After a failed car bomb shut down Times Square for the night, streets reopened on Sunday morning accompanied by a heavy police presence. Last night, a Nissan Pathfinder was parked at West 45th Street and Seventh Avenue loaded with three propane gas tanks, two one-gallon gas canisters, fireworks and two clocks that formed a makeshift bomb. The Pakistani Taliban have reportedly claimed responsibility for the failed attack, claiming it was to avenge the deaths of two Islamists and "Muslim martyrs." According to a police spokesperson, the bomb malfunctioned when a street vendor alerted a policeman of the smoking vehicle. An evacuation was called and four blocks of the tourist-heavy area were roped off while the bomb was removed. Despite avoiding what could have been a disaster, there have yet to be any leads on the driver of the vehicle. “We have no idea who did this or why,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. President Barack Obama has been briefed on the incident and praised the New York Police Department for its responsiveness.
