Two grenades exploded outside British Consulate in NY this morning

[isasir]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet.

Two "improvised explosive devices" made from "novelty-type grenades" have exploded in front of the building that houses the British Consulate in New York City, police said.

The blasts early Thursday morning shattered windows but did not cause significant damage or injuries, the New York Police Department said.

The devices, which contained black gunpowder and fuses, blew out a chunk of concrete in the flower box where they were planted outside the building.

The explosions occurred as voters in Britain were casting ballots in a general election in which Prime Minister Tony Blair is seeking a historic third term for his Labour Party. (Full story)

The small bombs exploded at 3:35 a.m. EDT (0735 GMT), police said.

"It was detonated in one of the cement flower boxes used as a barrier outside the building," a police spokesman told the UK Press Association.

"There was some damage to the front window but there are no reports of any injuries at this stage."

One of the grenades looked like a pineapple and the other like a lemon, one investigator said, adding that similar items could be purchased at any toy store.

Police said the devices had been altered to explode by the addition of black gunpowder, The Associated Press reported. Police made the conclusion after piecing together the shrapnel.

"It was one of those things you light and then run," a police spokesman told PA.

Witnesses described hearing two loud blasts just seconds apart.

Santos Figuroa was working down the street and said he heard "two loud bangs" that "sounded like thunder."

The consulate is located at 845 Third Avenue, between 51st and 52nd streets, police said. The building houses other offices in addition to the consulate.

Video from the scene showed New York City bomb squad personnel examining a car with shattered windows parked on the street in front of the consulate.

The road was closed for two blocks on either side of the building, which was surrounded by police and bomb squad experts.

Police were investigating whether there was any security camera footage of what happened, PA reported.

Text

 

[halik]

damn it,
im moving to NY in 3 weeks....

 

[xospec1alk]

scary thing is....

i live 8 blocks away, and i didn't hear sh!t....didn't hear the explosions, didn't hear the emergency vehicles...

 

[Queasy]

British elections started at around the same time the grenades went off. Just pray that nothing happens in the UK.

 

[alent1234]

no wonder they had cops on the 53rd and Lexington subway station this morning

 

[meltdown75]

one can only hope this is not a sign of things to come.

 

[chrisms]

Well nobody was hurt so thats good

 

[Justin218]

seems like it might be being blown out of proportion

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Well at least we know where Bin Laden is.

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: Justin218
seems like it might be being blown out of proportion

how do you figure? its 2 grenades exploding outside a building...

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Well at least we know where Bin Laden is.

While I agree that the hunt for Bin Laden should not have been given a backseat...at least there is one positive development: Text

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Well at least we know where Bin Laden is.

While I agree that the hunt for Bin Laden should not have been given a backseat...at least there is one positive development: Text

And that is a good thing without qualification.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Well at least we know where Bin Laden is.

While I agree that the hunt for Bin Laden should not have been given a backseat...at least there is one positive development: Text

And that is a good thing without qualification.

:beer:

 

[geecee]

I watched to the news very briefly before I ran out this morning and it looked like one of the improvised "grenades" was set off in one of the big concrete flowerpots that they use to block vehicles from driving on to the sidewalk and into buildings. It look like the explosive was enough to crack part of the pot, but not much more. Fortunately, no one was around when it went off. But the guy who parked his Jeep next to the flowerpot is going to be very angry.

EDIT: Didn't seem to affect the Lexington Ave line (4,5,6)...

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: alent1234
no wonder they had cops on the 53rd and Lexington subway station this morning

that's my wife's stop too...

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: alent1234
no wonder they had cops on the 53rd and Lexington subway station this morning

I was wondering the same thing when I transferred from the 6 to the E this morning. There were at least a dozen cops in the corridor, and the MTA agent announced the the Lex. Ave. exit was closed due to police investigation.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: xospec1alk

Originally posted by: Justin218
seems like it might be being blown out of proportion

how do you figure? its 2 grenades exploding outside a building...

they were toy grenades with gun powder.

 

[chowmein]

:|my mom was just at the consulate yesterday.

 

[Rebasxer]

This story is blown way out of proportion, especially since nothing is known at this moment.