IED used against recruting center in Times Square

NY Times:

Latest Update, 8:27 a.m. | The New York City police issued a statement at 7:33 a.m. describing the source of the explosion as an “improvised explosive device” and putting the time of the blast at 3:43 a.m. Subways and traffic are running normally through Times Square. (See related slide show.)

Full Account | New York City police officers and firefighters cordoned off much of Times Square for more than two hours after a small explosion — apparently set off by a manmade device — damaged the front of the Armed Forces Career Center on the traffic island bounded by 43rd and 44th Streets, Seventh Avenue and Broadway around 4 a.m., officials said. No one was injured, and after a temporary interruption, subway service was restored.

Most traffic around Times Square was allowed to pass by 6:45 a.m., after vehicles had been diverted for more than two hours. City officials confirmed that police had initially blocked off the area as a precaution to ensure that there was no secondary device or other threat; the officials emphasized that they did not believe anyone was in danger.

Police officers at the scene said the explosion — which they attributed to an “improved explosive device” — blew a hole through the front door of the recruiting station, which is at the northern end of the structure.

The authorities were looking into whether the explosion was connected to two earlier blasts that were similar in method and timing. At about 3:40 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2007, two dummy hand grenades that had been fashioned into crude bombs exploded outside the Mexican Consulate at 27 East 39th Street in Murray Hill, shattering windows. The building was not occupied and no one was hurt. At 3:55 a.m. on May 5, 2005, two crude but powerful explosive devices detonated outside the British Consulate at 845 Third Avenue in East Midtown, shattering windows and damaging a planter.

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There is much more. The additional explosions complicate the question of motive or suggest it a random act of violence. Obviously the bombers were not suicidal or attempting mass murder. It is more reminiscence of the Weather Underground movement of the 60's and 70's. They have been in the news recently because two of their member were early Obama supporters.

CNN is reporting that a man on bicycle was seen around the time of the explosion and police are looking for that person. They are also combing through security camera footage.