UPDATED:
A man suspected of placing a hoax bomb that evacuated a mall in Queens, New York, on Monday morning is a right-wing conspiracy theorist who was arrested for arson on Dec. 30 and has been under investigation by the NYPD for at least a week.
Law enforcement officials say they are looking for the man, Louis Shenker, 22, after New York City firefighters discovered a stolen car with wire, cans, and electrical wiring in the form of a hoax bomb device on top of the car’s trunk. No explosives were found in the vehicle — a Tesla with Nevada plates parked on a spiral ramp between parking garage levels at the Queens Place mall — but police rescued a husky dog from inside it.
—-
UPDATED:
UPDATE: The @NYPDCT Bomb Squad has given the incident at Queens Place Mall the “All Clear.” The suspicious vehicle has been deemed safe. The investigation is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/M2afY7eCq5
— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) January 4, 2021
—-
Police advise there’s a black Tesla hooked up with loads of wires to a propane tank near the mall, which triggered the investigation.
The precise location is 56th Ave & Queens Blvd, Elmhurst Queens. Queens Blvd is currently shut down surrounding the area. NYPD units & other emergency personnel are located on both the North & South sides of Queens Blvd.
Currently, the area has been taped off by NYPD, and the investigation is ongoing. Avoid the area.
More details to follow.
