Bomb Scare at SPIDER-MAN Precedes Michelle Obama's Visit

The NY Daily News reports that a brief bomb scare occured at the Foxwoods Theatre on W 42nd Street in New York City yesterday, just minutes before First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha, 11 and Malia, 14 arrived to attend the 3:00 pm matinee performance of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK.

According to the report, just before the First Lady and her family arrived, a theatergoer, who has been identified as Ross Mandell, 43, of Charlotte, N.C. joked to police that his luggage might "blow up." Mandell was visiting New York on a business trip and was unaware that the First Family would be attending the show.  When he was asked to check his bags at the theater entrance, Mandell reportedly commented, “Yeah, I’ll check my bags, but if the show is bad, they’ll blow up.” 

Following an interview with the NYPD and the Secret Service and an inspection by a bomb squad officer, it was determined that Mandell was not suspicious and was not arrested. “It was a stupid thing to say to any cops, but particularly in this case,” said a source.

Following the performance, Michelle Obama and her daughters quickly drove away in a waiting SUV. Prior to the show, the First Lady spoke at a Westchester campaign event.