Denver police swung into action Wednesday afternoon as the city faced a harrowing robot threat that shut part of the city for more than two hours.
The Denver Post reports that police were called around 3:30pm after a concerned citizen discovered the deadly robot, which was described as around eight inches tall, white and made of plastic, cemented into the pillar of a footbridge near 20th and Wazee streets. Police quickly closed 20th Street between Blake Street and Chestnut Place and a tense standoff began with the tiny harbinger of death, with nobody allowed within 100 yards.
A bomb-squad robot was sent in, followed by a heavily-protected officer, as rush-hour traffic piled up around the area.
Denver police spokesman Matt Murray told the Post that around 5:30pm, police decided to put an end to the miniature figurine's rein of terror, blowing it to pieces in order to ''render it safe''. Subsequent investigations showed there had not been any threat to public safety.
Police have no idea who placed the robot under the footbridge or why, and it remains unknown whether the incident marks the first incursion of a larger robot invasion.
Image Credit: Denver Post
Comments (105)
Replyseriously? they blocked off that much because a little robot? people need to stop being so damn scared of everything. its small enough, that even if it had been a bomb, it wouldnt have been that powerful.
That depends on the type of explosive. For instance, C4 is some nasty stuff. Or how about sarin gas or some other type of chemical or biological weapon? Sorry, you don't mess around in a city of over 600,000 people.
So for me, I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were.
C4 isn't "nasty stuff" and it sure as hell isn't as effective just sitting out like that. For it to do any real damage, it has to be in an enclosed space (hole in the cement, car, talking elmo, etc.). That leads me to my next point.
FYI: If someone is going to release a gas to injure people, they aren't going to do it outside.
So do you call the cops every time you see a bit trash on the street? It TOO COULD BE A BOMB!!!!!
That depends on the type of explosive. For instance, C4 is some nasty stuff. Or how about sarin gas or some other type of chemical or biological weapon? Sorry, you don't mess around in a city of over 600,000 people.
So for me, I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were.
Its a f**king toy robot on a bridge pillar FFS! what are you saying that ANYTHING looking slightly out of place should be considered dangerous?
Wake up, there is no real threat - its all in your head placed there by the constant media barrage, you live in one of the safest countries in the world yet your media have convinced you all to live a scared life, run for the GOD DAM HILLS, there's a 8" robot made of plastic on the bridge, seriously?
Pathetic!
That depends on the type of explosive. For instance, C4 is some nasty stuff. Or how about sarin gas or some other type of chemical or biological weapon? Sorry, you don't mess around in a city of over 600,000 people.
So for me, I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were.
Like already said, using C4 like that isn't really effective, much easier to blow up a car filled with gas and metal scrap.
Now, your other assumption, bioweapons, standing around at 100 yards wouldn't protect anyone from a bio attack, certainly if the virus had already spread because of the 1000's of people who had already walked past it. Blowing it up might also not be the best way of disposing of a bioweapon. Seriously, this is just retarded, probably some kid lost his toy or someone thought it would be fun putting a robot there, end of story. Stop living in fear
Like already said, using C4 like that isn't really effective, much easier to blow up a car filled with gas and metal scrap.
Now, your other assumption, bioweapons, standing around at 100 yards wouldn't protect anyone from a bio attack, certainly if the virus had already spread because of the 1000's of people who had already walked past it. Blowing it up might also not be the best way of disposing of a bioweapon. Seriously, this is just retarded, probably some kid lost his toy or someone thought it would be fun putting a robot there, end of story. Stop living in fear
^ this!
Seriously your safe, very fu**ing safe - regardless of what the media barrage would have you believe!
So for me, I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were.
I love that, "I'd rather the police error on the side of caution" - Error indeed!
So for me, I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were.
so if someone yelled out of the blue and pointed out you're a terrorist and got killed, it's safe to say "I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were." ???
so if someone yelled out of the blue and pointed out you're a terrorist and got killed, it's safe to say "I'd rather the police error on the side of caution in this day and age. If they hadn't and someone had been killed, you'd be saying how sloppy and incompetent they were." ???
+1
If you recall the one Olympics in the US, http://goo.gl/UvWJ , it was.
