All Clear Following Reports Of Suspicious Vehicle In Times Square, Evacuation
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- Times Square was evacuated Saturday evening after reports of a suspicious vehicle.
Police had to clear out thousands of people from the area just before 8 p.m. on a busy Saturday night, CBS2's Brian Conybeare reported.
They evacuated the entire area, even bringing in barricades to keep people a safe distance away from a beat-up white box truck that was found abandoned on 46th Street near Broadway, right outside of two theaters and the Marriott Marquis hotel.
It wasn't running, but the keys were in the ignition. Inside the vehicle was a set of suspicious looking wires on the front seat and at least one gas can in the cab.
The American Eagle Outfitters store nearby and other businesses were locked down as a precaution.
Police swarmed the suspicious truck and the bomb squad determined there was no threat. The unidentified driver was eventually located, handcuffed and taken into custody for questioning.
The incident, coming in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks reminded many of 9/11 and the 2010 failed terrorist car bombing in Times Square that was thwarted by some quick thinking street vendors.
"It's always eerie when something scary like that happens and it was very eerie here thinking about that," theater patron Amber Raskin told CBS2.