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A bomb scare erupted in Manhattan, New York, centered around a suspicious suitcase amidst tightened security for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. As a precautionary measure, the iconic Chrysler Building was temporarily evacuated.
On Tuesday, shortly before 3 PM local time, a suspicious black suitcase was discovered unattended on a sidewalk near East 43rd Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan. The location is in close proximity to the Chrysler Building and just a few blocks away from the United Nations Headquarters.
After a police K9 unit indicated the presence of something suspicious inside the suitcase, the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Bomb Squad and Emergency Service Unit swiftly responded to the scene. For safety reasons, the surrounding area was cordoned off, and the Chrysler Building was evacuated.
The NYPD reported that traffic was halted on 42nd to 44th Streets, from Second Avenue to Lexington Avenue. The public was advised to avoid the area.
Following approximately one and a half hours of thorough examination, the Bomb Squad confirmed that the suitcase posed no security threat. It was subsequently declared safe. There were no casualties, and no explosives or actual threats were found.
The incident occurred while the high-level session of the UN General Assembly is underway in New York. Numerous representatives, including heads of state and government from various countries, are currently present in the city. Consequently, security measures around the UN Headquarters and throughout Manhattan have been significantly intensified.
In addition to the NYPD, the US Secret Service, FBI, the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and UN security officials are all involved in ensuring security during this General Assembly. New York authorities had previously announced that security would be heightened in the city for the duration of the General Assembly.
Source: Hindustan Times, NBC New York