Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Mayor: New York 'Lucky' Car Bomb Did Not Explode VOA News 02 May 2010 A police vehicle is seen in Times Square in New York, 2 May 2010 Photo: AP A police vehicle is seen in Times Square in New York, 2 May 2010. Authorities say police have found an "amateurish" but potentially powerful bomb that apparently began to detonate but did not explode in a smoking sport utility vehicle in Times Square. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Sunday that thousands of tourists were cleared from the streets for 10 hours after a T-shirt vendor alerted police to the suspicious vehicle, which contained three propane tanks, fireworks, two filled 20-liter (5-gallon) gasoline containers, and two clocks with batteries, electrical wire and other components. Authorities in New York City are viewing security camera footage and examining other evidence to determine who may have tried to set off a car bomb in the Times Square entertainment district. Police evacuated thousands of tourists and theater-goers from Times Square Saturday night, after a T-shirt vendor noticed a suspicious vehicle and alerted officers. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the green Nissan Pathfinder sport utility vehicle contained three propane tanks, fireworks, two gasoline containers, and two clocks with batteries. He said the device looked "amateurish," but could have caused a "very deadly event" had it exploded. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, Governor David Paterson, left, and Speaker Christine C. Quinn, right hold a news conference in Times Square early Sunday morning, 02 May 2010 AP Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, Governor David Paterson, left, and Speaker Christine C. Quinn, right hold a news conference in Times Square early Sunday morning, 02 May 2010 A police spokesman, Paul Browne, says the bomb appeared to have started to detonate, but malfunctioned. Bomb experts carefully removed the vehicle, and police reopened Times Square after several hours. Bloomberg said authorities do not know who planted the bomb or why. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said officials are treating the incident as though it could have been an act of terrorism.  She said investigators are following leads that include fingerprints and possible video of the car earlier on Saturday evening. Times Square is one of New York's main attractions, with theaters and restaurants that draw millions of tourists throughout the year. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not raise the national threat level after the incident. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .