A failed bombing attempt at a local chapter of the NAACP in Colorado Springs, CO yesterday created even larger waves via Twitter when thousands couldn’t find coverage from mainstream national media last night to authenticate details.

According to preliminary reporting from Los Angeles Times and the Denver Post, an “improvised explosive device” was detonated against the exterior wall of the NAACP building on South El Paso Street in Colorado Springs around 10:45 a.m. A spokeswoman for the FBI in Denver reported that no one was injured, however a gasoline can placed near the device failed to ignite during the initial explosion. According to the FBI, officials are seeking a “potential person of interest,” described as a balding white male, about 40 years old.

At a time when breaking news goes live via social media in a matter of seconds, how long should such breaking news remain on the sidelines while this story develops?

Actress Rashida Jones, daughter of media mogul Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton along with other activists also took to twitter to encourage additional coverage from national media:

Not sure which is more disappointing, early reports of a racially motivated “hate crime” against an eminent civil rights organization or that we learn about it via Twitter’s #NAACPBombing hashtag first as mainstream media remains virtually silent.

Creative Commons Licensed Photo on Flickr by Jason Valas