New York, NY – NYPD Sees Sharp Increase In Reports Of Suspicious Packages

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    A New York City police officer places a package in a police scooter after authorities cleared streets around New York's Times Square and called in the bomb squad Friday, May 7, 2010, after finding a package left on a sidewalk a block away from where where a failed car bomb was found over the weekend. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)New York, NY – The New York City Police Department has reported a dramatic increase of New Yorkers reporting suspicious packages in the past week, including a false alarm that temporarily shut down Times Square Friday afternoon.

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    Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the NYPD has received about 140 daily calls of suspicious packages this week, up from 90 daily calls the week before.

    Police presence has also increased in Times Square, after an explosive-packed sports utility vehicle was left there last Saturday.

    “People are more aware of their surroundings, obviously the events on Saturday evening have caused some concern,” said Kelly.

    The NYPD received a call for an abandoned water cooler, which was found at 46th Street and Broadway at 12:42 p.m. Friday in the pedestrian plaza by the tables and chairs, (as was reported by Vos Iz Neias).

    Streets were closed for about an hour as crews investigated, but the cooler only contained water bottles.

    No buildings or hotels were evacuated, according to the NYPD.

    Cynthia Castro, who works in Times Square, said her building was on a temporary lockdown, and she was shaken by the scare.

    “People should be careful with their stuff because it’s just scary,” she said.

    Castro said she and her colleagues have vowed to not live every day in fear, but they recognize there’s a role we can all play to fight threats of any kind.

    “We all have to work together to be on guard. The police can’t do everything, they’re not there all the time. We work here, we work together, we know our neighbors,” said Castro. “We pretty much who comes and goes, what belongs there and what doesn’t. And if we don’t do anything, then we’re not really taking care of ourselves.”

    Visitors to Times Square said they are still not deterred from enjoying the city.

    “I don’t feel the tension here. It doesn’t seem that many people are worried,” said one visitor.

    “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. We can’t do anything about it,” said another. “But life goes back to normal, and I don’t think people are that scared about it, because it was caught in time. And the police and everybody else took measures to prevent it, I guess, and caught the guy.”

    “Loving it, this is my first time in the city and I’m not worried about anything at all,” said a third.

    NYPD officials said they fully investigate all reported suspicious activity.

    Meanwhile, as the investigation into the attempted Times Square car bombing continues, authorities were trying to figure out Friday how the botched attack was financed.


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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    welcome to israel