Ever heard of "Red Mercury"? It's a nasty substance that some believe doesn't exist, even though people have beej arrested tryng to buy it and it's mentioned in a couple of the recenet Wikileaks cables.
Anyway, this stuff is very powerful. An amount the size of a baseball would kill anyone within a 600 yard radius. Think about that.
Ever heard of "Red Mercury"? It's a nasty substance that some believe doesn't exist, even though people have beej arrested tryng to buy it and it's mentioned in a couple of the recenet Wikileaks cables.
Anyway, this stuff is very powerful. An amount the size of a baseball would kill anyone within a 600 yard radius. Think about that.
Jesus Christ! Listen if your going to worry about that kind of thing then you'll be in constant worry, it could be anywhere - why the f**k would someone put a bomb in a robot on a bridge where it looks totally out of place - think about it would ya, if you wanted to kill a load of people you would surely hide it no? not make it stand out? not put it in a f**king robot on a bridge?
Jesus because something exists doesnt mean you should be constantly scarred of it, my god black holes exists, MY GOD BLACK HOLES EXIST - THINK ABOUT THAT WOULD YOU!
wow. all those people all that time and no one at any point was like "this is stupid" and just walked over there and smashed it with their foot?
Haha, that would take common sense though, what are you thinking?
There's definitely work for you as a sub-contractor here in the US. Do you have any idea how expensive bomb disposal bots & other gear are? Not to mention the $ spent training, equipping, & maintaining a bomb squad itself. You could save at least one city a fortune, maybe more as long as your luck held out. ;-)
we watch too many movies with insane scenarios like this one nowadays.
Had I found that in my closet- I would have burned the house to the ground.
hahaha
Don't forget to shoot the wife and kids first!
you made me lol all over my computer screen
hahaha
Don't forget to shoot the wife and kids first!
WHAT?
WHAT?
woosh?
hahaha
Don't forget to shoot the wife and kids first!
Cant be to safe now
hahaha
Don't forget to shoot the wife and kids first!
No, nuke them from orbit. It is truly the only way to be safe.
it's clear......the terrorists have won
Yes they have. They have accomplished what they were looking for, to have every citizen in every city suspecting of everyone else and looking over their shoulders all the time. People nowadays are so paranoid they think every little thing out of place is a bomb or the start of a terror attack.
Yes they have. They have accomplished what they were looking for, to have every citizen in every city suspecting of everyone else and looking over their shoulders all the time. People nowadays are so paranoid they think every little thing out of place is a bomb or the start of a terror attack.
Yes, even with the fact that there is no real threat (there was one incident - 9/11 - and as terrible as that was it is at best highly suspect and at worse a false flag incident designed to give your government this kind of power)
SAVE US ALL MIGHTY GOVERNMENT, PLEASE DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, JUST MAKE US SAFE!
Wake up folks, your country is safe - your media are parasites!
Would have been funny if the robot kept saying "Terminate, Terminate" Like on Doctor Who.
EX-TER-MIN-ATE! EX-TER-MIN-ATE! EX-TER-MIN-ATE!
Lol!
EX-TER-MIN-ATE! EX-TER-MIN-ATE! EX-TER-MIN-ATE!
it would be more freaky to me if said my nick instead
When does the 'dogs and cats, sleeping together...' part happen?
[IMG]http://i261.photobucket.com/al...dic83/cat-and-dog-sleep.jpg[/IMG]
It's already happening.
- Maybe it was some sort of a guardian?!
man, it must have been pretty epic when the bomb squad sent their own robot towards this robot...
Said the little robot to the big one, "Come at me bro"
Said the little robot to the big one, "Come at me bro"
Rofl! This was just the first battle of the impending robot civil war, where the ones who don't want to enslave humanity will be crushed by the weight of inevitability.
Waaaaaalll-Eeeeeee
Waaaaaalll-Eeeeeee
No, Eeeevaaaahhh
While this bot was admittedly less sexy than the one in the film, you can imply gender from the hot flash. ;-)
Only in U.S
Look at it this way...
How many successful terror attacks in the US since 9/11?
How many successful terror attacks in other parts of the world?
Get the point? ;-)
Now be honest...
You were the one that notified Denver police about the threatening 8inch robot, right?
