Authorities in the northeastern U.S. city of Boston have arrested two men in connection with an outdoor marketing campaign that sparked fears of a bomb threat.
Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens will face a judge Thursday on charges of placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct.
Boston police shut down major highways and bridges and a section of the Charles River Wednesday after reports of suspicious packages at nine locations. The objects turned out to be 30-centimeter tall blinking electronic devices with hanging wires and batteries.
Cable television network Turner Broadcasting System says the light boards were part of a promotion for an adult-themed animated show on its network. It said the devices have been in place in Boston and nine other cities for two to three weeks.
Turner Broadcasting apologized for the incident, and ordered the objects to be removed immediately. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino blasted the network, calling it an example of "corporate greed." Menino said he is prepared to take legal action to recoup the hundreds of thousands of dollars it cost the city to respond to the bomb scare.