What evidence is there that someone intentionally used the context that the installations would be seen as bombs? And on what planet should the first reaction by police to seeing a bunch of obvious LED street art installations as being a massive bomb threat be seen as reasonable? If police think something stupid, it does not mean that stupid thought must be taken as legitimate and acceptable just because they are police.
The police should have apologized and taken responsibility for instigating an unnecessary panic.
The post-9/11 period could really only be characterized by "unnecessary panic".
Adult Swim really leaned into the absurdity, and Harvey Birdman S2:E1 "Blackwatch Plaid" (2004) captures a bit of what like: https://www.adultswim.com/videos/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-...