Times Square is evacuated after a grenade was found in the back seat of an Uber, as anti-Israel protesters march through New York City, preventing the NYPD from reaching the device.
The explosive device was found in the back seat of the vehicle in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday.
An Uber driver turned to look in the back seat after dropping off a passenger at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue in Times Square and saw the explosive device.
The driver notified police shortly after 4 p.m. and the NYPD dispatched the rescue unit and bomb squad to the scene.
At the time of the emergency, anti-Israel protesters were marching through the streets and blocking traffic.
Times Square is evacuated after a grenade was found in the back seat of an Uber, as anti-Israel protesters march through New York City, preventing the NYPD from reaching the device
The explosive device was found in the back seat of the vehicle in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday
During the march on Sixth Avenue, as the mob reached Bryant Park, several protesters were arrested by the NYPD – but it is not clear what prompted the arrests
Happy Saturday everyone! Except for the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call. They will spend their Saturday where they belong – in prison! pic.twitter.com/C0adj5waUj
— NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) March 2, 2024
The demonstrators made it difficult for rescue workers to navigate the crowd.
Eventually, police were able to set up a security perimeter around the Nissan Altima where the grenade was located.
They closed pedestrian and vehicle traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
According to a police source, the grenade was considered inactive.
Thousands of anti-Israel protesters took to Sixth Avenue on Saturday to raise their voices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The protest, which organizers described as part of a “global day of action,” began in Washington Square Park around 1 p.m
The demonstrators made it difficult for rescue workers to navigate the crowd
Despite the rain that New Yorkers endured throughout the day on Saturday, huge crowds gathered in the park
As the demonstrators marched down Sixth Avenue, police followed closely behind them
Police officers stand during a protest that organizers dubbed the “Million March for Gaza,” a global day of action against the upcoming Israeli operation in Rafa
Protesters hold umbrellas as heavy rain falls during protests in New York City on Saturday
The protest, which organizers described as part of a “global day of action,” began in Washington Square Park around 1 p.m.
Despite the rain that New Yorkers endured throughout the day on Saturday, huge crowds gathered in the park.
As the demonstrators marched down Sixth Avenue, police followed closely behind them.
Several protesters were arrested by the NYPD as the mob reached Bryant Park — although it's unclear what sparked the arrests, Daily News reported.
reached out to the NYPD for details of the arrests, but no information has yet been released.
This story continues to develop. Check back for updates.
Times Square evacuated after grenade found behind Uber – NYPD bomb squad says they had difficulty reaching explosives because crowds of anti-Israel protesters blocked traffic