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. JOHANNAH

    They are probably using Times Square as a decoy.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:00 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Zippo

    This is paranoia. Face it, a terrorist isn't going to leave something so blatent out in the open. They would try to hide it. Make it look like an everyday object . By making it stand out it gives authorities time to react and evacuate.

    the American way of live really was lost forever.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:00 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Efrain

    I have a cooler in my trunk. Should I evacuate?

    May 7, 2010 at 2:00 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Mr. X

    Oh I see! It was a WHITE cooler! I see how it is......

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Patriot from the US

    I can't wait for the civil war to start here. I locked and loaded and ready for you liberal nut cases

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  6. kuk kabah

    I'm guessing this might be a false alarm but could it be they will start measuring response times and creating more of these "false alarms" to numb people to it? Scary times, and crazier things to come.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Mark

    Those seeking to terrorize us are succeding. Let's see if they can trace this cooler back to the purchaser...

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Abdulla

    I Just Evacuated My Bowels.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  9. MeMyselfAndI

    Its a ............................Turkey and cheese sandwich! Seriously, i hope it is.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  10. David

    Highly likely Parnoia.

    once a big event happen, then the public get too parnoia whatever odd giong on. the public tends to raise their awarness on surrounding around the public..

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Tacky Shoes

    To

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  12. yo

    IT'S IN FRUNT OF THE "SOUTH PARK" BILDING...... AGANE

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Havis

    How is Times Square evacuated if there are still people in the buildings? CNN FAIL.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  14. ME

    GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Good Job Immigration

    Edward I Agree... Keep them out so we dont have to be bothered with these incidents

    Andy- thats the problem.... Why does everyone come here? Go to vegas or somewhere else what you never stayed up late or saw lights before? Get a tv. every music video has a backdrop of times square anyways

    May 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
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