Times Square Attack Investigation: "Nothing Has Been Ruled Out"
Police are making headway in identifying the perpetrator of the failed car bombing in New York's Time Square this past weekend. The NYPD discovered an SUV parked on 45th Street and 7th Avenue this Saturday, when a t-shirt vendor called 911 after seeing smoke emanating from the car. The car was packed with gasoline cans, propane tanks, fireworks and fertilizer, resembling a crude bomb which NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said was capable of creating "a significant fireball." CBS News' Bob Orr spent the weekend reporting on the events, and spoke to John Dickerson on Washington Unplugged Monday about the scare.
"Nothing has been ruled out," said Orr, "And we have to be careful not to jump to any conclusions."
Today, the NYPD revealed they had identified the owner of the vehicle, but do not consider that person a potential suspect in the bombing attempt. While several terrorist groups have claimed credit for the failed attack, Orr said those links are not credible, and the attack may be the work of a one-off, lone wolf radical. The construction of the explosive device may indicate the attempt was not related to any large scale terrorist group - the explosive materials were not assembled in any way that would devastate a building or cause widespread damage.
"The bomb itself has been described as amateurish, clownish if you will," said Orr. "This was not a serious explosive device."
Police have released a security camera video of a potential suspect, but now believe the subject of the footage may not be related to the bombing. Detectives flew to Pennsylvania to interview a tourist who shot video in Times Square Saturday night that may contain clues to the identity of the bomber.
Also on Unplugged Monday, a debate on immigration reform between Clarissa Martinez, from the National Council of La Raza, and Dan Stein, from the Federation for Immigration Reform. Watch Unplugged above.
NYPD Talks with SUV Owner in Times Square Plot
Possible Bomb Suspect Caught on Tape
Bloomberg on NYC Bomb Scare
Task Force Seeks Car Bomber
Mayor: Times Square Bomb Not Linked to Al Qaeda
Napolitano: Not All Bomb Attempts May Fail
Times Square Bomb Threat: Ordinary yet Deadly
"Washington Unplugged," CBSNews.com's exclusive daily politics Webshow, appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.