September 12, 2001

7:01 PM

NYC police scanner(RealAudio) reveals that officers are closing off a five-block area due to a bomb threat on the 44th floor of the Empire State Building. No officers are to report to that location.
posted by droob (21 comments total)

NBC reports that a bomb-sniffing dog tested positively at the Empire State Building.

Penn Station evacuated, too.
posted by hijinx at 7:17 PM on September 12, 2001

The people on Fox News have no idea why the evacuation is going on yet.
posted by howa2396 at 7:22 PM on September 12, 2001

Cnn is clueless as well...
posted by Ms Snit at 7:28 PM on September 12, 2001

holy shit. they're evacuating now...
posted by prozaction at 7:29 PM on September 12, 2001

It's odd & liberating to be more in-the-know than national news desks.
posted by droob at 7:29 PM on September 12, 2001

The stream just quit on me. Is it still working for anyone else?
posted by LeiaS at 7:29 PM on September 12, 2001

Scanner link down....try the one for Staten Island.
posted by bkdelong at 7:29 PM on September 12, 2001

One officer was responding to a threat with a small team about 20 minutes ago. He came back on radio 5-10 minutes ago sounding very excited, warning everyone to keep away. They blocked off streets immediately. The 44th floor is where the dog sensed a positive.
posted by droob at 7:31 PM on September 12, 2001

Why?

[shock and dismay]
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 7:40 PM on September 12, 2001

Someone in NY listening to a scanner keep us updated, please.
posted by dr_emory at 7:40 PM on September 12, 2001

Someone in NY listening to a scanner keep us updated, please.
posted by dr_emory at 7:40 PM on September 12, 2001

CBS reports the ESB Dog was used, which sat down after which indicates it as positive. But since the dog maybe tired, they will use NYPD dogs to be sure.
posted by riffola at 7:40 PM on September 12, 2001

It is a false alarm. CBS reports it is a false alarm
posted by riffola at 7:41 PM on September 12, 2001

CNN just posted that empire state is all clear and so is penn station
posted by orangskye at 7:41 PM on September 12, 2001

We must remember that there will be MAXIMUM response to ANY percieved threat. We will see many evacuations like this over the next few days.
posted by dewelch at 7:41 PM on September 12, 2001

We must remember that there will be MAXIMUM response to ANY percieved threat. We will see many evacuations like this over the next few days.
posted by dewelch at 7:41 PM on September 12, 2001

I can't help but think of all those sickos that are getting off calling in random bomb threats just to see it on the news...
posted by orangskye at 7:42 PM on September 12, 2001

Indeed. Now CNN is calling into question the idea of how seriously bomb threats will be taken in the near future.

What if that never changes? It might not - every bomb threat now will hold even more weight and seriousness with it.
posted by hijinx at 7:53 PM on September 12, 2001

10:56 pm, EST. Just heard on the scanner feed mention of a bomb threat being called in at East 54th and Park. Payphone opposite 405 Park. Man claiming to be in a car with explosives and won't be taken alive.

Sigh. You know it's just a hoax, but ya just can't afford to not treat everything seriously.
posted by warhol at 7:56 PM on September 12, 2001

ah, that would, of course, be EDT.
posted by warhol at 7:58 PM on September 12, 2001

You mean, you weren't getting electro-shock therapy at the time? Man, that makes the post less cool.
posted by droob at 8:15 PM on September 12, 2001