Just across on MSNBC. Paul Brown, spokesman for the NYPD, has confirmed that this was a “crude car bomb”. It’s terrorism, though likely perpetrated by an individual without high-level training.

MSNBC and other media sources are repeatedly warning against jumping to conclusions about the attack or its perpetrators. For some reason I doubt the same caution will be urged in connecting a lone-wolfer to the entire tea party movement if it turns out to be a non-jihadist.

Update: Crude or otherwise, this could have been a national tragedy. Fireworks, several propane tanks, several gasoline canisters, and the vehicle itself. That’s pretty explosive if rigged properly.