Suspicious Package Forces Evacuation at NYU Langone
By: Nyu Local
Tags: Security, Hillary Clinton, City, New York, Cnn

Suspicious Package Forces Evacuation at NYU Langone

By: Izzie Ramirez, Arimeta Diop, Téa Kvetenadze, Zoe Haylock

Columbus Circle on Wednesday morning. Photo by Michael Shaffer.

NYU Langone’s Ambulatory Care unit was evacuated this morning as a result of a pipe bomb being found at a nearby post office. The package was addressed to James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence and labeled with the the Time Warner Center’s address, where CNN is based. Authorities intercepted the pipe bomb at the 52nd Street post office, which is on the same block as the medical center.

The Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle was evacuated mid-morning on Wednesday as the NYPD investigated a suspicious package that was sent to the CNN offices there. The evacuations stemmed out of “an abundance of caution,” the news organization’s president said in a statement to staff that was posted to Twitter.

Some New Yorkers received emergency alerts on their phones warning residents near West 58th Street between Columbus and Eighth Avenue that a shelter was in place.

The shops at Columbus Circle were reportedly reopened by early afternoon, although the Time Warner offices remain evacuated.

The potential threat arrived as several other suspicious packages were intercepted, including one addressed to Hillary and Bill Clinton’s home in Chappaqua, N.Y., and another to former president Barack Obama’s home in Washington, D.C.

“Both packages were intercepted prior to being delivered to their intended location,” the Secret Service said in a statement. “The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them. The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his midtown office had also received a suspicious device. There were some reports that stated the White House was also sent a suspicious package but the Secret Service clarified that these were incorrect. Similar packages were found at the homes and offices of prominent figures across the country, though it’s unclear if they are connected.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that there are no other “credible” threats in the New York City area and encouraged New Yorkers to continue with their daily lives. The NYPD has “reinforced [a] clear, visible presence at key media locations across the city” and other “important” locations.

NYU Public Safety told NYU Local they have no reason to believe any NYU people or facilities are in danger in either New York or D.C.

“Like all New Yorkers, members of the NYU community are concerned by last few hours’ developments, we pray for the safety and well-being of those targeted by these explosive devices, and we are thankful that no one has been harmed,” said Marlon Lynch, Vice President for Global Campus Safety. “Those who have plotted these attacks have not declared their motives. But we in the NYU community should declare our unequivocal repudiation of violence and fear and hate in all its forms, and should, in our own political discourse on campus, display the kind of commitment to reasoned, peaceful debate that is in line with our highest values.”

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

Updated: October 24, 2018

This article has been updated to include a statement from NYU Public Safety.

Updated: October 26, 2018

The content and headline of this article have been altered to include the latest incident.