NY Times Square reopened after police determine suspicious package as not dangerous

The New York Police Department said the suspicious package that forced evacuation of the heart of Times Square at lunchtime was examined by the Bomb Squad and determined to be just a lunch cooler and safe.

It was the second time in less than one week the usually- crowded symbol of New York City's entertainment center was emptied because of a suspicious package. But the previous evacuation turned out to be for a failed car bomb last Saturday evening.

The police spokesman told Xinhua shortly after 2 p.m. (EDT) the suspicious package was determined to be just a picnic cooler with beverages inside. Times Square was immediately reopened to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

The cooler in question was spotted by jumpy New Yorkers about 1 p.m. (EDT) outside the Marriott Hotel at West 45th Street on Broadway in the center of Times Square and the Bomb Squad was called to the scene. Members of the team suited up and examined the cooler and determined it was "safe," the spokesman said; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

See www.xinhuanet.com/english2010/ for full version