http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/212125p-182615c.htmlJuly 14, 2004
A bustling eight-block area of Brooklyn was quickly evacuated yesterday as cops surrounded a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk with what initially appeared to be a strap-on bomb.
<snip>
The ordeal began about 3:30p.m. when a passerby called 911 to report a man sitting on a "prayer rug" with a bag strapped to his chest that had a clock on the outside and bolts protruding from it, police said.
Four ESU cops, wearing flak jackets and helmets, surrounded Abdul Naeem, 48, who was sitting in front of the India House restaurant. As the police restrained the barefooted man, one of them cut the bag from his body.
They covered the bag with a ballistic blanket and waited for the bomb squad to check it out.
Cops began clearing the area in all directions, telling merchants to "close up for your own safety."
After nearly two tense hours, the bomb squad determined the bag was harmless, filled with nuts, bolts, cooking pans and a calculator.
The so-called prayer rug turned out to be a plaid sofa cushion.
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I'm surprised Ridge and Ashcroft didn't call a special press conference for this one. Or maybe they're just looking for an excuse to lock up all the homeless people before the convention?
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