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Explosions at British Consulate in Midtown
By
Jen Chung
Published May 5, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 5, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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On 845 Third Avenue, between 51st and 52nd Streets, two small explosions went off at the nondescript Midtown building that houses the British Consulate. The explosions went off around 3:30AM (which is when Britain was voting, though there was no voting at British consulates overseas). The AP reports that the building was slightly damaged, but various officials say no one was injured; more details:
After piecing together the shrapnel, police determined the devices were toy grenades that had been filled with gunpowder. Officers estimated that one was the size of a pineapple; the other the size of a lemon.
The blasts shattered a panel of glass in the building's front door and ripped a one-foot chunk from the planter. The department's bomb squad was at the scene and streets were closed in the area.
The NYPD says the explosive was detonated in one of the cement planters outside the building. Police Commissioner Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg just spoke at a press conference, explaining that an investigation was underway. Some areas are closed off, and the 6 train is skipping the 51st Street stop, but it's business as usual - so far.
Update: Dan Dickinson has some shots of the scene this morning in his Flickr photoset.
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Dan Dickinson
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police commissioner kelly
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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