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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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iReport.com: See photos from Times Square
[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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In other news .. tourist forgets that his cooler of Diet Coke that some museum wouldn't permit him to bring inside causes $1million in police overtime and a rush on Xanax refills.
You go Laura. I could not have said it better!!
a cooler? maybe someone just forgot their beer for the tailgate..
I think they are watching what we are doing. How we react. (cops, FBI) That way they know how much time they have we become predictiable. Sometimes i think it may be a set up for the big one. ( I hope that never happens) Stay safe everyone!!
pUnkS!
I bet it's a cooler full of taco's. There's always leftovers after Cinco De Mayo!
Oh my god someone left a cooler outside a hotel???? In a city where hot dogs are 7 bucks? Please, it probably wouldn't fit in the cab. Or better yet cost more than it was worth to add it to the cab fare! Just sayin'
I worked in the WTC – was there on 9/11. As far as I'm concerned, we can't be too careful. Hopefully the cooler was left behind by a forgetful tourist but i wouldn't want to be the police official who decided to ignore it and then it detonates. Such incidents are part of daily life in Israel – by the same enemies attacking us. The koran actually encourages them to kill the infidel so as long is islam exists, we will be under attack. It's time the west become better acquainted with the teachings of radical jihadis.
OMG, not again?
Gosh, I hope there's not a explosive liverwurst sandwich in there, or consider NYC a gonner
BOOM! Gotcha. LOL!
I wish no death on anyone, but this is what happens when you descriminate against other race! Most Americans are so busy critcizing the illegals and making such harshful evil comments agains them, especially the Mexicans "because we can"! I see that American is reaping what they are sowing. Keep it up and I have a God who's eyes are on everyone and everything! The wicked shall not go unpunished, including the bombers! I am so sick of racist idiots who think that they are better then anyone! I you wish to reply, you are among them!!!!!
@vienners probably a bellhop at the Marriott forgot to put the cooler in the taxi or car checking out of the hotel. Get off of your high horse New Yorkers, everyone is not out to get you.
So now everytime a piece of litter is found in New York the streets are being shut down? Just like now we must take off our shoes before we go on a plane? The terrorists are able to influence us in many more ways than we give them credit for, and eventually they are going to be able to use our predictable overreactions to their advantage and really create some devestation.
Gosh, I hope there's not a explosive liverwurst sandwich in there, or consider NYC a goner