boon's log 1407.07: It's a bomb!!! Just kidding...

I received a phone call at around 5PM at my office saying that there is a lock down at the bridge due to a bomb-threat. The first thing that came to my mind was the time when I was locked-down with LH at a Pret-a-Manger outlet near Liverpool Street Underground Station in London. We were happily having our coffee when we were told to stay indoors and the metal doors came down. I believe were there for a good half an hour. It turned out to be a bomb-scare / false alarm.

Anyways, when we got the news, I IM-ed IL and told her about it and decided that we leave early to avoid the jam which may trickle down from the Penang bridge. IL left earlier at around 1745hrs, while I, at around 1815hrs - but the traffic was surprisingly smooth. Guess they "slinky-effect" has not reach us yet.

When we finally reach home, the first thing was to look out our window to checkout the situation at the bridge. And truly, it was something thta you do not see everyday. The first time ever the bridge was completely empty (since it first opened).


Bomb-scare 001 [click pic for larger image]

We kept the video-cam rolling in the case if there was really a bomb - for about half an hour. Then at around 1900hrs, the bridge re-opened allowing the vehicles traveling from the mainland towards the island.


Bomb-scare 002 [click pic for larger image]

Then a few minutes later, folks from the island were allowed to cross over to the mainland and traffic (almost) immediately built up and before long, the bridge was back to normal again - jammed (!!!).


Bomb-scare 003 [click pic for larger image]

As you all may (or may not) already know, the so-called bomb was actually a metal rod, 30cm long and 10cm in diameter, which turned out to be a kangaroo-bar found on a bridge divider - not a real bomb. The bomb-squad was summoned to detonate the "bomb" on-site. I always wondered what if it was a real bomb, and they detonated the "bomb" on-site - wouldn't that have triggered a larger explosion? Hmm...

By the way, what do you call a bomb-squad in Malay? Skuad-Bom?

... I Googled it and the answer is UPB (yeah, there is an acronym for it too) - the "Unit Pemusnah Bom". One out of three ain't that bad. ;)

boon out...