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. DeAundre

    Water Bottles!!!!!!!

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Brent Vincent

    wouldn't it be funny if you were the one that accidentally left your lunch cooler by the door on the way to work, and saw it on the news 🙂
    Not sure if I would admit it was mine after all this. 🙂 lol

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  3. AL BARDES

    ROUND THEM ALL UP , AND SHIP THEM OUT ( OF COURSE KEEP THE MONEY THEY HAVE IN OUR BANKS ) CALL IT A SERVICE CHARGE IF YOU WANT, BUT BOTTOM LINE THEY GOTTA GO

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Huw Thomas

    Stick it on Ebay...buyer collects.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Texas

    "cooler of water bottles" ALL CLEARED... whooohooo

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Skeat

    Congratulations the water bottle terrorist and half eaten lunch are winning the war terrorizing NY

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Steph

    I seriously doubt if it turned out to be something people would be saying 'We can't blame the police, I mean it was just a cooler!' Let them do their job. If it's nothing, great, if it's something then you naysayers will be singing a completely different tune.

    Oh, and the 'New Yorkers have; "Only City in the World" syndrome' was out of order. If it was your city that you love you'd feel the exact same way.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  8. yeaaaa

    Paranoia or not, it's better to be safe than sorry.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Kerberos

    This hoax was done by Obama haters. Anything they can do to sway public opinion.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  10. laura

    ANYONE that claims this is Paraonia is an IDIOT!! You do not work or live in NYC or witnessed 9/11 firsthand. Do you not realize a few days ago someone actually did tryo to blow up that area. So stop making stupid comments from the safety of your home and office that is nowhere near their prime targets on NYC!!

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Pete

    I wonder what they are really doing now that they have once again created a diversion...

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Patriot from the US

    ATTENTION ALL LIBERALS. THERE IS A BIG RALLEY TOMORROW AT THIS GRID CORDINIANCE: 265.369.456.258.63 SW by 263.589.568.788.69 NE
    LMOL.....................................................................

    May 7, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  13. DS

    OMG "enlightened" – do you have two firing synpapse in your uh – brain?

    May 7, 2010 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Mili

    I guess this kind of precaution is expected considering the volatile situation we are living in. Thanks to the NYPD and other officers for risking their lives and keeping us safe.

    May 7, 2010 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Jodi

    Watercooler contained waterbottles. Hmm.sounds fitting.
    Diversion or a really embarrased person that left their cooler....

    May 7, 2010 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
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