Mar 7, 2008 6:55 pm US/Eastern
Investigators Eye Clues In Times Square Blast
Letters Sent To Congress 'An Unbelievable Coincidence'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The FBI and the NYPD are sifting through a mountain of clues, trying to determine who is responsible for Thursday's Times Square bombing.
Those clues included letters to Congress that at first read seemed to be claiming responsibility, but turned out to be "an incredibly unbelievable coincidence" according to a law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Authorities say there was in fact no connection between the letters to dozens of Congress members bearing the words, "We Did It," and the bombing of the Army recruiting station in New York.
Law officers have questioned the letter writer in the Los Angeles area and don't expect to bring any charges against him, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The writer is an anti-war activist who sent as many as 100 letters—including a photograph of a man standing in front of the Times Square office—to Congress members.
Meanwhile, a bicyclist captured on private security video riding along Military Island at about 3:38 a.m. and getting off the bike just outside the military recruiting station still appears to be the key figure in the case. About two minutes after the cyclist rides away from the scene, the explosion occurs.
Police were also looking at a new bike found in a dumpster at 38th St. and Madison Avenue at 7 a.m.
Characteristics of the explosion bore several similarities to two other minor explosions in the city in years past: pre-dawn explosions last October at the Mexican Consulate and the British Consulate in 2005.
"The times are very close, a bicycle was believed to be used," said NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. "Those are the similarities."
But fake grenades were used in the first two cases, not the "low order" ammunition box that was used in Thursday's explosion.
Last month, several European men were stopped at the Canadian border with suspicious photos of the Times Square recruiting center. Two of those men escaped. Police described them as "anarchists."
In the meantime, the targeted military recruiting station is back open for business.
"In my opinion they were trying to stop us from doing our mission," said Army recruiter Sgt. Ruben Avila. "Our mission is to find qualified men and women to join the Army."
Police are offering a $12,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information regarding the explosion is asked to call the NYPD tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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