'Threatening' art project sparks brief bomb scare

For an hour on Thursday morning, Portland police worried that a makeshift diorama containing a packet of tomato seeds, a flannel shirt and a computer mouse might be a bomb.

At 8:40 a.m., police were called to investigate a suspicious box. Police quickly blocked traffic while officers in protective gear responded to examine the cardboard box perched atop a green utility box.



It was not immediately clear what the diorama was intended to be. An owl? A scarecrow? Passersby pointed out that it had been standing there for at least a week.

After deeming the art project to be harmless, police left the box, complete with light bulb, fuzzy orange top, and a tiny thank you card, where it stood.