How to Cause a Panic in Boston

This video shows how those electronic devices were assembled and placed. These devices were "installed" around Boston, resulting in yesterday's nightmarish scenario of street, bridge, and subway closures resulting from the police being called in to investigate. The bomb squad was called out and detonated several of them.

Two people connected with the installation were arrested on charges of placing hoax devices around the city.

Authorities have arrested two men in connection with electronic light boards depicting a middle-finger-waving moon man that triggered repeated bomb scares around Boston on Wednesday and prompted the closure of bridges and a stretch of the Charles River.

Meanwhile, police and prosecutors vented their anger at Turner Broadcasting System Inc., the parent company of CNN, which said the battery-operated light boards were aimed at promoting the late-night Adult Swim cartoon "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."

Boston officials condemned Turner for not taking proper steps to end the bomb scares earlier and for not issuing an adequate apology to the city. (Watch how the scare unfolded )

Turner Broadcasting said in written statements the devices had been placed around Boston and nine other cities in recent weeks as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign to promote the show.

"We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger," Phil Kent, CEO and chairman of Turner Broadcasting System Inc., said in one of two statements issued by the company.

The same installation was done in 10 other cities, but the situation got out of hand in Boston.

The problem is that the LED installation got people concerned because of where they were placed (on bridges and overpasses), and if you were driving/riding by these things you saw something out of place. If you're a terrorist, masking a bomb to make it look like something harmless makes sense. Terrorists do this all the time - turning toys, garbage, and other innocent looking items into IEDs.

What is quite curious is that the ad campaign was in 10 cities around the country, and it only caused an uproar in Boston. Was there something about where those things were placed that made the difference or did other cities' residents simply ignore 'em? That's a question I doubt will be answered.

UPDATE:
The two men arrested in connection with the publicity stunt gone wrong have pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, for reaction to the publicity campaign in the other cities where it was run:

In Seattle and several suburbs, the removal of the signs was low-key. "We haven't had any calls to 911 regarding this," Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said Wednesday.

Police in Philadelphia said they believed their city had 56 devices.

The New York Police Department removed 41 of the devices — 38 in Manhattan and three in Brooklyn, according to spokesman Paul Browne. The NYPD had not received any complaints. But when it became aware of the situation, it contacted Cartoon Network, which provided the locations so the devices could be removed.

(HT: Anonymous Emailer)

UPDATE:
Were there emails between various people behind the scenes telling everyone to keep quiet about the incidents as they were being reported and investigated by the Boston Police? That's the implication in this report. The Boston prosecutors look like they're going to have a field day with discovery based on this stuff. Follow the paper trail. I don't think that civil suits will have much of an effect, though the City might press for some kind of monetary settlement over the police expenses.

As it is, the charges against the duo include:
Chapter 266: Section 102A1/2. Possession, transportation, use or placement of hoax devices; penalty; law enforcement or public safety officer exemption.

UPDATE:
Lots of folks opining about the Boston kerfuffle and the subsequent charging of two men in the attacks including: The Moderate Voice, Hot Air, Texas holdem, erictatro, xrlq.