US Bomb Squad Conned By LEDs February 1, 2007
Read more Entertainment , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , TV
What do you do when you notice some signs with flashing LEDs in the shape of a small, angry looking cartoon character? Call the bomb squad of course.
The Boston Bomb Squad were dispatched yesterday to investigate some suspicious flashing objects (left) found around town and even detonated one, before realising that they had merely stumbled on a guerilla advertising campaign for a late night cartoon show. Turner Broadcasting, parent company of Cartoon Network, said the devices, which comprised some magnetic blinking lights, were part of an ad promo for TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."
OK, they were stupidly planted near tube stations and bridges, the cops are pissed, the bomb squad looks silly and are pissed too, the attorney general is fuming and the Governor was not impressed by the hoax. They have since arrested the poor bloke hired to plant the ads. Hate to be him right now.
The show, incidentally, charts the misadventures of some animated chips, a milkshake and a hamburger. Definitely a reason to bring a large city to a standstill, then. -Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
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There were the same LED boards put up over a load of big US cities, and Boston was the only one to get freaked out.
The guy has been arrested for.....
"placing a hoax device in a way that results in panic."
But how is it a hoax device when it just is what it is? Is it a hoax LED board? NO! Frickin idiots.
Crazy crazy fear fear!
Check out the US Gizmodo for the full story, it's ridiculous.
When I worked in an electrics shop, (a large UK chain which still, just about, sells components), a regular customer was a local TV props complany. They came in one day to get props for a new games show, one of the highlights of which was to be the onscreen 'defusal' of a 'bomb' (you know, lots of coloured wires, big LED counter, blinking lights etc, no timing device though). The deputy manager of the shop overheard the word 'bomb' and called the police, who interviewed him, me, and eventually the tv production company too.. I didn't see them so often after that..
Whoa Strangesam - paranoia on the High St, too. Insane. Great story
As I've been pointing out elsewhere this has been commented:
They were placed in obscure, sensitive areas.
Bombs can look like anything, a pound of semtex will fit inside a coke can.