Robert Gibbs Calls Attempted Times Sq. Car Bomber A ‘Terrorist’

This is quickly turning into one of those weeks where you hesitate to ask: What next? Here is the latest on the attempted car bombing in Times Square Saturday night. First, the Obama administration is now saying that it “increasingly appears to have been coordinated by several people in a plot with international links.” Thus far the police have been hesitant in suggesting that there was any link to terrorist organizations outside the country (or to anyone at all, actually), but according to WaPo the “tentative” disclosure came from “several officials” who said it was “premature to rule out any motive, but said the sweeping, multi-state investigation was turning up new clues.” Gibbs presser below.

During today’s press briefing Robert Gibbs said he would characterize the failed bombing as terrorism: “I would say that was intended to terrorize, and I would say that whomever did that would be categorized as a terrorist.” Vid of Gibbs presser below. [Cont’d]

All of which feels like a definite change in tone from yesterday’s description of the bomb being amateur, and the NYPD announcing that they were looking for a white man in his mid 40’s. Speaking of which, here is possible video of said suspect leaving the scene near where the Nissan Pathfinder was found.

Meanwhile, as if things in Times Sq. weren’t exciting enough, we bring you tales of exploding manhole covers. This afternoon a manhole cover on W 40th between 7th & 8th (around the corner from Times Sq. for those of you not familiar with NYC geography) exploded in a burst of flame. This from the Times City Blog:

An exploding manhole on West 40th Street in Midtown shot flames three stories high at 1:40 p.m. Monday, and at least one other manhole cover blew off, fire officials said. No injuries were immediately reported. After the explosion, a firefighter yelled: “It’s not Disneyland, people. Get the hell out of the way.” The manholes are on 40th between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, on the southern side of The New York Times building.

This is not Disney Land folks! One can only hope the NYPost puts that line to good use tomorrow. Fear not, however, the AP is reporting that this latest explosion was just the result of faulty wiring (manhole covers in NYC have an unreliable history).