Last night, the New York Police Department responded to a parked Nissan Pathfinder that was emanating smoke in Times Square. Shortly thereafter, it was determined that the smoke was caused by an improvised explosive device that consisted of propane, gasoline, and fireworks that had failed to properly detonate.

The area in midtown Manhattan between 43rd and 48th street, were promptly evacuated as police, firemen, and other emergency personnel helped to escort nearly 11,000 people out of the area. At a press conference this morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stated that, "we are lucky" and "we avoided what could have been a very deadly event".

The event, which started last night, was initiated by a T-shirt vendor who noticed the smoke and got the attention of a mounted police officer. Soon thereafter stores in the immediate area were evacuated including a nearby Foot Locker and McDonald's.

Minutes later the area was inundated with police and firefighters who were initially baffled as to why the vehicle was parked at such an odd angle and left with its flashers on. Firefighters also noticed the "pops" coming from the vehicle. Police are currently going through dozens of surveillance videos to determine who left the vehicle in Times Square as the plates didn't belong to the vehicle.

A bomb squad with protective gear was sent in and broke the back windows of the Nissan Pathfinder and sent in a robot to observe the situation, stated Police Commissioner Paul J. Browne. Inside, they found three propane tanks similar to those used on an outdoor grill, two five-gallon canisters of gasoline, consumer grade fireworks that were making the popping noise, and two clocks with batteries, the mayor said.

According to officials on the scene, the bomb appeared to be "amateurish". Though no one yet knows who left the car bomb in Times Square, it is believed that the intent was for the bomb to go off on Saturday night since that is when Times Square has the most visitors.

President Obama and New York Governor Patterson have been briefed and are receiving updates on the situation. New York was very lucky on this one as hundreds of people could have been killed.