;-)
So basically, they found something that could be a bomb, and to be safe, they strapped other bombs to it and blew it up. Some part of that doesn't seem to make sense.
Fight fire with fire X-D
Seriously... this reads like an Onion article.
Yep, what's more incredible is the people both at the scene and on here making comments to defend this kind of behaviour! Madness!
Yep, what's more incredible is the people both at the scene and on here making comments to defend this kind of behaviour! Madness!
Purely FWIW, from experience as a terrible practical joker [pre- 9/11 of course] most anyone overreacts if/when they feel they're in danger. e.g. drop a lit firecracker unnoticed as you enter someone's house, then dive for cover when it goes off. Or I've stuck wires in a block of clay, or to road flares wrapped in electrical tape. If you've got a pulse, you react to perceived danger. :-)
That's not defense, but rather explanation. If you want to think of it as madness, please go right ahead, but I assure you that if you felt that you (or your family etc.) were threatened you'd be just as cautious, if not more so. :-) Humans are hard-wired that way. Dodo birds were not. Seen any Dodo birds lately. ;-)
ROT-FL Only in US!!!!
It's all part of viral ad campaign for Michael Bay's Transformers 3
Well then kudos to Gov Motors -- we (Americans) want our $ back! ;-)
Robot invasion.
)
Only in US.
Only in US.
That's because You Are Unworthy! ;?P
I for one welcome our new robot overlords
All hail King Meklon of the Planet Earth
Why the f*** do I feel like Boston and Mooninites with middle fingers and an a D battery?? Paranoia is catching
would it been more scary if it was the energizer bunny instead?
This is where your tax money goes to people, to defend us from little robot. Money well spent.
. . .
I knew I'd lost it. It was a present for my little brother
As a bomb inspector, you have to treat something like this as a legitimate threat. Their concern wasn't that there could be explosive in the robot itself, but that there might be a large amount of explosive material planted BELOW the robot in a hole that may have been previously drilled. Detonation of a 40cm by 10cm cylinder of C4 explosive packed in concrete could have proved catastrophic to any surrounding vehicles and pedestrians. The robot would simply act as an antenna containing a receiver/detonation device. The robot being cemented to the pillar definitely indicates some kind of wire-run to the robot from underneath. However, in this case it was clearly just someone playing a practical joke.
Or some kid just left his toy there by mistake and is now probably crying somewhere to his mommy.
As silly as it seems now I completely agree with you. It was unusual and odd and should have been treated with care
Nice example. LOL
That's like 2+Kilos of C4. No **** it would cause a lot of damage.
I'm sorry but no terrist is going to waste that expensive stuff on one cement support. You can't exactly buy that **** at Walmart.
As silly as it seems now I completely agree with you. It was unusual and odd and should have been treated with care
Yes but the article states that the robot was CEMENTED in place. Not just left there.
Nice example. LOL
That's like 2+Kilos of C4. No **** it would cause a lot of damage.
I'm sorry but no terrist is going to waste that expensive stuff on one cement support. You can't exactly buy that **** at Walmart.
The C4 was just an example, but you're right.. Terrorists obtaining any kind of explosive is completely impossible. What was I thinking? /sarcasm
I'll tell you what, do the world a favor and never join any type of law enforcement. Oh and btw it's spelled terrorist, not terrist.
http://www.themovieblog.com/wp...7/10/aqua-teen-remember.jpg
I remember that.
I thought I might have clicked the wrong link and was reading The Onion, at first...had to check I was still at Neowin.
How is this tech news???????????????????????????????????
Oh I see, strange news of the week. But still, it's not related to tech at all.
Oh I see, strange news of the week. But still, it's not related to tech at all.
I think that is the best article I have read anywhere in a long time!
Thanks Matt!
Does anyone recognise the make / brand of the robot?
I kind of want one
this just shows are much of idiots americans can really be at times...
i'm sorry.. i just...
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LOLROFLLMAO!
seriously, that?!
i wish someone put the japan full scale gundam there.
Only in America.
Not at all... You can thank a free press/media for hearing about it in this case. In many places you only hear about it when real bombs go off, if then. ;-)
If I was a terrorist, I would spread around my evil stuff via toys in hospitals, schools and orphanages. It would be particularly effective around this time of the year.
