Times Square Chaos: Bomb Scare Sparks NYPD Shutdown
Times Square was temporarily closed after a suspicious cylinder-style device, later deemed a hoax, was found outside an NYPD substation, prompting an evacuation and Bomb Squad investigation. Police are pursuing a suspect seen on video leaving the device, with the area reopened after the all-clear was given.
On August 18, 2025, Times Square in New York City was briefly shut down after a suspicious cylinder-style device was discovered outside an NYPD substation at West 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue around 10:30 a.m. The New York Police Department swiftly cordoned off Seventh Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets, halting pedestrian and vehicle traffic to ensure public safety. The NYPD’s Bomb Squad was deployed to investigate the object, and the substation was evacuated as a precautionary measure, reflecting heightened security protocols in one of the world’s busiest urban centers.
After a thorough examination, the Bomb Squad determined the device was a hoax and posed no legitimate threat. The NYPD gave the “all clear” shortly before noon, allowing authorities to begin reopening the iconic tourist hub. Surveillance footage captured a man allegedly leaving the device at the substation’s front door before fleeing, and police are actively pursuing the suspect as part of an ongoing investigation. No arrests have been reported, and the motive behind the incident remains unclear.
The event caused temporary disruptions to traffic and mass transit in Midtown Manhattan, with police advising the public to avoid the area during the investigation. This incident follows a pattern of heightened vigilance in New York City, with recent reports of other suspicious packages, such as a tin of crackers cleared near Times Square in a separate event. The NYPD’s rapid response underscores the city’s robust security measures, particularly in high-profile areas like Times Square, which has faced similar hoax device incidents in the past, including a 2016 case where officers heroically removed a fake bomb from a crowded area. The investigation continues as authorities work to identify the individual responsible and prevent future disruptions.