Police dismiss terror claims in NY bombing attempt
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The New York City Police Department said Sunday that there is "no evidence" to support claims that a large terror organization was behind Saturday's failed car bombing attempt in Times Square.
NY Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the content of a 60 second video allegedly released by the Pakistani Taliban were "unfounded."
New York local TV channel cites Kelly as saying that "although a Taliban bomb maker has claimed on the Internet that the car bomb was placed in Times Square to avenge the death of mujahideen fighters, we have no evidence to support this claim."
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attempted car bomb attack in Times square, a statement on an Islamist website said on Sunday.
The statement said it was to avenge the killing of two Islamists and "Muslim martyrs."
According to Kelly, the bomb squad found eight bags filled with a fertilizer-like substance in a gun locker recovered from the suspicious vehicle.
Initial test results released Sunday evening show the substance would not have been capable of causing an explosion.
In addition to the gun locker, Kelly is cited as saying police found three propane tanks that weighed between 6.8 and 7.7 kilograms -- one of which had M-88 firecrackers attached to its side -- two filled five gallon gasoline containers, two clocks with batteries, electrical wire and other components.
The explosion would have caused a "significant fireball," NY1 quotes Kelly as saying, adding investigators are analyzing surveillance video to find out who was the driver.
The driver might be a man in his 40s, according to NY1.
New York Mayor Bloomberg is urging people to go about their business as usual, while New York Governor David Paterson said the incident is a reminder that the city remains a target for terrorists, says NY1.
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