Video Games Encourage Terrorism

A peaceful Ohio community was paralyzed with fear this weekend at what appeared to be an attempted terrorist plot. Seventeen suspicious-looking packages--which may have been dangerous bombs--were found in strategic locations around Ravenna Ohio on Saturday. The gold boxes, emblazoned with an enigmatic black question mark, were placed near powerful architectural symbols of power and influence: Immaculate Conception Church, Reed Memorial Library, the intersection of Sanford and Main, and Deluxe Pastries. Police and HAZMAT teams from the Portage County Hazardous Materials Unit and Bomb Detection Unit were called in to safely investigate the boxes, none of which were determined to contain any trace of explosives. Rather, they were wrapped in foil and decorated to resemble the well-known item boxes from Nintendo's classic Super Mario Bros. (NES).

McCoy said while the investigation was ongoing at the various scenes, a female juvenile and her parent came in to the Ravenna Police Department claiming responsibility for the packages, claiming they were just a joke. A total of five female juveniles - all ages 16 or 17 - are suspected of being involved, McCoy said.

"The girls found an Internet site called Mario Question Blocks which told you step by step how the game is played, along with instructions on wrapping the packages, just to see what kind of response you get," McCoy said. "This game is evidently being played all over the country."

McCoy said even though no harm was intended by the girls, they could face criminal charges for their actions.

Be alert for similar nefarious goings on. Such plots could be unfolding in your very own hometown. The site in question, Mario Question Blocks, is maintained by one Ryan North. While the individual is responsible for a daily publication called Dinosaur Comics, he has yet to be traced to Al Queda or other worldwide criminal organizations. (For those speculating the news article itself is an April Fool's joke, it's not. These events were reported in different stories by various other local press outlets as well.)