A suspicious white van parked in the heart of Times Square caused a brief scare Wednesday, prompting the New York Police Department to partially evacuate high-rises and send out a bomb squad that quickly determined the vehicle was safe.
The bomb squad used a robot-based camera to approach the vehicle. Police say the area around 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway was blocked off as a precaution.
Two high-rise buildings — home to NASDAQ and Conde Nast publishing — were partially evacuated for a brief time.
The van with tinted windows had been parked there for around two days. A placard from a nonexistent law enforcement agency was on the dashboard, and it has no license plates.
Security is tight as New York City prepares for hundreds of thousands of revelers to gather for its New Year's Eve celebration.