Bomb squad blows up suspect package at Love Park
Traffic was snarled near City Hall for about an hour this afternoon as police investigated a suspicious case found in Love Park.
A bomb squad was called to JFK Plaza at at 12:10 p.m. because a suspicious gray briefcase was discovered inside a collection of bags stuffed into a black cart. The cart was chained to a sign honoring former city planner Ed Bacon on 15th Street, near JFK Boulevard.
Bystanders heard a muffled explosion as the bomb squad detonated the shopping cart's contents. The ordinance disposal team pulled out the green duffel bag containing the case, and pulled the other bags apart, finding "mostly clothes and a few tools," police Capt. Alan Clark said. He was not sure what time the detonation occurred.
The remnants on the sidewalk included the briefcase, the metal cart, about five black plastic trash bags, a tied-up green bag, and a brown paper banner with images from movies and names of film directors pasted on it.
By 1:30, the debris had been removed, pedestrians were allowed back on the sidewalk, and traffic was flowing again.
