Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
BREAKING: Letter to Congress Claims Responsibility for Times Square Bombing
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 6, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 6, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Some Capitol Hill offices received letters claiming responsibility for this morning's bombing in Times Square. WNBC reports that the letters, which arrived today, included a photo of the Army recruiting center "before it was bombed and...the words 'We did it.'"
According to the AP, Senator Dianne Feinstein's office sent this email to other lawmakers:
"A few offices on the House side have received a letter today addressed to 'Members of Congress' with a picture of a man standing in front of the Times Square recruiting station that was bombed in New York today with the statement 'We did it.' He is standing in front of it with his arms spread out and he's attached his political manifesto."
The email also advised people not to open the letters and contact the police.
Earlier, the police released police footage that shows a bicyclist near the building right before the explosion. It is believed the bicyclist placed the improvised explosive device that exploded at 3:45 a.m. There were no injuries, but the city was wounded in other ways. Mayor Bloomberg said, "Whoever the coward was that committed this disgraceful act on our city will be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We will not tolerate such attacks."
UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: Whoa/weird - WNBC reports the authorities are "revisiting an incident that occurred along the Canadian border last month because they are concerned there might be a connection to the Times Square explosion." Why? Because four men fled a border checkpoint when Canadian officials attempted to question them. Two got away and one "left behind a backpack with photos of various New York City locations including Times Square" including one of the recruitment center.
Aware of this incident, the NYPD went to "various New York City businesses, including the Times Square recruitment center, to investigate if there had been any recent threats," but none had any. According to WNBC, a source described one of the men detained as "anarchist-types" and "stressed there is nothing to link the border incident to the explosion or the Capitol Hill letters at this time."
As for the letters, eight House Democrats representing NYC received letters; it's possible more were sent. After the jump, the email sent to Congress members:
Attention All Members of the Congressional Community
Within the past twenty-four hours, a number of letters have begun arriving at various Congressional Offices on Capitol Hill. The letters contain a reference to the military recruiting office in New York City. At this time, none of the letters received, have contained any threat to the Congressional Community or Members of Congress.
All of the letters have properly passed through Congressional mail security screening procedures before arriving at various Congressional Offices and have been determined to be safe.
These letters can be identified in the following manner:
- All envelopes received have all been manila in color and are approximately five inches by eight inches in size.
- All envelopes have two (one dollar) stamps affixed to them and a white label with a return address.
The United States Capitol Police want to preserve any possible evidence. Therefore, in the event that any envelopes arrive at your Congressional Office, please respond in the following manner:
- Do not attempt to open the envelope.
- Immediately contact the USCP Command Center at 22X-XXXX
The Command Center will have an officer dispatched to your office to take possession of the letter. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, please do not forward this email or release information outside your immediate office."
So much for not forwarding the email. The Capitol Police's statement said, "The U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI are working together to investigate letters received by various members of Congress. There is no established connection between these letters and the NYC Times Square incident this morning. The investigation is ongoing...more details as they become available."
According to a congressional staffer, the man in the photograph is in his 30s and has red hair. The letter had a Los Angeles return address, but "the staffer said it was not possible to determine if it was genuine."
Tagged
As
bloomberg
bomb
capitol hill
city
Congress
Democrats
Dianne Feinstein
explosion
footage
house
House Democrats
improvised explosive device
mayor
mayor bloomberg
midtown
new york
new york city
nyc
nypd
police commissioner kelly
surveillance footage
the city
The Police
Times Square
wnbc
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .