May 7th, 2010
06:06 PM ET

All-clear given in Times Square scare

Police have blocked off parts of Times Square and evacuated people because of a suspicious cooler left in Times Square.

[Updated at 6:06 p.m.] Read the full CNN.com story

[Updated at 2:32 p.m.] Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York acknowledged after that incident that terrorists have targeted New York.

"We have to take every precaution, as you know, because we remain a prime target for terrorists," he said. "That's something all New Yorkers understand and it's something that we need Washington to understand as well."

"We will continue to doing everything we possibly can to protect New Yorkers from terrorist attacks. We have, as you know, built the most comprehensive and sophisticated counter terrorism operation of any local police force in the world."

[Updated at 2:24 p.m.] An all-clear was declared Friday after authorities investigated a suspicious package left in front of a hotel in Times Square and determined that it contained water bottles, police said.

[Updated at 2:10 p.m.] The New York Police Department has deployed a robot to X-ray the cooler that was abandoned in front of the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square, police told CNN's Susan Candiotti.

[Updated at 2:15 p.m.] A bomb squad robot has completed its X-ray of the suspicious cooler left in Times Square, CNN's Susan Candiotti reported. But, the results were inconclusive.

Members of the bomb squad are now suiting up to get a closer look.

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[Updated at 2:01 p.m.] CNN's Ali Velshi who is on 47th Street and Broadway reports: "Times Square is entirely empty" on certain blocks.

[Updated at 1:58 p.m.] Kathy Duffy, who is in her office at the Marriott Marquis hotel, told CNN the Times Square Alliance said there was an abandoned cooler left outside. Duffy said officials told her that the bomb squad was trying to determine if it was a threat. She said that the hotel has not been told to evacuate.

[Updated at 1:51 p.m.] A spokesman for the Times Square Alliance says, according to the NYPD, the following streets are closed:

  • East bound on 46th Street from 8th Ave
  • West bound on 45th Street from 6th Ave.
  • And the Broadway and 7th Avenue plaza between 44th and 47th.
  • 44th and 47th Streets themselves are not closed.

[Updated at 1:45 p.m.] The suspicious package that prompted evacuations in New York's Times Square is a white cooler that was left near the front of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, police told CNN.

The area is not far from where Faisal Shahzad left his SUV that had explosives in it.

People were evacuated from the streets of Times Square after a report of a suspicious package.

[Posted at 1:24 p.m.] Times Square has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found near 45th street, a New York Police Department official said.

The package was found near 45th Street and Broadway, officials said.

The evacuation comes six days after an SUV with explosives was left in Times Square resulting in the arrest of Faisal Shahzad.

This story is developing. We'll bring you the latest information as we get it.

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Filed under: Times Square
soundoff (1,087 Responses)
  1. Ted

    I live right near here. A hot day in New York and they're worried about someone leaving a cooler out on the sidewalk? This happens all the time. Its probably filled with bottles of water that someone was selling for a dollar, and then ran off when police arrived. Ugh. Paranoia.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Report abuse |
  2. newfie

    this is war isnt it?

    May 7, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Eye Collection Clothing Co.

    I wonder if people out there is just playing around with a serious issue. Don't fool around with his issue, people's life is at stake, we should pool together and find the fool who is doing this. On the flip side it can be for real, be careful out there everyone. Peace and be safe.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Tyler

    Can you say, boy who cried wolf!? http://www.cydeck.com for tech professionals.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Marky

    Here we go again!!

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Chris

    This is serious stuff. Can never be too careful.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Admin Account

    There should be absolutely ZERO tolerance for these actions. Death penalty all the way.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Jon NY

    weird I was JUST having a slice on 41st and B-Way, at the time TS we cleared. I honestly didn't even notice the evacuation. Funny how 4 blocks can really make a difference. At least now I'm back in my office on 36th and B-way.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Mike

    The incident the other day (and maybe even this one) could be to test our responses and see our reactions. They could be gearing up for a major attack (NBC – Nuke/Bio/Chem).

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  10. floydrturboamerican

    there's no point in evacuating. nothing matters to most of the liberals until someone actually dies, then they come out of the woodwork with their concern for American citizens and safety. Up till that point its all the worry about racial profiling, hysteria, and how we deserve to get attacked because of our long history of being bad white males in the world.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Taie

    George Bush did it.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  12. A

    I am currently working about 4 blocks away from all this. Yes, it's paranoia & it's getting annoying. So the city is going to shut down every time something is left unattended on the sidewalk? Seriously? Annoying.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  13. DadFatT

    Get 'em NY

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Proud Canadian

    Fear = Control

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Lala

    Ask yourself this question, Who is profiting from all of this? Fear = Profits since Sept. 11th 2001.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse |
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