A suspicious suitcase found on a Manhattan sidewalk Tuesday afternoon prompted a bomb squad response and the temporary evacuation of the Chrysler Building. The incident came as New York City was under heightened security for the United Nations General Assembly.
The suitcase was found shortly before 3 p.m. near East 43rd Street and Third Avenue, close to the Chrysler Building and about two avenues from the United Nations headquarters.
An NYPD canine unit detected something inside the suitcase, prompting officers from the department’s Bomb Squad and Emergency Services Unit to respond. Other federal agencies were also reportedly in the area as security was heightened for UN General Assembly events.
The Chrysler Building was evacuated as a precaution while authorities examined the suitcase, according to Reuters.
“Due to a suspicious package, 42nd Street through 44th Street is closed between 2nd Avenue and Lexington Avenue. Please avoid the area,” the NYPD initially said in an alert posted on X.
About 90 minutes later, authorities determined that the package did not pose a threat and cleared the suitcase. Some road closures remained temporarily as crews reopened the area.
No injuries were reported, and officials did not identify an actual threat.
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Who is in New York for UNGA?
The incident comes as New York hosts the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. According to Reuters, nearly 130 heads of state and government are in New York City this week.
Among the leaders taking part in this year’s General Debate are:
US President Donald Trump
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
French President Emmanuel Macron
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian
Jordan’s King Abdullah II
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung
Finnish President Alexander Stubb
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman are also taking part in the high-level meetings.
