
The person at the center of this case
U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station (facility/target)
Justice for U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station (facility/target) — the trail went cold in 2008, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Who is the unidentified suspect riding the blue Ross bicycle? Why target military and diplomatic facilities?
Could the same individual be responsible for all three bombings (2005, 2007, 2008) given identical delivery methods and detonation times?
What is the significance of using ammunition cans similar to those from Iraq and Afghanistan battlefields—does this indicate military knowledge or connection?
On March 6, 2008, an explosive device made from an ammunition can and black powder detonated outside the U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square, New York City early in the morning, causing no injuries but significant potential for harm. The suspect, riding a blue Ross bicycle and wearing a gray sweatshirt, remains unidentified—their age, sex, race, height, and weight are all unknown, though they may have had a lookout team of up to five people. The bombing shares striking similarities with unsolved bombings at the British Consulate (May 2005) and Mexican Consulate (October 2007), all delivered by bicycle and detonated between 3-4 a.m., suggesting a possible serial bomber still at large.
Try asking
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
The suspect may have had a lookout or surveillance team of up to five people in Times Square—who were they and what role did they play?
Where did the blue Ross bicycle come from, and can it be traced to identify the suspect or their associates?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
New York City, New York March 6, 2008 Early on the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2008, a bomb exploded in front of the United States Armed Forces Recruiting Station in New York City’s Times Square. The device, which was built using an ammunition can similar to those found on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, was filled halfway with black powder and detonated using a time fuse.
Although no one was wounded, the device could have caused significant injury and casualties if people had been close to the blast. The suspect rode a blue "Ross" bicycle west on 37th Street, took a right heading north on Sixth Avenue, and made a left heading west on 47th Street before turning left to head south on Seventh Avenue.
The suspect got off the bike near the recruiting station at West 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue, placed the explosive device at the recruiting station, lit a fuse, returned to the bicycle, and fled the scene. The suspect rode the bike south on Broadway before making a left on 38th Street.
The bike was later recovered in a dumpster near Madison Avenue and 38th Street. Although the suspect appears to be working alone, he or she may have had a lookout or surveillance team of as many as five individuals located in Times Square at the time the device was placed.
The suspect was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and pants of an unknown color. The height, weight, age, sex, and race of the suspect are unknown.
Details of this bombing are similar to those of two other unsolved bombings that occurred in New York City, one at the British Consulate in May of 2005, and the other at the Mexican Consulate in October of 2007. All of the devices were delivered by an individual on a bicycle and were detonated between 3 a.m.
and 4 a.m. The incidents may be connected.
Explosive device detonated in front of U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square; no injuries reported but significant potential for casualties.
Related unsolved bombing at British Consulate; device delivered by bicycle, similar methodology.
Related unsolved bombing at Mexican Consulate; device delivered by bicycle, similar methodology.
For information leading to the resolution of this case
For information leading to the resolution of this case