The police were hired by Apple to remove the offending Android
Did you guys read the article? The robot was cemented to the pillar. That ius not ordinary. It was not just sitting there. yes a toy robot is not harmless but the robot was cemented to the pillar.
The police were probably worried what it was filled with. I have seen on the mythbusters show some stuff that could probably take out the pillar of the bridge with the amount of stuff that could fit inside the robot.
So like i said it was the fact that somebody cemented it to the pillar.
No one reads stuff on the Internet.
FWIW, the shaped charges said to be responsible for the very recent assassination [& attempted assassination] of the Iranian nuclear scientists were small enough to be stuck on the car doors by someone on a passing motorcycle in traffic -- according to a Stratfor write-up, http://goo.gl/pAYx0 , only the scientist who survived noticed.
I guess that could be a prime example that deadly things can indeed come in small packages.
roflmao you make my day
Danger Danger danger Will Robinson
The Cylons are here!!
Can you say over react?
Oh wow....way to over react.... back in the 80s or 90s someone would have picked it up and tossed it in the garbage...
Depends on how strong the glue holding it in place was. :-)
And they would have gone thru the trouble of removing the cement?
Could you imagine if it was a GI Joe with the Kungfu grip!!!!
AAAACK!!! Save me from the weeee robots!!
Poor little robot getting blown to bits like that
I want to know where Grant Imahara was during all this! :-D
This is what happens when you wage a war on terror. Everything becomes terrifying. OMG my toothpaste isn't closed the way I normally close it. Help I'm being terrorized.
Oh come on this story has played out before....
Anyone recall the promo gone bad that caused this same thing in Boston because of a cartoon network promotion http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16941043/39728208
So let me guess a new show coming out "Cement Rebot boy" (or something like that)
Just saying....
beep boop beep boop
No its:
beep, beepbop, beep beep, boop, beep.
Wow, so many ignorant comments...
Just so you know, terrorists sneak bombs into things you'd least expect. So for all of you "LOL that's dumb" people out there, "common sense" doesn't apply in this situation because thanks to 9/11 we DO have to be vigilant about everything and everyone.
Looks are deceiving, you are being fooled that the robot is harmless because in your head it's just a toy. If it was an ugly looking cardboard box or a backpack you would be thinking differently.
So be very thankful that for people like you, the chances of getting a laser printer toner with a bomb inside is very low.
Just so you know, terrorists sneak bombs into things you'd least expect.
Like their underpants
I`m sure there`s a camera pointed on said bridge so the "culprit" will be apprehended. Unless....
[quote=Pharos said"common sense" doesn't apply in this situation because thanks to 9/11 we DO have to be vigilant about everything and everyone.
[/quote]
LOL
Does the koolaid come in grape flavored? That's my favorite.
At least this wasn't like the `bomb` scare in Boston (I think it was Boston) with the Hunger Force promotion.
The write-up's great! :-)
The article's storyline works because it wasn't a lunchbox or small satchel or paper bag etc... In the US, law enforcement in many (most?) cases has no choice. First there's the fact that you simply don't know what's inside & if it does contain any sort of explosive, even if it's equivalent to a fire cracker, what price is too great to prevent the chance of a kid getting injured, e.g. blinded by shrapnel. In places where there's armed conflict &/or terrorism, rigging toys has often been common practice. Second bureaucrats set policies that have to be followed, with no little to no room for anyone to use common sense, & lawyers are standing by to sue anyone they can claim was negligent... make a mistake &/or don't follow the bureaucrats' policies/procedures to the letter, and not just your career but your life could be destroyed.
That said, if we don't take time out to laugh at ourselves occasionally, those who would use terror of any sort have scored a win.
Thanks Matthew!
"... cemented into the pillar..."
If that's true, then it was very reasonable to be concerned.
Anyway, if they hadn't blown it up, it would have been less likely to be invaded.
http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1777
This.
We should start to build spaceship right now the cylons are coming.
This reminds me of the movie Bowling for Columbine, the bit about how US americans are scared of everything and everyone =-D
Real American's have nothing to fear but fear itself.
What is this I don't..