It's too early to speculate on who tried to set off a car bomb in Times Square this weekend or why. While authorities try to track down a suspect, it's worth reflecting on how lucky we are that the attempted attack was thwarted – and to consider the kind of small town actions that stopped potential bloodshed in the heart of America's biggest city.
According to The New York Times, two street vendors, Duane Jackson and Lance Orton, noticed something amiss about the Nissan Pathfinder parked near Broadway. They told reporters that they are accustomed to keeping an eye out for their patch of New York City, alerting police about pickpockets and other petty criminals, and when they saw smoke in the car and heard popping noises, they flagged down an officer.
Mr. Jackson told The Times that he and the other Vietnam veterans who have special permits to sell their wares on the street know the beat cops in the area by their first names and have their cell phone numbers. High tech security videos might now be instrumental in tracking down the suspect, but what averted a potential loss of life was nothing more than people acting neighborly. It’s a lesson both citizens and police should learn about the value of building relationships and fostering a culture in which everyone feels like they have a stake in keeping our communities safe.