Times Square Reopens After Hoax Device Near NYPD Substation

A cylindrical device found outside an NYPD substation sparked a brief shutdown of Times Square on Monday, triggering a large police response and an evacuation of the surrounding area. The investigation prompted a temporary closure of 7th Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets and forced the evacuation of the police building itself. By midday, authorities had deemed the object not a threat and the area was reopened to cars and pedestrians as officers continued routine operations and investigations.

The sequence began around 10:30 a.m. when investigators responded to a report of a suspicious package near the front door of a Midtown precinct substation. Police quickly cordoned off 7th Avenue in the vicinity, with officers stationed on corners to prevent pedestrian ingress and a large police vehicle parked along the block. The public was urged to avoid the area as emergency crews assessed the device. A helicopter could be heard overhead and sirens punctuated the street, underscoring the scale of the response.

The NYPD later confirmed that the bomb squad had been dispatched to examine the device. Authorities described taking precautionary measures, including evacuating the substation...