Jan 31, 2007 19:06
Suspicious packages part of Turner Broadcasting marketing campaign
By Mac Daniel and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Turner Broadcasting acknowledged late this afternoon that the suspicious packages that ignited fears of bombs across Boston today were magnetic lights that were part of an outdoor marketing campaign for an adult cartoon.
Turner was promoting Adult Swim's animated television show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" in Boston and nine other cities, according to a statement e-mailed by Shirley Powell, a company spokeswoman.
"Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards," the e-mail statement said. "We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger."
"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" airs late at night and involves animated characters that are depicted as fast food products, including a ball of ground meat, French fries, and a milk shake.
The objects that had been placed on bridges and other infrastructure across the city are patterns of lighted dots in the shape of a boxy character on the cartoon show. The lights are on a black rectangle a little larger than a laptop and flash purple and blue.
The boxy character is named Err and appears to be raising his middle finger and giving an obscene gesture. Err is described on the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" website as "rebellious and angry."
Crews are in the process of removing the devices from overpasses and other locations throughout the city. Turner Broadcasting's statement said the objects had been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.
Eight of the electronic devices were mistaken for bombs today in Boston and another sparked fear in Somerville, according to Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis. The objects were found on a girder under Interstate 93, on the Longfellow and BU bridges, in Allston, near the New England Medical Center, and in other crowded public places. Several were detonated by bomb squads.
City and state officials tried to quell fears today at a press conference at about the time Turner Broadcasting took responsibility for the publicity stunt. Boston Mayor Thomas promised to prosecute those responsible for what was described at the time as a hoax.
"This is not playing around," said Menino, who added that each individual scare could be punishable by two to three years in prison.
Angela Shaw of Boston.com contributed to this report.
Posted by the Boston Globe City & Region Desk at 04:53 PM
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Come on, people. Has our culture really become so consumed by fear that at the sight of something with flashing colored lights we immediately jump to shut down highways, subways, buses, and other major roadways? In television interviews, police have been saying that the advertisements were "consistent with improvised explosive devices." Now, I know nothing about bomb making (although I have been suspected), but it seems to me that something more than batteries and LCD lights are needed like - I don't know, perhaps something explosive?! Of course I believe that we need to guard our safety because, unfortunately, the world has changed hugely. But I also think there should have been more inspection done. This event put an entire major city in alarm and over what? A cartoon? Come on, people.