Suspicious package found in downtown Minneapolis.

May 28, 2002 1:01 PM

Suspicious package found in downtown Minneapolis. Ok, this is a little too close to home...
posted by esch (20 comments total)

"Around 2:20 p.m., a blast reverberated through the arera(sic), but it was not the package."

So, we've got suspicious packages, AND unknown explosions? What the hell is going on around here?
posted by esch at 1:06 PM on May 28, 2002

Ok, it seems that that particular line was removed from the story now...
posted by esch at 1:07 PM on May 28, 2002

If we criminalize concrete blocks wrapped in black tape with wires protruding, then only criminals will have concrete blocks wrapped in black tape with wires protruding, and they will have already won.
posted by kfury at 1:35 PM on May 28, 2002

The PiPress now has a headline saying the threat was a hoax, but when you click through to the story, it has not been updated to explain that. In fact, their story doesn't even reflect the package being blown up.
posted by GaelFC at 1:37 PM on May 28, 2002

New Rule: If it doesn't blow up, don't post it.
posted by cell divide at 1:39 PM on May 28, 2002

KSTP says the bomb squad blew it up as a precaution.
posted by gimonca at 1:46 PM on May 28, 2002

I never really understood it. They always blow things up as precautions, then analyze the things. How do they blow them up? What do they use, and what's left after it's been 'blowed-up'? Anyone?
posted by kfury at 1:57 PM on May 28, 2002

I think it looks something like this.
posted by whatnotever at 2:46 PM on May 28, 2002

Seriously, this isn't even newsworthy. Hoaxes are legion.
posted by donkeyschlong at 2:49 PM on May 28, 2002

Pancakes?
posted by matteo at 2:54 PM on May 28, 2002

Okay. Actually, kfury, they basically put them in a box with some other explosives. They set off their explosives, which in turn set off the bad explosives. They're left with, I assume, a bunch of chemicals that they can analyze.

The boxes might look something like these (for real, I swear).

I saw something a while back about a new type of box that had side panels made out of some very strong, yet porous material. They could blow up larger explosives in it because the pressure could be released through the porous sides.
posted by whatnotever at 3:00 PM on May 28, 2002

Deal with it. Europe, Britain in my own direct experience, has had dozens of suspect packages and actual bombs.

Bombcontainment: good link. what happens when the bombs go off. Does it go all >>x-ray<< and then ~pffff, like on the cartoons?
posted by hmgovt at 3:07 PM on May 28, 2002

Is every Mefi'er from Minneapolis? Is this 'too close to home' in the sense that its in the U.S? I just don't understand this....in other news there was a strange crumpled bag next to MY apartment complex today!!! And i got a wierd call like a hang up...WAY too close to home!
posted by darkpony at 3:30 PM on May 28, 2002

So, what do they do if it's a nuke? do they still use those container box thingies?
posted by schlaager at 4:10 PM on May 28, 2002

They use that thing the aliens used in Mars Attacks.
posted by donkeyschlong at 4:53 PM on May 28, 2002

It was a hoax.
posted by GaelFC at 8:59 PM on May 28, 2002

Actually, the nuke question is an interesting one. If you blow up a nuke with conventional explosives, it's extremely unlikely that the nuke will go off, since nukes don't blow because they're flammable, but because they reach critical mass.

Basically, what you'd end up with is a big radioactive mess, or a dirty bomb. I'd assume they check things with geiger counters before they blow them up though.
posted by kfury at 10:53 PM on May 28, 2002

So I'm looking up the location of this thing and MapQuest doesn't show Nicollet Mall at all, whatever for that.
posted by yonderboy at 12:01 AM on May 29, 2002

Nicollet Avenue becomes Nicollet Mall for just a few blocks, so MapQuest may not change the name. Nicollet Avenue in downtown Mpls becomes a pedestrian mall, but stinky buses are still allowed to drive on it (no regular cars, though).

BY the way, this thing ended up being a brick used to hold down a balloon display.
posted by GaelFC at 8:00 AM on May 30, 2002

Yeah, I'm aware, but did you actually look at the map? I mean how many businesses have Nicollet Mall as their street address? Feh. I do like the whole Lakes-Lowry-Loring area though.
posted by yonderboy at 8:53 AM on May 30, 2002