Had the bus exploded, this could have become a mass casualty situation, given the crowded area.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/1u5lmeq/school_bus_burned_in_times_square_by_knicks_fans/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square#Incidents
https://www.history101.nyc/places/times-square
https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=violence
https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Tri-State+Area