Italian Tourists Investigated for Videotaping Gas Tanks in NYC

January 6, 2011 @ 3:49PM

Italian Tourists Investigated for Videotaping Gas Tanks in NYC

The tourists looked Middle-Eastern, prompting fears among workers

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News

Fortunately, they were only Italian tourists and not Middle-Eastern tourists because they would be in the Guantanamo Bay military prison by now.

But the fact that they looked Middle-Eastern made them suspicious, even though all they were doing was videotaping natural gas tanks from a busy public street in broad daylight with a large video camera.

The tanks were in a Brooklyn Metropolitan Transit Authority bus depot and are clearly visible from the street through the gate.

If you can see it from the street, you can photograph or videotape it.

But the act of videotaping the tanks sent shivers of fear down the spines of transit workers.

As Tommy McNally, a transit union representative, told My Fox New York:

"They're playing Russian roulette with security."

"They're jeopardizing the lives of the people of Sunset Park, Brooklyn and also the union members that work in the depot."

McNally's fear of cameras is understandable considering his tendency to display his ignorance on camera.

MTA investigated the incident and were relieved to discover the culprits were Italians.

But now the New York City Police Department is still investigating the incident.

According to the New York Post, there were three "mysterious" videotaping incidents on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The Post also reveals that the union transit workers are pissed off at cutbacks to security in recent years.

And that's the real issue here, not the videography.

Comments

highsider

1 year ago

Do you think Mr McNally finds it ironic that the news video shows the exact same tanks? I hope terrorist don't watch Fox.

Bobcob

1 year ago

I see the tanks just fine in the video the news journalist shot. Maybe they should call her in. That guy really was a goon. I don't even understand the threat he was talking about. Can't a terrorist buy natural gas and take that to a populated location to set it off? Wouldn't it be a waste to attack a random building with no one inside just because it has a gas tank outside? You might as well attack a dynamite factory.

Luc

1 year ago

That cold weather must cause brain damage...

Tom Jannusch

1 year ago

Whatever happened to "common sense"? The MTA spokesman needs to get out in the world a little more. Can anyone seriously imagine that those gas tanks would be the focus of a real terrorist attack? That guy has been watching way too many Hollywood war movies or too much of the Fox channel. I'm going to Italy soon…the land where you can use a camera without everyone going psycho.

Rich

1 year ago

Unfortunately, this guy who was trying to make his bosses hire some security for his fellow workers in a unsafe neighborhood, had sucked in lead soaked diesel fumes for way too long.

Bobcob

1 year ago

TSC training video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4U6QVaNDbA

It gets interesting at around 4-5 mins. Outrageous.

Tom Joad

1 year ago

OK, I must now leave to turn myself into the authorities. I have two GPS units including a brand new one for x-mas, several cameras, multiple lenses, and flashes. which I carry in my car when I am out driving. I also have a book called "The Roadside Photographer", which I am sure is some kind of violation too.

Rail Car Fan

1 year ago

If the transit union representative Tommy McNally is scared of a innocent photo/video, maybe he should stay home locked up in a windowless room for the rest of his life. Every day common situations are obviously too much for him to handle. What a "Dork"!

Rail Car Fan

Tijuana Joe

1 year ago

At least we get a new buzzword out of this.
"Middle Eastern-looking."