Fireworks Show Prompts Some In Manhattan To Fear A Terrorist Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A late-night charity fireworks show on Manhattan's West Side on Thursday night had residents fearing they were under attack.
It started late, at 10 p.m., and as CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported Friday, many people were caught off guard.
As revelers aboard the Intrepid enjoyed fireworks lighting up the sky above the Hudson River, blasts echoed through West Side neighborhoods, leaving many residents fearing the worst.
"I thought we were actually coming under attack. I didn't think fireworks. With everything that's going on, it's nerve-wracking," resident Dahlia Rodriguez said.
"Everybody in the bars, everybody in the buildings had emptied out into the street to find out what the explosion is because Boston is very recent in our minds," resident Bob Minor added.
The fireworks spectacle was the finale to an evening charity gala for North Shore-LIJ Health System, but nearly 100 unknowing and concerned locals had no idea and called 311.
"They had no outgoing message to explain. I called also Midtown North. They had a menu system but no one answered the phone," resident Pam Dean said.
North Shore-LIJ did have the proper permits to have the fireworks show, but residents said they didn't mind the late-night fireworks; they just wished there was more notification.
North Shore-LIJ released a statement saying: "While we obtained all necessary permits and concluded the fireworks as required by 10:30 p.m., we apologize for any inconvenience or alarm that we may have caused local residents."
Many others in the neighbor chalked up the noise as being just another night in New York City.
"I knew that it was fireworks," one person said.
"There's always action. There's always stuff going on. Traffic horns," added resident Elizabeth Rodriguez.
But during this sensitive time, some residents said a little head's up about such an explosive show isn't too much to ask.
The Office of Emergency Management said it is looking into why West Side residents were not notified about the fireworks show, CBS 2's Sanchez reported.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:
