Bomb attack on Times Square army office

Published on Thursday 6 March 2008 22:12

AN explosion near an army recruitment office in New York's Times Square caused minor damage with no injuries, authorities said last night.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the attack in the heart of Manhattan "insults every one of our brave men and women in uniform stationed around the world".

As the joint terrorism taskforce, including FBI agents, the NYPD and other US agencies, investigated the blast at the site of previous anti-war protests, the mayor vowed that the "coward" responsible would be "prosecuted to the full extent of the law".

British tourists staying in nearby hotels said the explosion, which happened at about 3:45am local time, shook buildings high above the "crossroads of the world".

The device, a low grade explosive packed into an ammunition box, caused minor damage to the empty station and left a large hole in the front window and shattered a glass door.

"The fact that this appears to be deliberately directed at the recruiting station insults every one of our brave men and women in uniform stationed around the world fighting to defend our freedom and the things that we hold so dear," Mr Bloomberg said.