Times Square Closes

[+ Lucky]

Times Square closed tonight about 6:30 pm when yet another suspicious vehicle, this one with smoke coming form the rear, alerted police officials, who had been criticized at Christmas time for ignoring an abandoned vehicle on the Square. Many theater goes could not get to their shows, but it is unknown if any theaters were evacuated.

Here is, in part, the NY Times story on the subject:

 

A suspicious vehicle in the heart of Times Square led the police to clear thousands of tourists and theatergoers from the area on a warm and busy Saturday(Friday?) evening.

Reports said the vehicle contained a package that did not explode, and late Saturday (Friday?)night it was not clear whether the package was a bomb. A federal official said the incident was not considered it a terrorist threat and that the New York Police Department had told the Department of Homeland Security to stand down.

Police officials said they received a report about 6:30 p.m. of smoke coming from a Nissan Pathfinder parked on 45th Street just west of Seventh Avenue. The authorities found a smoking package in the vehicle. A bomb squad was sent to the scene.

The police were searching for a suspect.

A New York City firefighter who told Reuters he arrived early on the scene said that the vehicle was smoking and that he saw “a flash” from the back of the it. “We put two and two together” and the evacuation was ordered, he said.

Broadway was closed between at least 43rd and 46th Streets, and the police also appeared to be closing off part of Eighth Avenue.

The police said they planned to close down Broadway shows in the vicinity, Reuters reported, but it was not clear whether any theaters had actually been evacuated.

Onlookers crowded against the metal barricades encircling the area, taking pictures with cellphones and video cameras, although only a swarm of flashing fire trucks and police cars was visible.

Many people stayed to watch after being shut out of Broadway shows or prevented from getting back to their hotels, trading rumors about what was happening.

The Toys “R” Us, between 44th and 45th Streets, was empty.

Gabrielle Zecha and Taj Heniser, visiting from Seattle, had tickets to see “Next to Normal” at the Booth Theater on 45th Street but could not get into the 8 p.m. show because the area was blocked off. But they made the best of the spectacle. “It’s a whole different kind of show,” Ms. Heniser said, adding, “It’s almost the equivalent of a $150 show.”

In December, the police closed Times Square for nearly two hours as they investigated a suspiciously parked van, delaying the rehearsal of the New Year’s ball drop. However, the van turned out to contain nothing but clothing.

[Guest greatness]

it's good

 

thing that it didn't happen while you were there.

[NYTomcat]

just got word froma friend they have now evacuated the marriot marquis and further threats are being investigated apparently a failed device. yeap an SUV full of explosives. Times square is in chaos. this is at midnight the hotel is being cleared to cots in the ballrooms

[Kevin Slater]

The current (as of this posting) coverage on NYTimes.com says it turned out to be more an incendiary device than an explosive.

 

There are so many surveillance cameras in the area I'm sure we'll all soon be on the lookout for some medium built figure in a hoodie and dark glasses.

 

Kevin Slater

[NYTomcat]

yeah but hotel guests are all locked out of TS and they are evacuating Marquis now almost 6 hours later

[+ Lucky]

The News reports:

 

Seven big shows went dark, including "Billy Elliot" and "The Lion King," which is located directly behind the would-be car bomb.

The curtain at "God of Carnage" and "Red" went up a half hour later than usual, but those shows were not canceled, said spokesman Adrian Bryan-Brown. Restaurants like Sardi's and TGI Friday's were also evacuated, witnesses said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/05/01/2010-05-01_times_square_evacuated_after_smoking_vehicle_sparks_emergency_probe.html?page=1#ixzz0mmUqKYQu

[Guest andrewd]

Times Scare...

 

Had the good fortune to be in NYC this past weekend & happened to be passing through Times Sq. @ 7:15 via 46th & 7th Ave/Broadway & noticed from 46th south it was cordoned off and lots of emergency responder vehicles. Just thought oh, must be a fire or an accident. Proceeded to see "Glass Menagerie" a few blocks away and when the show let out around 11 ish couldn't get back to Paramount Hotel @ 46th & 8th Ave. Was one of the unlucky ones who were locked out of the hotels on 46th until the early morning hours.

 

Thanks God for Crackberry's and Internet access on the go to find out what was going on as it was difficult to get info otherwise.

 

On a side note: Glass Menag was great, A Little Night Music was PHENOMINAL!! A very strong cast, great chemistry between Catherine Zeta and her leading man, & hello! Angie L is deserving of the icon/legend status! Great production by all. Not a weak cast member.