I think the Boston Marathon bombing really is damaging to the case that the reaction was justified.

A lot is being made in this thread of a public art piece. Meanwhile, the real attack that's been cited was executed by leaving a nondescript backpack on the ground.

The other commenter raises a good point that the case being made boils down to being intentionally vague. "Random device." "Cylinders." And that really does fall apart when you describe it as "an LED sign with batteries."

It's reasonable for the bomb squad to investigate. But the likelihood that this was a threat is being grossly exaggerated.