Times Square being evacuated again right now?

[tazber]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:31pm

Anyone know anything?
WTF?

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:33pm

CNN is reporting a suspicious package was discovered.


Broadway and 45th is shut down.

*EDIT* they are now reporting it is 46th street.

Updated On: 5/7/10 at 01:33 PM

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:37pm

Someone's twitpic of the view: http://twitpic.com/1lt98x

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:39pm

Here is an additional link, with slightly more info: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/msnbc-section-of-times-square-evacauated-becase-of-suspicious-package/1

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:39pm

Why does someone want to blow up Broadway? Surely this season wasn't that bad.

~Steven

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:40pm

CNN is reporting that the Obama administration just said the situation is "closed and all clear."

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:50pm

It is a white cooler in front of the Marriot hotel. Bomb squad just arrived according to CNN, so it probably isn't all clear.

Looks like Broadway and 7th avenue between 44th and 47th are closed down.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:51pm

I told everyone that K. Chenoweth is not happy about her non-nomination for PP. This has her fingerprints all over it. Oh Holy Mother Idina, come and save us from this evil one.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:54pm

^ That's not even remotely funny.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:59pm

CNN just interviewed a woman who is in the Actors Equity building, she is watching it all unfold.

They just spoke to a woman who works for the Marriot. They have been told that there was a suspicious cooler outside the hotel, and were asked to keep everyone inside the building until further notice.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:02pm

According to a CNN producer who is in the area they just let a van go through that had hostage negotiation written on the side. No idea what it might be in connection to.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:10pm

http://gothamist.com/2010/05/07/photo_of_times_square_empty_for_sus.php

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:15pm

A bomb squad robot is now doing an x-ray of the cooler. The next step will be to cut a small hole in the cooler to look inside.

EDIT- The x-ray was inconclusive, the officers in haz-mat suits are going to take a closer look.

Updated On: 5/7/10 at 02:15 PM

[Kevn520]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:16pm

Live cam: http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/?cam=lennon_hd

[willep]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:17pm

X-Ray completed, info inconclusive.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:17pm

BroadwayWorld is more up to date than any other news website. Thanks everyone!

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:19pm

"The NYPD have confirmed the suspicious package is not threatening. Everyone is safe and Times Square is back to normal."

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:21pm

According to CNN, it's all clear now

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:21pm

Cars are moving and the crowds are back. An officer carried out the cooler in a white plastic bag. Official all clear about to be announced.

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:21pm

website updated: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/msnbc-section-of-times-square-evacauated-becase-of-suspicious-package/1

"Update at 2:18 p.m. ET: MSNBC quotes a police spokesman as saying officers found only books and a bottle of water inside the cooler and that officers will soon reopen the square."

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:22pm

CNN says the NYPD told them it was multiple water bottles.

Edit- it was a small green fabric cooler, big enough to hold a sandwich and water bottle. There was also a reusuable fabric shopping bag.

Updated On: 5/7/10 at 02:22 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:23pm

A lot of people are laughing here over the over-reaction to somebody's lost lunch bag.

All they had to do was ignore it and have it turn out to be something much worse....

[willep]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:25pm

Exactly. Better safe than sorry in my opinion.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:25pm

i bet you the person that forgot that lost lunch will not go collect it.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:27pm

Mamie- I agree with you. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially in a crowded area like Times Square.

A great job by the NYPD.