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.

soundoff (1,087 Responses)
  1. Sunny Delight

    They are probably just taking necessary precautions after what happened last week. Hope everything turns out positively.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  2. TFLANNAGAN

    Maybe a copycat?

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Cade

    You know that FedEx guy is fired. YOU MUST GET A SIGNATURE.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Faisal Shahzad

    Something big must of happened!!

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Dan

    "FEAR" brought to you by the US Government

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  6. nyc

    better to be safe...

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  7. MS

    My office window looks out on 45th street from 6th Avenue perspective. Cops could be handling the traffic better. Cars that were stuck on 45th street going into Times Square are trying to get back out, and there is one officer helping them. If the police are serious about this being something bad, you'd think they'd have more personnel trying to evacuate people in cars from the area. There's a big red bus stuck there that hasn't moved in awhile (and I can't imagine doing a K-turn in one of those).

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Matt

    There going be on a high alert, but you never know

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Matt

    False flag terrorism is bad, mmmk?

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  10. lIIlI

    My money is on a dirty diaper bag.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
  11. B

    Some freak probably thought it was a funny hoax. It's probably nothing, but a sick joke.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Deepak

    I hope it is just out of renewed fear!!

    May 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Steve

    This is just pathetic. Objective of terrorism achieved.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Devilsthumb

    Maybe more about officials and news media telling would be bombers how to make a bomb that actually works by revealing why the first one didn't. Now everyone knows how to make a "good" one, so the "paranoia" is probably warrented. Thanks Mayor Bloomberg, CNN, and all the rest of responsible journalists.

    May 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
  15. DSolomon

    Great, maybe now the liberals can get a chance to hang it on the tea party after all

    May 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
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