The heart of New York City was thrown into chaos Monday morning when Times Square was completely evacuated after police discovered a suspicious device outside an NYPD precinct at 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue.
According to police, the cylindrical device was spotted around 10:30 a.m., forcing officers to immediately clear the area. Tourists, commuters, and locals were pushed out, leaving what is usually the busiest part of Manhattan looking like a post-apocalyptic ghost town.
The NYPD bomb squad rushed in and later confirmed the package was not dangerous. But for nearly an hour, the city’s crossroads stood frozen — a sight not seen since previous terror scares in the city’s history.
“We got off the train and saw everything closed off and police everywhere,” said one Colombian tourist. “They wouldn’t tell us everything. We’re just here because my sister has never seen New York.”
Another visitor from Yonkers, holding her baby, was visibly shaken: “Are we alright?” she asked reporters as helicopters hovered above Times Square.
Long Island resident Mike Mercado summed up the sentiment of many New Yorkers: “It’s a shame. Times Square, all this madness is happening.”
Authorities have not made any arrests yet and are not saying whether the device was designed to look like a bomb. For now, the incident serves as a stark reminder that in a city that never sleeps, uncertainty can strike at any moment.
