One bench in Rockwood Park in Howard Beach was almost completely destroyed by an explosive. A bench across from it also had some of its back slats torn off by the blast. Forum Newsgroup photos by Patricia Adams.
Police say whatever was put together and detonated had enough force to tear bark of a nearby tree. Shrapnel and wood pieces were also found dozens of feet away. Forum Newsgroup photo By Patricia Adams.
An explosion rocked the school playground at P.S./M.S. 207 around 9:30 p.m. on Friday according to the 106th Precinct. Units responded to a call from neighbors about a very loud explosion and discovered that one of the benches in the park had been totally blown apart, with sharp slats of wood found more than twenty feet away from the blast. Another bench across from it had its back blown off.
“There was a significant amount of explosives involved in this blast,” said 106th Community Affairs Officer Ken Zorn. There were reports of wood and metal shrapnel being lodged in trees near the explosion.
Witnesses as far away as Cross Bay Boulevard—blocks away—said they felt a vibration and heard the explosion. One woman, who identified herself only as Mary, said the blast shook her house around the corner from the school.
According to the police, witnesses also reported that they saw a man running away from the park, covering the side of his face. A canvas of local hospitals and medical emergency facilities proved to be unsuccessful in looking for the unidentified male.
There is still no confirmation as to the type of explosives that were used however, one speculation is that some type of homemade device could have been assembled using fireworks that failed to detonate on the recent Fourth of July holiday. The property officially belongs to the NYC Parks Department however, a full investigation into the blast is being conducted by the NYPD Arson Squad.
By Patricia Adams
