Blasts at British consulate in New York City
By Chris Johnston, Times Online

Two explosions outside a building housing the British consulate in New York City shattered windows early this morning, but police said no injuries or structural damage have been reported.

The blasts occurred at 3.35am local time (0835 BST) and police were investigating.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the reports and we are checking them."

It was not clear whether the incident was connected with today’s general election.

Emergency services are continuing to check the area at the corner of 3rd Avenue and East 50th Street for any further explosive devices.

We aren't half popular aren't we?

Very popular, at least no one was hurt, apparently the NYPD Bomb Squad are still at the scene.

I guess Britain will always attract this sort of activity. We're probably most prone to it after the USA. Though you would think a British consulate would be alright in the USA, as we're more unpopular elasewhere in the world ie most of it.

At least it might get the Yanks to take note of our election, afterall we had to put up with theirs on our TV's for over a year - at least they can manage a day of ours.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41111000/jpg/_41111003_police_tv203.jpg

Blast strikes UK consulate in US
BBC News

New York police are investigating what caused at least one blast at the UK consulate in Manhattan, which shattered windows but caused no injuries.

Police say they found fragments of a device believed to have blown up in or near a flower tub outside the building in the early hours of the morning.

Emergency services are at the building on Third Avenue, which houses other offices, and the area has been secured.

The UK Foreign Office says it is aware of the reports and is investigating.

The explosion came as millions of voters in the UK went to the polls to elect a new government.

Passers-by said they heard two blasts at about 0335 (0735 GMT), although police say there was one explosion.


The blast shattered the consulate's windows

The BBC's Jane O'Brien says the explosion was small and broke windows in the building in the city centre, but caused no structural damage.

A spokesman for the New York Police Department said a device was detonated in one of the cement flower boxes used as a barrier outside the building.

Police said there was only one person in the consulate building at the time of the blast, AFP news agency reported.

Several blocks around the consulate have been closed to traffic while police search for clues.

Apparently there were two explosion and both were small "banger" devices - the kind you would light and run away from. One was shaped like a lemon and the other a pineapple.

WTF???

What kind of loon makes his bombs look like fruit?

someone who buys firecrackers from a shop.

The British Consulate in Chicago has been closed?

yes as a security precaution incase someone wants to shoot fireworks at it! load of crap if you ask me. whats worst of all is the bbc leading with this story, when the attorney generals advice was leaked they didnt run the story despite having been sent it because they were too busy following the bullshit hutton advice. very sad.

Mr Bloomberg told reporters that although the British consulate was housed in the building on Third Avenue, it would be wrong to assume that this was the target of the attack.

Other countries have missions there and a number of domestic and international companies have offices in the building, the mayor said.

"What exactly was targeted is still under investigation. We have no idea who did this or what the motive was, but eventually we will find out and apprehend them," Mr Bloomberg said.




The force of the explosion threw a 30cm (one foot)-long chunk of concrete through the plate windows in the building entrance. Bit more than a firework.

Also, the British consulate is on the 8th and 9th floor of the highrise. :P

I am quite heartened. I was fully expecting Al Qaeda induced carnage this past week and especially today, and yet the worst we endured was a firework in New York.

Either they're working up to something very big, or there isn't anywhere near the sort of threat we keep getting told there is.

I would have expected Al Qaeda to send a dozen suicide bombers onto the Tube or something, but not even that. Even that relatively cheap and easily planned exercise could have turned the electorate off New Labour just as the Madrid bombings deposed Zapatero in Spain.

A UN employee from NL (!!) has been arrested, according to the silly NL news I was watching. It was said the device was a toy filled with gunpowder.

It will be some stupid pricks thinking that by killing someone they are going to change something or some guys having a laugh. I found out last night that last year one of my mates got stopped by the police just befour he was going to blow up a petrol station for a laugh. Inside his coat he had two tubes full off shit which he was going to fire in to it and he till got away with it.

I am quite heartened. I was fully expecting Al Qaeda induced carnage this past week and especially today, and yet the worst we endured was a firework in New York.

Either they're working up to something very big, or there isn't anywhere near the sort of threat we keep getting told there is.

I would have expected Al Qaeda to send a dozen suicide bombers onto the Tube or something, but not even that. Even that relatively cheap and easily planned exercise could have turned the electorate off New Labour just as the Madrid bombings deposed Zapatero in Spain.
nothing to gain for them by letting the tories in, is there?

Destabilisation is their objective. To them Labour or Tory is entirely indifferent.