Boston, MA.: A publicity stunt in Boston was mistaken for a possible terrorist threat that left police and other officials enraged.
Two men are being held responsible for the supposed threat by their role in placing 38 blinking electronic signs showing explicit hand gestures that were mistaken for bombs. Authorities arrested the men for planting the electronic devices: Sean Stevens, 28, and Peter Berdovsky, 27. Stevens and Berdovsky were hired by Turner Broadcasting to place the devices and are being charged with one count of placing a hoax device and one count of disorderly conduct. They planted them on bridges and other high-profile areas around the city on Wednesday, January 31. Both were to be arraigned Thursday morning.
The two men said in court on February 1 that they apologize for the stunt. It was meant to promote the TV show “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” a series run on Cartoon Network, a branch of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. The show is known for the eccentric antics of a talking milkshake, a box of fries, and a meatball. It is aired late night because of its adult themed content.
In response to the prank, Boston officials closed a highway, part of the Charles River, and deployed bomb squads, police and firemen.
Boston mayor Thomas Menino said, “I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred.” This will include and is not limited to any class actions that business owners and people have suffered in response to this so-called “terrorist acts,” as well as the predicted $750,000 cost of the deployment of bomb squads and other Boston officials.
As soon as Turner Broadcasting realized the severity of the problem around 5 P.M. on Wednesday, they alerted officials to locations of similar devices that had been placed for two to three weeks in areas including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
It was reported that Phil Kent, chairman of Turner, said, “We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger, and that the company that placed the signs, Interference Inc. was ordered to remove them immediately.”