Could Saturday’s attempted car bombing have been the 31st unsuccessful terror plot against the U.S. since 9/11?

Both the timing (Saturday night) and location (Times Square) of the attempted car bomb suggest that someone was trying to do a lot of damage; in fact, the gas tanks inside the car were intended to magnify the explosion. Fortunately, those in Times Square were safe thanks to several citizens who alerted authorities that there was smoke coming from the automobile. This type of “see something, say something” is a vital tool of public safety. Lives and property were saved as a result of these reports.

While there is a report from MEMRI of a Taliban leader claiming responsibility for the attack, this group has falsely taken responsibility for terrorist acts in the past, and serious investigative work remains to be done. It’s important to wait and see what law-enforcement authorities discover before leaping to conclusions. Perhaps no other city in America is better able to deal with these types of threats than NYC, and, since the bomb did not go off, there will likely be a lot of physical evidence (fingerprints, etc.). In fact, recent reports indicate police possess video surveillance which might help authorities find the perpetrator.

In terms of next steps, it remains vital that the nation’s leaders recognize that America cannot childproof its way out of danger. There is no silver bullet for dealing with car bombs, and there is little to be gained from fixating on the danger of the day.

If reports are correct and this is indeed an act of terrorism (which is seems to be), this would make at least 31 unsuccessful plots on U.S. soil since 9/11. Some have been averted as a result of sheer luck or the quick-thinking of everyday folks, but continuing to stop acts of terrorism requires vigilance in finding and stopping people before they launch their attacks. Effective intelligence-collection, information-sharing, and counterterrorism operations are the best tools we have, making investigative authorities such as those granted under the Patriot Act so very important. Congress, however, recently made the mistake of punting reauthorization of the Act down the road (giving it a short-term, one-year extension). Such a move is unfortunate given that the Patriot Act provides just the type of investigative tools the U.S. needs for the foreseeable future.

The responses to this attempted bombing by law enforcement, the press, and American citizens have been reasoned and appropriate. It is vital that Congress and the administration follow suit.

– Jena McNeill is a policy analyst for homeland security at the Heritage Foundation.