165902/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/08/times.square.bomb/|archive-date=March 11, 2008|url-status=dead}} A senior U.S. government official also told CNN that "anarchist-type material" was found in the car. However, U.S. authorities did not find any evidence of criminal activity, and investigators have not linked the bombing to the border incident. 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/08/times.square.bomb/index.html |title=Photo of Times Square bombing suspect released |publisher=CNN |date=March 8, 2008 |access-date=June 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613013224/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/08/times.square.bomb/index.html |archive-date=June 13, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

Hours after the bombing, Democratic Party 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 64-page anti-Iraq War statement.{{cite news|last1=Karnes |first1=David |title=Media hounded |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-15-oe-karnes15-story.html |access-date=April 29, 2016 |newspaper=LA Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429194548/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/15/opinion/oe-karnes15 |archive-date=April 29, 2016 }}{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/03/06/2008-03-06_police_investigating_letters_about_times.html| title=Police investigating letters about Times Square bombing sent to Capitol Hill| newspaper=New York Daily News| date=March 7, 2008| access-date=June 9, 2008| first1=Alison| last1=Gendar| first2=Tamer| last2=El-Ghobashy| first3=Larry| last3=McShane| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410135119/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/03/06/2008-03-06_police_investigating_letters_about_times.html| archive-date=April 10, 2008| url-status=live| df=mdy-all}} After investigating the letters, interrogating the author, and searching his home, authorities proved that the letter was unrelated to the incident and a coincidence.{{cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/letter-writer-becomes-odd-footnote-to-times-square-bombing/|title=Letter Writer Becomes Odd Footnote to Times Square Bombing |work=The New York Times |date=March 7, 2008|first=Al |last=Baker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705193357/http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/letter-writer-becomes-odd-footnote-to-times-square-bombing/ |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/07/times.square/ |title=Leads in Times Square bombing fizzle |publisher=CNN |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=June 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516122618/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/07/times.square/ |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |url-status=live }} The letters were sent weeks before the bombing occurred.

Response

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 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.”{{cite news|title=Police release footage of Times Square bombing|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-06-times-square_N.htm|newspaper=USA Today|date=March 7, 2008|access-date=May 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010033934/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-06-times-square_N.htm|archive-date=October 10, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

John McCain’s presidential campaign released a statement after the bombing:

{{blockquote|The attempted attack that happened in New York City this morning when someone tried to harm a recruiting station in Times Square is unacceptable in America. I know Mayor Bloomberg as well as other law enforcement agencies are actively working, and I have been assured a full investigation is taking place and hope they bring the individuals to justice as quickly as possible. We cannot allow this to happen to the men and women serving in our military whether they are at home or abroad.{{cite news

|url=http://thepage.time.com/mccain-statement-on-times-square-explosion/

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312202022/http://thepage.time.com/mccain-statement-on-times-square-explosion/

|archive-date=2008-03-12

|title=McCain Statement on Times Square Explosion

|date=March 7, 2008

|url-status=dead

|access-date=June 9, 2008

}}

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also commented on the bombing:

{{blockquote|I am deeply concerned by the detonation of a small bomb at the military recruiting office in Times Square. While we should be grateful that there were no injuries and minimal damage, there is an ongoing investigation into whether the attack is linked to foreign terrorist groups, and federal, state, and city authorities should be given every resource and every tool to swiftly complete that investigation. Having worked with and supported our law enforcement and national security authorities in New York, I am confident that they will get the job done. Whatever else we learn about this attack, it is a reminder of the threats we continue to face at home and the importance of remaining vigilant.{{cite news

|url=http://thepage.time.com/clinton-statement-on-nycs-times-square-explosion/

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312061628/http://thepage.time.com/clinton-statement-on-nycs-times-square-explosion/

|archive-date=2008-03-12

|title=Clinton Statement on NYC's Times Square Explosion

|date=March 7, 2008

|url-status=dead

|access-date=June 9, 2008

}}}}